Photo spots nearby
What to see near Hotel Jerome
The Maroon Bells rise just ten miles from your door, and nothing quite prepares you for the moment the valley opens and those twin rust-and-violet peaks appear above the lake. The reflection is almost unreasonably perfect. But if you have the stamina and the morning, consider driving the road toward Independence Pass instead, where the highway climbs into genuine tundra and the sky feels closer than it should. Back in the valley, the gondola up Aspen Mountain delivers you to 11,212 feet with almost no effort, and the ridgeline views across the Elk Range are the kind that make the altitude worth every breath. This is high country in full expression, and it surrounds you completely.
Within 25 miles · ranked by scenic score
4 Places Worth Seeing
Aspen, CO
Wheeler Trail to Aspen Mountain Summit
The Silver Queen Gondola provides access to the 11,212-foot summit of Aspen Mountain, where the Sundeck restaurant and panoramic viewing areas offer 360-degree views of the Elk Mountains, Maroon Bells, and the town of Aspen below. The summit can also be reached via the steep 3.5-mile Wheeler Trail from downtown Aspen. In summer, wildflower meadows line the upper mountain.
Aspen, CO
Aspen Highlands Bowl
A dramatic high-alpine bowl accessible by hiking a ridge from the top of the Loge Peak lift at Aspen Highlands resort. The bowl provides direct views across to the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak, framed by steep avalanche paths. In winter, the boot-pack line of skiers traversing the ridge creates a striking compositional element.
Aspen, CO
Maroon Bells
Twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake, widely considered the most photographed location in Colorado. The distinctive maroon-colored Elk Range peaks create a striking composition against alpine meadows and aspen forests. The area is a designated wilderness within White River National Forest.
Aspen, CO
Independence Pass
Crossing the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet, this scenic highway between Aspen and Leadville traverses alpine tundra with views of the Sawatch and Elk mountain ranges. The summit area features a short interpretive boardwalk through fragile tundra ecosystems. The Roaring Fork River headwaters begin just below the pass on the Aspen side.
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