PARKS & TRAILS

There are plenty of parks and trails around Aspen and Snowmass Village! We recommend using Alltrails or the City of Aspen Parks & Rec page for learning more (it’s fantastic!), and we also have a few of our own suggestions below. For climbing guides, we have books in the lobby of Stranahan Hall, and recommend you talk to other physicists about their favorite spots.

We have some hiking equipment available to borrow, including backpacks, hiking poles, etc. Just ask at the front desk!

You can also rent equipment for outdoor excursions at the Ute Mountaineer, and their staff may also be able to provide suggestions. Grab a friend, and go on a hike!

• Wagner Park – a.k.a. “Rock Park,” on the walking mall, active in the late afternoon and often in the early night, lots of dogs, often has balloon and facepaint artists
  • E Durant Ave & Mill Street
• Herron Park – playground and pond along the river
  • 108 Neale Ave
• Triangle Park – near the Center, has a small preschool-age playground.
  • 2nd & Smuggler Ave
• Yellow Brick Park – attached to a preschool and regularly active
  • Bleeker & Garmisch St.
• Koch Park – often has a volleyball game going, no playground
  • Garmisch & Cooper
• John Denver Sanctuary – serene, lots of streams, rocks, and foliage
  • 470 Rio Grande Place
• Ute Park – semi-wild and has unusual play equipment and Aspen’s recently renovated first cemetery
  • Ute Ave.
• Harmony Park – short, free bus ride on the Burlingame bus route, playground, water features
  • Harmony Rd.
• Snyder Park – has a pond and waterfall.
  • Midland Ave & Kathryn’s Way
• Glory Hole Park – small park with a pond, tables & trail access is popular with dog walkers & picnickers. Near City Market
  • Original & Ute Ave.
• Rio Grande Park – includes basketball courts, a skateboard park, and professional-size rugby field, behind the Library
  • Rio Grande Place off of Mill St
• Silver Circle Park – ice skating in winter, mini-golf in summer, attached to CP Burger restaurant

• East of Aspen Trail – easy
  • more like a walk, starts a couple blocks from City Market, great for bikers and dogs, great for an evening walk near town
• Rio Grande Trail – easy
  • mostly paved trail, great for picnics, opens behind Clark’s Market, good for small children
• The Grottos Trail – easy
  • short hike, featuring underground grottos which families can clamber into, and water flows to dip the feet in, great for middle-grade children and picnics
• Marolt Trail – easy
  • looping trail at the outskirts of town, paved and great for bikers, beside a RFTA bus stop, approaches the Recreation Center
• Braille Trail – easy
  • fun with little kids because the trail is geared for the blind, so offers hands-on opportunities
• River Run Trail – intermediate/moderate
  • at the Ashcroft Ghost Town, great for kids
• Difficult Creek Trail – moderate in total, stays easy for about an hour or two
  • branches from the Difficult Campground
•  Lost Man Trail – the entire trail is moderately challenging but the first hour or two are easy
  • starts at the Lost Man Reservoir and Campground
• Independence Pass Ridgeline Trail – moderately challenging
  • steep and high altitude, but kept short can be a good walk for families driving into Aspen through Independence Pass
• Linkins Lake Trail – moderately challenging, most difficult trail listed here
  • • steep but short, beautiful little lake at the top, has bathroom at the start of the trail