Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop

<p>The Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop begins and ends at the Maroon Lake Trailhead (~9,576') in the White River National Forest, reached by bus from Highlands Ski Area in Aspen or by permitted vehicle on Maroon Creek Road. The route is described counterclockwise.<p> <p>From the trailhead, head south on the Maroon Snowmass Trail. At 1.5 miles, turn right at a signed T-intersection onto the Buckskin Pass Trail. Climb through forest and above timberline with views of the north face of North Maroon Peak above. At the Willow Pass/Buckskin junction, stay left and climb the final headwall to Buckskin Pass (~12,462'). Descend right into the Snowmass Creek drainage. At approximately 2.5 miles below Buckskin, turn left at a creek crossing — continuing straight leads to lower valley campsites, not the pass route.<p> <p>Climb toward Snowmass Lake and reach a T-intersection with the Geneva Lake Trail; turn left. This junction is easy to miss — verify on your map. Follow the Geneva Lake Trail to the southeast shore of Snowmass Lake, then turn left toward Trail Rider Pass and climb steeply southwest under the eastern flanks of Snowmass Mountain (14,092'). Crest Trail Rider Pass (~12,420') with views across the West Elk Mountains. Descend 2 miles into the North Fork of the Crystal River valley. Look sharply for an unsigned left turn onto the North Fork Cutoff Trail — this junction has no signage and is the most commonly missed turn on the route. After the left, traverse and descend southeast approximately 1 mile to the North Fork Crystal River Trail. Head upstream to an unavoidable knee-deep river crossing, then continue to a spectacular cascading waterfall. <p> <p>Switchback above the falls into Fravert Basin and traverse 2.75 miles under the southwest face of Maroon Peak (14,156') to Frigid Air Pass (~12,415'). Descend steeply east to a bench, then traverse toward West Maroon Pass — you lose significantly less elevation between these two passes than the prior crossings. At a T-intersection 1.5 miles from Frigid Air, turn left toward West Maroon Pass and climb the final pass. Descend through willow groves to the south shore of Crater Lake. Follow the west shore of the lake carefully — numerous informal trails lead to campsites and can divert you from the main route. Pass the Buckskin Pass turnoff keeping right, and return to the trailhead.<p>