East Snowmass #1977

About East Snowmass #1977

ALERT: Due to recent bear activity, bear canisters are required for all backpackers in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The trail begins ascending steeply and forks to the right in about one mile. The trailcontinues through spruce, aspen and pine forests for approximately 3 miles. It then breaks out into a meadow before continuing a moderately steep climb. There are some steeper sections that require caution. Once on East Snowmass Pass, the descent to Willow Lake is via switchbacks through a steep boulder field. The last mile meanders through rolling tundra to Willow Lake.

How to Get There

Drive 6 miles west of Aspen on Highway 82 and turn left onto Brush Creek Road. Continue on Brush Creek Road 5.4 miles and turn right onto Divide Road. Divide Road turns into a gravel road and passes the Krabloonik Restaurant and Kennels. The road descends steeply to the valley bottom where the road forks. Take the left fork, the trailhead will be just beyond the wooden bridge, on the left side of the road. The Maroon-Snowmass Trail to Snowmass Lake is at the end of the gravel road.

Plan Your Visit to East Snowmass #1977

Heading to East Snowmass #1977? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)