Capitol Ditch

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 6.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9,480 - 10,014 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 3 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Capitol Creek
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest hike

The Capitol Ditch trail is located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest near Aspen, Colorado. Beginning at the Capitol Creek trailhead the trail follows the route taken by a once used irrigation ditch for a little over 1 mile before branching off and climbing along the shoulder of the mountains on the west side of the Capitol Creek drainage. Near the 3.2 mile point the trail merges with the Capitol Creek trail and comes to an end. The Capitol Ditch trail is a popular alternative route for backpackers, climbers and day hikers that are headed to Capitol Lake and to climb Capitol Peak (14,131 ft.).

Williams/Hardscrabble Lakes

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 10,001 - 10,702 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 3 hrs.
Trailhead: Hellroaring
Fee: none
Attractions: Backcountry lakes

Williams Lake and Hardscrabble Lake are located off of the Hellroaring trail in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest near Aspen, Colorado. Both lakes are popular with hikers and backpackers alike. Of the two lakes Williams is the larger and has the most places to camp.

Snowmass Lake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 16.6 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 8,394 - 10,983 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 8 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Snowmass Creek
Fee: none
Attractions: Alpine lake

Snowmass Lake is located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest near Aspen, Colorado. The lake is reached via the Maroon-Snowmass trail which travels up Snowmass Creek and over Buckskin Pass where it descends Minnehaha Gulch to Crater Lake and then on to the trailhead at Maroon Lake. The hike to Snowmass Lake is 8.3 miles one-way while continuing on to Maroon Lake stretches it out to 17 miles.

Capitol Lake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 12.8 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 9,028 - 11,619 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 6 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Capitol Creek
Fee: none
Attractions: Alpine lake

Capitol Lake is located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest near Aspen, Colorado. Sitting in a basin at the northern base of Capitol Peak (14,131 ft.) the lake is among the most scenic alpine lakes in the State of Colorado. Hikers, backpackers and climbers are treated to spectacular breathtaking views of Capitol Peak and the jagged rocky peaks and ridges of its companions as they make their way up the valley from the trailhead.