West Maroon Pass (12,465') is located 6.45 miles from Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It's the most commonly used route for thru-hikers between Aspen and Crested Butte, and the first encountered when traveling clockwise on the 4-Pass Loop. The West Maroon Creek Trail rises steadily past Crater Lake and the Maroon Bells into the upper valley, where grades steepen through vast alpine meadows up the west valley wall to the pass.

West Maroon Pass is one of 9 passes over 12,000' in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

Crater Lake formed as glaciers retreated and left flat areas in the valley (glacial benching) that collected water

Looking west down the East Fork drainage on the Crested Butte side of West Maroon Pass

Sunflowers are in the genus Helianthus, which comprises the Greek word 'Helios' (sun), and 'Anthos' (flower)

The West Maroon Creek Trail rises gradually through treeline into the upper valley, where grades steepen up to the pass

Bears are active in the Maroon Bells area, and some - like this bear - have become habituated to people and a nuisance to campers

The West Maroon Creek Trail climbs over 900' in the last mile on a narrow trail etched in the west valley wall to the pass

Glacial retreat carved the large U-shaped valleys we see today across the Elk Range

Indian Paintbrush belongs to a genus of 200 species of partially or fully parasitic plants that derive nourishment from the roots of other plants

Hikers will enjoy broad alpine meadows between steep intervals in the upper valley

Long spurs between the sepals of Columbine contain nectar, which attract butterflies and long tongued bees

Red hues in the rock come from weathering of hematite, an iron-bearing mineral; color variations can be traced to the source sediment and heat at the time of deposition

There are over 100 miles of established trails in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

Lupine is a flowering perennial plant from the legume family; the seeds are edible, but many species contain alkaloids that are toxic to livestock

The Elk Range is comprised of basement rock with younger Formations above it, a result of tectonic subduction

Monkshood is from the Genus Aconitum, which contains many (potentially highly) toxic species; these flowers should not be handled (and never eaten!)

The trail undulates above Crater Lake with good views over the basin and Maroon Bells above

The trail passes through long stretches of tall willow before emerging in alpine meadows below the pass