Smuggler Mountain Trail is a 14 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Aspen, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
Colorado Tourism Office, 1625 Broadway, Suite 1700 , Denver, CO, 80202, Phone: 800-COLORADO
Directions from Aspen: Travelling east on Main Street in Aspen, turn left (north) onto Mill Street. Travel 1/4 mile and turn right after the bridge onto Gibson. Follow Gibson 1/8 mile to a Y intersection and bear left onto South Avenue. Shortly, turn right onto Park Circle and follow for 1/8 mile to the Smuggler Mountain Road on the left. There is parking on the right.
September 5, 2020Hard trail run but great views. Pretty crowded with hikers, bikers and runners. Would definitely recommend for fall leaves.
August 27, 2020Nice walk up! Beautiful views at the observation deck
August 25, 2020Alk by myself. Had to park lower parking. Was in a hurry because I have a hair appointment
July 10, 2020This trail was a bit harder than I expected. It is pretty much up hill all the way up to the viewing observatory. AMAZING views of Aspen and surrounding mountains that makes it worth it - also love it for the workout it gives you. We chose to continue a bit further on the BTS trail (only less than a mile further up) and it provided a less steep and more secluded walk, filled with beautiful trees and shades. Next time will try to continue onto the lake but that makes it a total hike of 10+ miles rather than the 4-5 miles we clocked in. Also very convenient location right off downtown Aspen. Nice ice cream stop at the bottom - just to make the end all very sweet and refreshing!
August 17, 2019Beginning is wide-open fire road and after the look-out/observatory it get much steeper and very rocky. We were in a time crunch so we didn’t quite make it all the way to the lake (about a mile away) so we turned around and got down to the bottom which was all in all about 10.5 miles, 3.5 total moving hrs for us. You will encounter a good amount of people at the beginning to the observatory but after that there wasn’t anyone except some dirt bikes (moto). Also had mountain bikes further below.
August 9, 2019June 29, 2019Fire road and dirt road hike. Good exercise on the way up and great views!!
June 13, 2019Did the hike on Wed 6/6. I made it all the way to the lakes but my boots were soaked. Thank God for a second pair of socks.
June 9, 2019Trail was well marked and had amazing views. I attempted the Warren Lakes trail, which is a continuation of Smugglers Mnt trail, but it was still covered in patches of snow and I ran out of daylight.
May 3, 2019This trail is well kept, very popular in the summer. It has gorgeous views of the city. Kind of steep & was challenging. We were sore from the first hike up it but we loved it so much, we did it 2 days in a row.
April 18, 2019July 29, 2018Very long a lot of ups and downs but the lakes are pretty!!!
July 4, 2018heavily trafficked and a lot of road.
June 20, 2018Love this trail as a warm up hike when getting to Aspen and getting acclimated. It is a great cardio workout with a moderate incline and an easy run down into town.
December 30, 2017Great trail for the inexperienced but still excited for a workout. Beautiful view with easy cut backs. Good for groups
October 19, 2017Loved this place!! A man jogging e a three legged dog passed me so no one has an excuse to not get out there!
September 28, 2017Great View of town! Hike was moderate and not overcrowded
July 18, 2017More like walking up a steep dirt road for most of the way.
July 4, 2017Hiked only about 3.1 miles up to the huge billboard (not used, partially covered with trees) on Smuggler Road. Still a good, moderate hike.
May 30, 2017Not the best trail. Very busy and a lot of dogs off leash.
May 11, 2017So much fun! Great views!
September 3, 2016Straight up hill w lots of switchbacks. Tremendous views!
June 12, 2016Nice open trail to Mtn bike up.
June 12, 2016The views are so worth the uphill trek!
April 8, 2016Steep with views of Aspen, CO. Would be a fantastic sunset hike.
June 21, 2014Nice hike with gorgeous views of Aspen. There are several trails that branch off at the top.
August 31, 2013Great hike, especially one to get use to the air if visiting. I would try to run as much of it as possible and then walk when necessary. It tools about 25 minutes to run/walk it.
August 11, 2013Great hike close to town. Great views of Aspen below.
July 25, 2012Excellent jeep trail, followed by a number of hiking trails. So far I've only done the Smuggler's Loop.
October 19, 2020
