‹ Peaks

North
Maroon
Peak

Elevation 14,022 ft
Prominence
Range Elk Mountains
First ascent
07 / 07
Data under review — may contain inaccuracies.
Routes
Route North Maroon Peak Northeast Ridge
Type Out & back
Class 4
Distance 8.3 mi
Elev gain 4,820 ft
Trailhead Maroon Lake Trailhead 9,590 ft
Trail data OpenStreetMap

Distance & gain routed — OpenStreetMap · USGS 3DEP

Elevation profile
13,963 ft 9,567 ft 4.16 mi · one way

Routed from OpenStreetMap · elevations USGS 3DEP

History

The first recorded ascent is credited to C. Wilson in the 1890s. Separated from its taller neighbor by only about 0.3 miles, North Maroon nonetheless demands harder climbing: the standard Northeast Ridge route is a Class 4 scramble past loose, downsloping mudstone, and the Bell Cord Couloir splitting the two summits is a well-known, steep spring ski and snowboard line.

Access

Paved Maroon Creek Road; closed to private vehicles 8am-5pm in season past the entrance station. Winter closure at the T-Lazy-7 ranch below the lake.

Heaviest logistics of any 14er trailhead. 2026 season (visitmaroonbells.com, updated April 2026; aspenchamber.org): parking reservations required May 15-Oct 31, $10/vehicle via visitmaroonbells.com; RFTA shuttle from Aspen Highlands runs May 22-Oct 18, 8am-5pm; road closed to cars 8am-5pm, so climbers use an overnight or midnight-to-midnight parking permit or enter before 8am. Overnight camping in the Crater Lake zone requires a Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness permit (recreation.gov ID 4675333; $10/person/night May-Oct + $6 reservation fee; 2026 releases Feb 15 and Jun 15; designated sites mandatory at Crater Lake).

Peak data: Maroon Bells — Wikipedia

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