Visiting the Grottos ~ Near Aspen, Colorado

The Grottos Trail is a popular spot for tourists and locals, alike. The trail leads you to an ice cave and waterfalls. 

It is a short hike, a .6 mile loop, and is rated easy (with the exception of ice, in the grottos themselves – seasonally).

You will begin the loop by crossing over the Roaring Fork River. 

This trail is located in the White River National Forest. 

You will soon happen upon the Grottos. They used to be filled with snow and ice year-round. Now, due to the warming climate, the snow and ice may melt by the end of the summer. We visited in June and there was plenty of snow and ice down in the slot canyon.

Inside the cave can be very slippery. There are mats at the bottom of the entrance to cushion your landing. I was not interested in sliding down into the cave. My husband and son went to the entrance for a closer look, watched people slide in, and fall down, and decided to skip it.

Instead, they chose to climb above the Grottos. That’s me, waiting patiently for them to get their climbing fix, so we could move on to the waterfalls.

Just a little further along, you will find the waterfalls. 

Depending on the time of year of your visit, the cascades may be nice and full, like on our visit, or may be running low. 

There are plenty of large, flat rocks to sit on and enjoy the view and the sound of the rushing water.

Things to Know Before You Go:

1. The park and parking are free.
2. Parking is limited, so you may need to wait for a spot, depending on the time of year.
3. There are two trails, the loop and an out and back trail to view the cascades from a different vantage point.
4. The trails are rated easy.
5. There are bathrooms and picnic tables located near the parking lot.
6. If there is ice/snow in the Grottos, it will be very slippery. You are allowed to descend, but it’s at your own risk.
7. The trailhead is located off Highway 82 (The Independence Pass Road) near Aspen, Colorado.

From start to finish, we spent about 45 minutes here. We then headed to Annabelle Inn to check in. The next day we were up early to make our reservation time slot at Maroon Bells, an amazingly beautiful location! As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.

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Colorado Hiking

Hiking to Weller Lake

North Star Nature Preserve in Aspen, Colorado

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