Aspen Colorado, Hiking the American Lake Trail in the Fall
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Fall is a special time in Colorado and Aspen is one of the best places to go to see the colors. I seem to catch this trail either too early or too late each time I’ve gone, but none the less, it is a favorite of mine just outside of Aspen that has plenty of awesome color each year. What I like most is how close it is to the town and how it makes for a great day hike. I happened to hike it during the snow which allowed me to have the trail to myself for the most of the way.
How to get to American Lake
You’ll want to take the roundabout right outside of downtown Aspen with a view of Highlands ski resort. The road you’ll take will be Castle Creek Road which is a Forest Service road. Take this all the way until you see a small dirt parking lot on the right with homes nearby. From downtown Aspen you’re about 11 miles to the trailhead and from Snowmass Village, you’re about 17 miles to the trail!
What is parking like
Weekends and peak fall colors, I would imagine the parking lot gets filled up during the day, however go on a weekday and you shouldn’t having any issues. It’s going to be good sized dirt lot, just make sure to stay off the main road and peoples private property!
Best time of day to hike American Lake
Early in the morning or early in the Afternoon will be the best times to go so that the trail will be less trafficked! The light in the afternoon is usually really good for the fall colors as well. For the best fall colors check the current color status through the town of Aspen as it varies from year to year. On average the 3rd or 4th week in September are when colors are at their peak!
What makes American Lake so special
In the fall due to all the fall foliage in Aspen and on this hike in particular.
What is the weather like and what should we pack
The weather this time of year can either be warm and sunny or cold and snowy. You might get rain near the base of the trailhead, but once you reach a higher elevation it will turn to snow! Items I would recommend would be a rain jacket, a warmer layer (I like the Burton AK Baker down jacket), water, and a solid pair of hiking boots! Don’t forget to apply sunscreen ahead of time as the sun exposure in the Colorado mountains is stronger, even on cloudy days.
Any wildlife that we should worry about
Colorado is home to black bears and mountain lions, and they are in Aspen. With that being said, hike with bear spray and at least one other person if possible! I did see a couple mule deer as I was hiking, but that was about it!
What are the trail details and what is the hike like
The trail will start out in an open area, surrounded by the Roaring Fork Valley hillsides and mountains. You’ll see a fence which is the property line for someone’s house right by the trailhead. Look for the American Lake sign and start making the trek through the aspen trees. The beginning of the hike is where you will see the best fall colors! If you need a way to track your trail stats or just have a map on you at all times download Alltrails. I use this app for all of my hikes by the downloading the trail before hand, that way I always have a better idea of where I am when hiking.
A mountainside below starting to change from green to gold is the beauty of fall in Aspen and Colorado in general.
As the elevation increases so do the Aspen tree colors and leaves. It’s truly an awesome experience when hiking up the trail! At this point in the trail you will also be hiking through a number of switchbacks with slight views of the mountains.
The trail is well marked, but as you’re trekking through the switchbacks you may have to walk through some of the tall brush, nothing crazy just figured I would mention it on this post.
About half way up is when the sea of Aspen trees starts to get smaller and there’s clearings here and there of the mountain peaks such as Ashcroft Mountain, McArthur Mountain, Star Peak and Taylor Peak. These are going to be your 12,000-13,000 foot peaks in the area!
After you hike through the Aspen trees you will actually hike through a forested area of pine trees, with no mountain views. The variety of topography is what makes this hike even more unique.
About two miles into the hike is where the views start to open up again and you’ll get these views of the pine trees and mountains again. If you get a dusting of snow plus the fall colors it makes for some awesome photos as you approach the lake. The hike itself is going to be 6.3 miles with just over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Take breaks and bring plenty of snacks and water.
The last part up to American lake will be through a rocky area before you go back through the wooded area of pine trees. If it’s raining or snowing watch your footing.
Once you’ve made it to the lake, there will be a trail that allows you to walk around a portion of it. The lake itself isn’t that large, but it is incredibly peaceful, especially on a snowy fall day.
Can you swim in the lake
You can, and I saw people jump in my first time hiking it on a warmer fall day. Just note, that the water temp will be very cold.
That’s it for a hike to American Lake in Aspen. Hope it inspires you to hike this one in the fall. If you’re looking for other great fall hikes in the area, check out one of my favorite fall hikes in Snowmass, Spiral Point!
