Maroon Bells Scenic Area
Viewpoint · Colorado
Maroon Lake mirrors the Maroon Bells' twin 14,000-foot peaks framed by golden aspen groves ten miles from Aspen. Colorado's most photographed view requires a shuttle bus once the parking lot fills each fall weekend.
Don’t miss
Peak: September 26–September 30
Color builds from September 16 · mostly bare by October 20
Sampled at Maroon Bells Scenic Area’s own coordinates and elevation (3505 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 54 weather points across Colorado, nudged 2 days earlier to match 2 published peak dates from csfs.colostate.edu and smokymountains.com. This year's weather has the peak running 3 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Maroon Bells Scenic Area
Good color holds through about October 7, giving you roughly 21 days from the first turn to past peak. Against Colorado overall, that is 12 days earlier. Height explains the gap, since this sits at 11,499 ft. It sits at 11,499 ft, high enough to turn before the valleys do.
Maroon Bells Scenic Area on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Colorado, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Maroon Bells Scenic Area peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 26–September 30 (best estimate September 28). Color starts around September 16 and is mostly bare by October 20.
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