Parking
Use the Lily Lake parking lot off CO 7. The Aspen Brook route begins after about 0.6 mile on Storm Pass Trail.
Overview
About Aspen Brook Trail
Why go
- Follows Aspen Brook through mixed conifer and aspen woods.
Heads up
- Deep erosion and unstable sections make route-finding difficult.
- No verified public exit at the northern boundary; plan to turn back.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Rocky Mountain map
Full mapElevation8,317–9,035 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Rocky Mountain alerts
- ClosureOld Fall River Road closed to vehiclesOld Fall River Road is closed to motor vehicles for the season.Official details
- ClosureSun Valley burn-area access remains closedThe area and trail west of Sun Valley Trail remain closed, including the route used for angler access to the Colorado River, because of impacts from the 2020 East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires;…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Rocky Mountain Tour Guide
Your drive to Aspen Brook Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Rocky Mountain National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Rocky Mountain audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Lily Lake: A Gentle Loop Below the Peaks0:00 / 0:30
“You're nearing Lily Lake, a good stop if you want a gentle walk with big mountain views.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Tunnels Under the Bark
- Longs Peak Trailhead: Lake or Summit
- Seeds Sealed for Years
- Bear Lake Road Park and Ride: Leave the Car Here
- 79 audio storiesacross Rocky Mountain’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 136 trails, 88 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…No cell service for majority of the day but had continuous access to the app - the maps, the tour guide as you drive is amazing. Highly recommend purchasing the subscription.”
Trail guide
Hiking Aspen Brook Trail
The full outingAspen Brook Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back from Lily Lake Trailhead. Walk about 0.
Aspen Brook Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back from Lily Lake Trailhead. Walk about 0.6 mile on Storm Pass Trail to the Aspen Brook junction, then follow the brook corridor 1.74 miles north to the park boundary near the historic Wigwam Teahouse. Turn around there and retrace both stretches. Allow about 3½ hours for the descent and climb back; the route runs roughly 8,300 to 9,000 feet above sea level. Choose it for a longer wooded walk along a brook, not a quick lap around Lily Lake.
Turn around at the park lineThe mapped public route ends near the old Wigwam Teahouse at the park boundary.
The mapped public route ends near the old Wigwam Teahouse at the park boundary. A continuation toward Highway 66 would cross private land and YMCA property, and I couldn't verify that the required public access agreements were completed. Treat the boundary as the end of the hike; don't follow side paths across it.
Expect rough treadThe 2013 flood caused deep erosion and gullies along this trail, and parts are still described…
The 2013 flood caused deep erosion and gullies along this trail, and parts are still described as unstable. The route can be hard to follow, so it's a poor pick if you want smooth, easy footing. Pack animals are prohibited on Aspen Brook, and pets aren't allowed on park trails.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Rocky Mountain
3,124 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,601 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
19 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
19 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
30 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
270 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Rocky Mountain. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
