RIO GRANDE TRAIL:
ASPEN-GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO
ASPEN TRAILS:
CEMETERY LANE TRAIL:
MAROLT TRAIL:
EAST OF ASPEN TRAIL:
UTE AVENUE TRAIL:
ASPEN, COLORADO
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: January 23, 2025
Length: Rio Grande Trail; 42 miles
Cemetery Lane Trail; 1.1 miles
Marolt Trail; 0.5 miles
Hopkins Ave Bike Route; 0.5 miles
East of Aspen Trail; 3.4 miles
Ute Avenue Trail; 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Rio Grande Trail; Aspen to Glenwood Springs; Easy. Downhill grade, paved and stone-dust rail trail.
Rio Grande Trail; Glenwood Springs to Aspen;. Moderate. Uphill grade, paved and stone-dust rail trail.
Cemetery Lane Trail; Moderate. Uphill grade off the Rio Grande Trail. Easy. Downhill grade from Route 82. Cement trail.
Marolt Trail; Easy. Mostly flat paved trail.
Hopkins Ave Bike Route; Easy. On-road, flat road along limited traffic route.
East of Aspen Trail; Moderate. Uphill grade from downtown Aspen.
Ute Avenue Trail; Easy. Mostly flat paved trail.
Directions:
To Start from Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs [Northern End]; From I-70 take Exit 116 to Route 82. Travel north to the traffic circle. Turn left on W 6th St to Devereux Rd and turn left. Cross I-70 and Two Rivers Park will be on your left. From here you can also access the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Trail .
To Start from Herron Park in Aspen [Southern End]; From Route 82 enter downtown Aspen. From Main St (Route 82) travel east through town for 0.9 miles to Original St and turn left down Neale Ave. The parking lot will be on your left.
The Rio Grande Trail follows the rail bed of the old Aspen Branch of the historic Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad from Glenwood Springs Southeast, up to Aspen. In Aspen, you can access many other trails from the Rio Grande Trail, as well as, other trails located in Aspen. For more information visit; RIO GRANDE TRAIL and ASPEN AREA TRAILS .
Rio Grande Trail:
Starting from Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs [Northern End]; To access the trail from the parking lot, travel East, along the Colorado River via the paved Two Rivers Park Trail, to a pedestrian bridge over the river after 0.3 miles. Here you'll find the O Mile Marker for the start of the Rio Grande Trail. Map Board here.
Note; Straight, East, will take you to Historic Downtown Glenwood Springs and the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Trail .
I haven't checked out this section. [Re-zeroing Mileage] Travel South, across the Colorado River, to the mouth of the Roaring Fork River and underneath the RR tracks. The paved trail heads South, alongside the river, past the Water Treatment Plant. Mile Markers located every 0.5 miles. Travel underneath 8th St and alongside some old RR tracks before the trail pulls away from the river after 0.6 miles. Nice views of the surrounding foothills. Come to a Map for Glenwood Springs trails next to an intersection at 1 mile.
Note; Heading right, South, then North, along the paved trail leads to a pedestrian bridge, West, across the river where you may access the Midland Ave Trail after 0.5 miles. I haven't checked out this trail. The Midland Ave Trail is located along the Western Bank of the Roaring Fork River.
You'll return alongside the river briefly before coming alongside Route 82 at 1.6 miles.
Note; Heading right, on-road, along Grand Ave leads to 27th St. Head right, West, across the river, where you may access the Atkinson Canal Trail on your right after 0.3 miles. I haven't checked out this trail. The Atkinson Canal Trail is located along the Western Bank of the Roaring Fork River. It was built over an irrigation ditch that was originally constructed in 1884 to supply water to the area and is 1.4 miles in length.
Here the trail travels through town alongside Route 82. Leave the town behind at 2.6 miles as the trail travels through brush land below Route 82. After 11.6 miles you'll cross a bridge over the river and enter Carbondale. Cross Route 133 at 12 miles.
Note; I haven't checked out this trail. The paved, Route 133 Trail travels South, from Route 82, alongside Route 133 (both sides of the road) for 7 miles to S Bill Creek Rd.
Travel South, a short distance, before the trail bears left away from Route 133 and through the center of Carbondale. Cross Main St at 13.1 miles where the trail travels above Route 100 as you leave Carbondale behind heading East. Come to the Route 100 parking lot at 15.9 miles where you'll find a Map Board and picnic pavilion. Here the trail follows the river again on your left and foothills on your right along an isolated stretch. After 17.7 miles you leave the river behind before paralleling Hooks Spur Rd, heading Southeast, at 18.5 miles. The trail becomes more open as you come to Hooks Lane in Basalt at 20.5 miles. Hook Spur parking lot to your left. The trail continues along a wide open corridor. After 21.7 miles you come alongside Route 82 and a Spur Trail on your left.
Note; This Spur Trail takes you North, underneath Route 82 to the Emma Trail. I haven't checked out this trail. Heading right, East, the trail will take you to downtown Basalt. Heading left, West, the trail crosses over the Roaring Fork River to the Willits Trail. Combined this 3.8 mile paved series of trails and sidewalks in Basalt is referred to as the Downtown Basalt-Willits Trail. See: Emma Trail & Downtown Basalt-Willits Trail .
The trail continues along an open corridor, passing by the Basalt HS parking lot at 23.3 miles. Cross two bridges over the river and Route 82 at 24.9 miles. Here the trail follows the Eastern foothills on your left. Come to an intersection at 25.6 miles.
Note; Left, Northwest, a paved trail takes you 0.7 miles to Holland Hills Dr in Basalt.
Continue right, Southeast, along a slight uphill grade along the ridgeline. Pass by the North River Road parking lot at 26.7 miles as the trail becomes more open. The trail parallels Lower River Rd with the river down below for the most part. Cross Lower River Rd at 29 miles. Better views of the river along this stretch. Pass by the Upper River Road parking lot at 33.6 miles and cross a bridge over Woody Creek. Trail continues slightly uphill along the foothills. Rising above the river below. Cross McLain Flatts Rd at 35.4 miles where you'll have nice sweeping views of the hills and mountains. After 37 miles the trail turns to stone-dust as you follow the ridge above the river. Come to an intersection at 38.5 miles.
Note; Right, South, leads to the crushed gravel Stein Trail which includes a bridge across the river.
I've checked out this next section. Stone-dust trail follows Roaring Fork River. Uphill climb. Canyon along the right with nice rapids. Foothills along your left. Trail becomes paved as you pass by Stein Park on the right. Picnic tables, BIKE STATION and Porto-Potty located here. Come to an intersection at 39.5 miles.
Note; Left, North, brings you to the McLain Flatts Road parking lot, where the Cemetery Lane Trail begins, traveling South past here. See Below.
Pass by Hunter Creek hiking trail (Map Board located here) before crossing over Hunter Creek and Roaring Fork River in Aspen at 41.2 miles as the trail turns South. Trail turns left.
Note; Right, West, takes you along the Post Office Trail, to the Post Office and Mill St.
The trail winds alongside the river, before crossing back over the Roaring Fork River, traveling underneath Mill St and coming to the Visitor Center at 41.5 miles. From here the trail crosses back over the river via an iron trestle bridge to an intersection.
Note; Left, Southeast, is the stone-dust John Denver Sanctuary Trail.
Come to another intersection.
Note; Right leads past Rio Grande Park and out to N Mill St.
Bare left to another intersection.
Note; Right, South, leads out to Rio Grande Pl and the Aspen Skate Park.
Continue straight, Southeast, along the river to a pedestrian bridge.
Note; Left, North, takes you across a pedestrian bridge, along the Oklahoma Flatts Trail, which takes you out to Gibson Ave.
Cross the Roaring Fork River one last time before coming to Herron Park after 42 miles. Here you'll find restrooms and a playground. Small Herron Park parking area.
Note; From here, you can access the East of Aspen Trail on-road. Exit the park traveling right, Southwest, on-road, up Neale Ave to Original St. Head left along a BIKE LANE, then left, East, again along E Hopkins Ave (residential). At the end of the street a pedestrian bridge crosses over the Roaring Fork River. Turn right, South, up Park Ave (residential) to Route 82 at 0.5 miles. Across the street, a crosswalk will bring you to the start of the East of Aspen Trail. See Below.
Cemetery Lane & Marolt Trails:
From the junction of the Rio Grande Trail and McLain Flats Road parking lot in Aspen; The cement Cemetery Lane Trail travels South, up to a pedestrian bridge over the Roaring Fork River, where it travels uphill alongside Cemetery Lane. Part of the trail follows a cantilevered boardwalk. After a steep section the trail levels off some as it travels through a residential neighborhood. After 1.1 miles you'll come to an *Intersection, just before Route 82 and the end of this trail.
Note; Straight, South, the Cemetery Lane Trail brings you to the AABC Trail (Aspen Airport Business Center Trail). I haven't checked out this trail which travels Northwest, alongside Route 82 for 2.4 miles to the Aspen Airport Business Center. You may also access the Old Stage Trail, Burlingame Trail and Owl Creek Trail off the NE side of this trail, as well as, the High School & Campus Trail, Highlands Trail and Hospital Trail. I haven't checked out any of these trails.
Left across Cemetery Lane is the start of the Marolt Trail (follow signs for downtown Aspen). This paved trail takes you South, past a BIKE STATION, then out to and underneath Route 82 to another **Intersection.
Note; Right, West, takes you to Aspen Highlands through Marolt Open Space to the Hospital Trail. I haven't checked out this trail.
Continue straight, South, along the open Marolt Trail, past an overlook of the Holden Lixiviation Works below on your left, to another**Intersection at 0.3 miles.
Note; Right brings you up to the HOLDEN MAROLT MINING & RANCHING MUSEUM , Castle Creek Rd and Marolt Pl.
Continue left, Southeast and you'll cross Marolt Bridge, high above Castle Creek, before coming to S 7th St & W Hopkins Ave after 0.5 miles and the end of the trail.
Note; From here you can head right, East, on-road, along W Hopkins Ave to explore downtown Aspen. This section of Hopkins Ave is traffic limited, to allow for Bikes all the way to S Garmisch St after 0.5 miles.
East of Aspen Trail:
From the junction of N Riverside Ave, Route 82 & the Roaring Fork River pedestrian bridge in Aspen; The paved East of Aspen Trail travels Southeast, alongside Route 82.
Note; Heading West, on-road (sidewalk) will take you to downtown Aspen.
Cross the Roaring Fork River pedestrian bridge and come to a crosswalk.
Note; Across the street is Park Ave, where you can access the start of the Rio Grande Trail via an on-road, 0.5 mile route. See; Rio Grande Trail above.
This paved East of Aspen Trail travels uphill as it exits Aspen. Cross a bridge after 0.4 miles and come to an intersection.
Note; Right, West, leads to the paved Ute Avenue Trail. See Below.
Continue alongside Route 82 and come to Stillwater Rd after 0.7 miles. I haven't checked out this next section. The trail turns right, South, via a boardwalk alongside Stillwater Rd, crosses the Roaring Fork River, then heads left, East, into the woods as a stone-dust trail. Follow the river a bit before a pedestrian bridge takes you back across the river to the Northstar Preserve parking lot at 1.3 miles. The stone-dust trail travels between Route 82 and the preserve. After 2.9 miles a boardwalk takes you across a marsh before returning alongside Route 82 after 3.1 miles. The trail ends after 3.4 miles at Difficult Lane.
Ute Avenue Trail:
From the junction of the East of Aspen Trail in Aspen; The paved Ute Avenue Trail travels West, away from Route 82, crossing over Salvation Ditch, where it winds down through Aspen trees. Very scenic. Cross over the Roaring Fork River. Follow the river a short distance before the trail turns out to Ute Ave. Ute Ave parking lot located here. Informational signs. The trail now travels Northwest, alongside Ute Ave. After 2.5 miles the trail ends at S Original Rd. From here you can access downtown Aspen by heading straight, along a short path or right along Spring St.
HH
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT