Maroon Creek Road Campgrounds

Tucked in along Maroon Creek Road in Colorado's Maroon Bells Scenic Area and very close to Aspen are three campgrounds, Silver Bar, Silver Bell, and Silver Queen, that provide fantastic access to this scenic area. The Maroon Bells reflected in Maroon Lake is sometimes said to be the most photographed scene in Colorado, particularly in the fall. The best way to get a front-row seat for this spectacle is to camp at one of the little campgrounds along Maroon Creek Road. These campgrounds are mostly suitable for tenters, truck campers, or tiny trailers. Camping here means being able to drive into the Maroon Bells area any time of day rather than having to take the shuttle bus between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. All three campgrounds are a 10-minute drive from one of the most iconic sunrise views in the country and virtually unlimited hiking in the Maroon Bells Wilderness.

With a five-day stay limit and only 24 sites among them, these campsites can be difficult to get, but they are reservable. Ten of the sites are walk-in tent sites, many of them along Maroon Creek. They are primitive campgrounds with only vault toilets and hand-pump drinking water, but less than 10 miles away are the myriad restaurants and services of the Aspen area. Whether you stay at Silver Bar, Silver Bell, or Silver Queen, the access to Aspen and the Maroon Bells make these Maroon Creek Road campground options the best of both worlds.