Maroon Bells Car Camping

Hello all,

I'm new to the forums but have been lurking for a few months. I will be up at Maroon Bells and Crystal Mill this weekend hopefully catching them both at peak color. I plan to car camp somewhere near the bells on Saturday night, is it okay to car camp in the main lot for the bells? I've also heard of an overnight lot for backpackers close by that might be better? Any help would be appreciated as I would hate to be woken up in the middle if the night by a pissed off ranger.

P.S. What is the best time to photograph both?

Ive heard for the bells the morning light doesn't hit the mountains until around 9:30 or so?

I heard crystal mill is best in the afternoon around 4 pm?


Thanks!

Alex, camping is not allowed at the main lot. There is a small parking area with a campground host just down hill from the main lot (1st right turn after exiting main lot). This is where backpackers are allowed to park their vehicles and usually where I stay as well (must sleep in the vehicle, can't pitch a tent). I've heard that this summer they started charging a fee to park there but I don't know how much or the mechanics of paying it (possibly the host?). It's also possible that the fee may not be charged at this time of year. There is also an overflow lot across the road from the backpacker's lot, but I've never seen it in use by anyone.

The Bells is a sunrise to early morning shot, usually, however late afternoon can't be ruled out if there are clouds to lessen the contrast.
Crystal Mill is usually a 2-4pm shot depending on cloud cover. The sun disappears behind a mountain ridge between 4-5PM can't give you the exact time on that.

It's technically illegal to camp (sleep in your car) at the main/top lot, but I know photographers have done it.

Great, I will have to check out the lot you mentioned Don. If that is full I may have to try my luck at camping in the main lot

I usually park and sleep in my truck at the overflow lot and i know i was one of many other photogs there Make sure you're at the lake way ahead of sunrise as it fills up fast.

Hmm, way ahead as in be there 1 or 2 hours before sunrise? I can imagine it will be packed on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Wish I could get time off to go this week.

I slept in my car last year and I was the only one in the parking lot. I was never bothered by rangers but it was snowing fairly hard so they might not have wanted to waste the time.

Alex: I was there on Thursday last week. I arrived half an hour before sunrise and there were already 7 photographers lined up at the end of the lake. That's in the middle of the week when the color isn't even peaking. This weekend I'd expect it to be packed. If I were you, I'd be there at least an hour early.

I have never had a problem car camping in the overflow lot just before the main lot. I only paid the usual entrance fee, but that might have changed.

Great, I appreciate all the help. Does anyone know how long it takes to hike to crystal mill? From searching the forums it seems like it probably wouldn't be the best idea to take a subaru impreza wagon up that trail unless I'm looking for some body damage?

My subaru WRX wagon gets me most of the places I want to go; Crystal Mill is not one of them.

It's about 6 miles in from Marble. How fast do you hike at altitude and going up and down a couple of steep sections? My guess about 2-3 hours one way. Might think about a mountain bike.

Does anyone have a recommendation for good dispersed camping around Aspen? Preferably within a half hour or so of Maroon Lake.

Alright I'll plan for 3 hours. Don, is there a parking lot by beaver lake? Where do you usually park to start the hike?

Alex - The 12 mile r/t hike to the Crystal Mill with 1/2 of it in the dark and all of it with camera gear might make for a good story, but is probably unnecessary. You might consider calling Smitty to make arrangements.

Alex,
I'm brand-spanking new here, too - signed up just to respond to your message. I'll be out there (Leaving from St. Louis Friday night) around the same time. Perhaps we can go halvsies on a Smitty tour, as CAZ says, above.

(I'm also crazy enough to consider the hike from the end of the passenger-car road, with no acclimatization...)

Yea, I saw that link CAZ posted. I will be doing this trip on the
cheap and don't think I want to pay the prices for it. Plus, you only
get to stay for 20 minutes from what the site says. What kind of car will you have? I have an
AWD wagon and plan on trying to make it to Lizard Lake and then hike
the rest of the way, this axes the major incline to start with. Let me know what your plans are.