Best Hiking Trails in Aspen
Aspen, Colorado — updated August 21, 2026
Aspen's trails range from a half-mile roadside loop off Independence Pass to a 3,000-foot climb straight up Aspen Mountain. Here's what the ratings and review counts actually support.
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Hiking around Aspen splits into two kinds of outings: trails that start from a street in town, and trails that start from a pullout on Highway 82 heading up Independence Pass. The short pass-side walks draw far more visitors, and far more reviews, than the longer climbs. Below, the trails are ordered by how well the ratings hold up against the number of people who left them.
1. Grottos Trail
This is the most heavily reviewed trail on the list by a wide margin: 4.8 across 570 reviews, which makes it the best-tested rating in Aspen. The trailhead sits just past mile marker 50 off Highway 82 on Independence Pass, and the walk itself is about half a mile, essentially a loop with a bridge and several optional routes branching off it. Reviewers describe it as a roadside stop rather than an all-day hike: half an hour if you keep moving, two hours or more if you follow the side options. Good choice when the afternoon is short.
2. Hunter Creek Trail Head
The strongest in-town option, rated 4.8 from 78 reviews. The trailhead is on South Hunter Street, so no drive is required, and the route follows a stream through forest with a fairly steady climb over roughly the first 1.5 miles. Officially Trail #2194, it is rated intermediate to moderate, open to hikers, runners and mountain bikers, and dog friendly. It also stays in use through winter as a snowshoe route. The City of Aspen Parks Department, reachable at (970) 920-5120, keeps weekday hours of 7:30am to 4:30pm if you need current trail conditions.
3. Weller Lake Trailhead #1989
The payoff-per-mile pick: a 1.0-mile out-and-back to a high mountain lake, rated 4.8 from 62 reviews. The Forest Service puts it roughly nine miles east of Aspen on Highway 82, and the trail forks immediately from the parking lot, so read the sign before you start. Best months are June through October. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed. Because the parking area is small and the hike is short, it turns over quickly, which helps if you arrive to a full lot.
4. Rio Grande Trail
Rated 4.9 from 69 reviews, the highest score here, though on a smaller sample than Grottos. It is paved, which makes it the flattest and most accessible option on this list and better suited to a long walk or ride than a climb. The portion within Pitkin County is open year-round and groomed in winter. Note the seasonal closure between Rock Bottom Ranch and Catherine Bridge, which runs from 5pm on November 30 until 5pm on April 30. Pitkin County can be reached at 970-920-5200 for trail status.
5. Ute Trail trailhead (in Aspen)
The hardest hike here and the thinnest evidence: a single five-star review, so treat the rating as unconfirmed even though the trail's reputation is well established elsewhere. The route climbs Aspen Mountain from Ute Avenue, covering 3.1 miles and gaining more than 3,000 feet. Descriptions consistently call it short but very steep, with roughly three hours one way for a casual hiker. It is used locally as a fitness climb. Chairlifts reach the same summit in minutes, which is worth knowing if you would rather ride down than repeat the descent.