East Fork Loop: Frigid Air Pass to Hasley Pass

Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness | Friday – Saturday, June 26-27, 2026

This weekend I returned to the western side of the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness near Crested Butte so I could get in a nice alpine day hike on Saturday morning. Although I was initially planning to hike in a different area of the Wilderness at first, when I saw that the weather forecast was calling for rain overnight I though it would be a good idea to change up my plans and hike into the East Fork of the Crystal River just below Schofield Pass so I could quickly get up above treeline since I hoped that there might be some low clouds surrounding the peaks on Saturday morning at sunrise. Unfortunately, this weekend was a good reminder of why I usually avoid heading over to the Crested Butte area before Labor Day since getting around before and after the hike was kind of a pain in the ass, but since that’s probably not going to be an option for me this summer I thought I would make an exception and try going earlier in the season.

I left from work on Friday afternoon and made a last minute decision to drive over Kebler Pass instead of going through Gunnison, but when I reached the top of the pass I was stopped by a large group of bikers in costumes just standing around in the middle of the road and blocking traffic. I was just barely able to squeeze through the crowd and would later learn that this was the Chainless World Championships bike race. Of course, had I known this was going on I would have gone through Gunnison instead…

Marcellina Mountain was looking nice as I drove below on the Kebler Pass Road.

After making it to Crested Butte I had a slow drive along the East River stuck behind an AWD vehicle that wouldn’t pull over to let the faster vehicles get by- but I eventually made it to Schofield Pass.

Thankfully, I didn’t have any issues quickly finding a campsite on the other side of the pass where the camping regulations are still a little more relaxed.

I had some time before sunset and thought I would go for an evening hike up The 401 Trail to the Scofield Trail, but shortly after starting to climb up the switchbacks I was chased back to my vehicle by thunder, lightning, graupel and heavy rain. The storm was intense, but it didn’t last for very long, so when it was over I started the hike again.

Graupel covers the trail as I hiked up The 401 for a second time.

I was almost chased down from the hike a second time, but this time I just waited the second storm out in the trees. I’m glad I did because there were some nice conditions above Crystal Canyon afterwards.

Elk Mountains Storms

Although it was mostly cloudy during the hike, the sun did peek out a few times when I was up above the trees.

Dark Clouds

Cinnamon Mountain

The 401

Maroon Peak

There was great light across the East Fork as I started my hike back down to camp.

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I didn’t sleep very well overnight once storms started rolling through the area starting around midnight. There was a lot of thunder and hail that made a lot of noise and kept me up. Still, I was up early and drove over to the trailhead in Scofield Park to start hiking up the West Maroon Trail before 5:30am. With mostly cloudy skies it was still pretty dark out when I started hiking, but there was barely just enough light that I didn’t need to use a headlamp.

There was a nice touch of color in the clouds once I entered the Wilderness Area and was just above the trees.

There was also a nice touch of light on Mount Baldy at sunrise.

The spotlighting briefly highlighted a few of the other surrounding peaks.

I enjoyed the views of the East Fork Basin as it got lighter out.

Ridge & Clouds

Treasury Mountain & Treasure Mountain

Clouds & Shadows

When I reached the junction with the North Fork Trail I turned left and followed part of the Four Pass Loop up to Frigid Air Pass.

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Looking across to a saddle above Hasley Basin that I would be visiting after leaving Frigid Air Pass.

Looking back over Scarp Ridge to Mount Owen.

Mount Baldy

It was very windy up at Frigid Air Pass this morning and the pass lived up to its name!

Fravert Basin

The view of Snowmass Mountain was impressive when I reached the saddle above Hasley Basin.

Snowmass Mountain

I really liked the striations of this unnamed mountain across the basin.

Before hiking back down to the trailhead I visited Hasley Pass which offered another amazing view over Hasley Basin.

Red Rock at Hasley Pass

From the pass there was a nice view over to Siberia Peak, which I had just hiked to the base of two years ago.

Hasley Pass Trail

There were good views of Treasury Mountain & Galena Mountain as I made my way down to the Crystal Canyon Trail.

Treasure Mountain

There were quite a few Monument Plants blooming all over the East Fork this morning and I later learned that there is some kind of superbloom going on in the area right now. They are all bending to the right in this photo because it had gotten very windy out!

I returned to the West Maroon Trail and followed it back to the trailhead.

Leaving the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness.

This old broken-down cabin is right next to the trail.

After retunring to the trailhead it was another slow drive back to Crested Butte along the East River as the road was filled with slow AWD vehicles, bikes and people parking where they shouldn’t. I probably should have gone back over the Paradise Divide to the Slate River Valley.

On the way home I stopped for a late lunch in Delta and as I was driving across the Stinking Desert I saw a large plume of smoke on the other side of the Uncompahgre Plateau which I would soon learn was the start of the Jones Canyon Fire that would later combine with and become the Snyder Fire.

>> East Fork Loop Photo Gallery