Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness | Saturday, August 8, 2026
This weekend I had some stuff I needed to get done around the house on Sunday so Diane and I just headed out for a day hike into the Elk Mountains near Marble on Saturday. Typically I only hike into the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness once each summer, but I guess I have felt like spending more time there this year since this was now my third visit! We left home bright and early on Saturday morning and made our way around the Grand Mesa, over McClure Pass to Marble, and then followed Lost Trail Creek until we reached the trailhead at the mouth of the North Fork. Although it’s been pretty smoky around here lately from many wildfires across the West, the weather forecast was calling for the patchy smoke to clear up after 9:00am and I was hoping that they were correct.
After leaving the trailhead it wasn’t long until we entered the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness.
The first mile or so was in the trees with limited views, but there was one opening that offered a nice view across the valley to Whitehouse Mountain. It seemed like the smoke was clearing out which was good for us.
North Lost Trail
Diane has been hiking more than me lately and I was having a little bit of trouble keeping up with her on this hike.
The trail followed a ridge between two creeks for a short distance which offered us our first views up towards Buckskin Basin.
Looking back down the North Fork of Lost Trail Creek, which we had just hiked up.
Soon the trail started climbing steeply up into Buckskin Basin.
Buckskin Basin Trail
Once in the basin the trail continued climbing up to the pass.
See if you can spot the bear in this photo? I spotted this bear high above us as it climbed up to the top of the ridge and then disappeared over it on the other side. I have seen more bears in Colorado this summer than I have in all the years I have lived here until now.
Mount Daly Ridge
We continued higher into Buckskin Basin as we made our way to Carbonate Pass.
Diane follows the trail to Carbonate Pass ahead of me.
Once we reached the pass there was a good view down Carbonate Creek on the other side.
It was a short hike over to Avalanche Pass from here.
Looking back over Carbonate Pass to Mount Daly.
The views over the Elk Mountains from Avalanche Pass were amazing! We sat down and rested our feet for a little while. It was a bit windy at the pass which felt nice to me, but was a little chilly for Diane.
Although it was still a little bit smoky and hazy out, the smoke had cleared out enough for a decent view of the surrounding mountains.
Overlooking the West Fork of Avalanche Creek to Capitol Peak.
Snowmass Mountain
Capitol Peak
Avalanche Creek
Elk Mountains Layers
After resting for a bit it was time to start hiking back down to Carbonate Pass.
There was a large rock glacier down in the Carbonate Creek drainage.
Carbonate Creek Ridge
Back at Carbonate Pass.
From the pass we started our descent back down through Buckskin Basin.
Buckskin Basin Ridge
There was a good view of Arkansas Mountain straight ahead, which I had climbed back in 2021.
Buckskin Basin Views
Leaving the Basin
As you can see, the smoke returned during our hike back down.
There were a few small waterfalls on the creeks that the trail threaded between.
Trail Between the Creeks
Here’s one final look up the North Fork of Lost Trail Creek.
We returned to the trailhead in the afternoon and were surprised to find that we were the only vehicle there since I have seen this small trailhead overflowing with vehicles before! We had only been passed by one trail-runner the entire day, so we had plenty of solitude during this hike. Instead of returning home the same way we had come, we made a loop through Carbondale and Glenwood Springs so we could pick up a pizza from Hogback Pizza in New Castle on the way. It was a delicious way to end a great day in the mountains!