Cascades, Grottos Day Use Area, White River National Forest, Returning to the parking area, turn left to cross the bridge, beginning the main Grottos stem-and-loop. Directions from Aspen: Drive nine miles east of Aspen on Highway 82. Getting There From Aspen head up the pass and look for the "Grottos Day Use Area" sign. like others have said, it’s a short trail but packed with sights. Cross the bridge straight across the Roaring Fork River and follow signs for the Ice Caves along the Grottos Trail. Parking can be an issue. Got the skinny on this place? Not much of a hike, but a very cool area with unique rock formations. Even though this is a really short trail, wear your good shoes because if you want to climb around at the cascades some of the rocks are very smooth and slippery even if they are dry. Ice caves, Grottos Trail, White River National Forest, CO. The final leg comprises a roller coaster of sorts: roughly following the southern bank of the Roaring Fork River, the trail ascends stairs and descends rocky slopes before crossing a minor drainage. Pay attention to the turnoff because it could be easy to miss, and parking is pretty limited. Short, easy, but packed with cool views! Be very cautious—in 2008, a Florida man died trying to save his wife, who had slipped over the edge into the rushing chute. This area is located past mile marker 50 and there is a gravel parking lot on the right. The Grottos Trail offers one of the more otherworldly Aspen experiences. Continuing on, it’s a couple minutes’ walk to the cascades, this time approached about midway up the falls. ( Log Out /  I did this "trail" in flip flops. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from June until September. Enjoy your hike and be safe. Getting down into the grottoes involves one semi-sketchy step down onto a makeshift 'staircase' of a few loose stumps on top of one another. The river originates as a tiny rivulet draining Independence Lake at an elevation of over 12,500 feet. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. First time at the Grottos on 9/23/20 and loved it! The cave itself is unmarked, but can be located by looking for a large hole opening in the snow around the open area where the signs lead. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Went here October 2019. it’s amazing but be sure that you are dressed well. Parking can be limited. The grottoes themselves are really neat. There are picnic tables scattered about, as well as a … Very touristy easy trail. Conversely, the trailhead is situated almost 11 miles west of Independence Pass. There are picnic tables scattered about, as well as a … Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. A grotto is a geological term for a cave or cavern. Its trailhead starts on Independence Pass—aka Highway 82—about 9 miles east of town, and winds with easy-to-moderate difficulty up through the pine-heavy White River National Forest along the Roaring Fork River. We stopped to use restroom and decided to adventure out. The route winds east, then north, and crosses a wooden bridge at a second entrance to the ice caves, this one far more treacherous. Situated just off Colorado’s Highway 82 west of Independence Pass, the short but spectacular Grottos Trail is a must-see in the Aspen-Leadville area. The ultimate source of travel inspiration plus 2 free gifts, 26692 CO-82, Aspen, Colorado 81611, United States. Absolutely beautiful place. Just nine miles east of Aspen on Highway 82, Independence Pass, are grottos. Independence ghost town. Adding to the allure is the smooth bedrock through which the falls slice. The Grottos Ice Cave . Help keep our trails and parks open during COVID-19 by committing to social distancing. Entering the slot requires sure footing and a couple nimble moves; it is possible to chimney down by using the opposite wall to ease the descent. It's more of an access path to see the ice cave and other sites along the route. Beautiful and fun! Change ). The summit of the Continental Divide is 12,095 feet above sea level, and Independence Pass is a 32-mile drive that takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Definitely recommend stopping for this one. Grottos Trail: Right off 82 on the way to Independence Pass - See 140 traveler reviews, 93 candid photos, and great deals for Aspen, CO, at Tripadvisor. The trail remains relatively level for the first 50 yards or so before bearing west and ascending a rocky slope laden with exposed tree roots. Ad Choices. With light bouncing off the undulating walls and the murky waters, the rock cavity into which you drop is an eerie and beautiful sight. This is a site found along the Grottos Trail. As others note, short but very sweet. The Grottos near Aspen were formed by rushing water of the Roaring Fork River. You come for the grottos, of course—caves of rock by turns undulant and jagged, worn and bowed and hacked by fitful river currents. Very cool and super easy. Shortly after reaching the aforementioned shady picnic spot, the Grottos route returns to the main junction. The Grottos Trail is a 0.6 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Aspen, Colorado that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. There are picnic tables scattered about, as well as a pit toilet. Use 1 or all 4 drop downs to customize your search for the right trail. What a lucky stop!! The Ice Caves (Grottos) is a long cavern where small pools of water freeze and create an ice cave. Find a trail. Cascades, Grottos Trail, White River National Forest. Muy corto. An incomplete guide to hiking Utah, Colorado, Virginia, and beyond, Maroon Lake Trail (White River National Forest, CO), Grottos Trail (White River National Forest, CO), Colorado Highway 82 and Independence Pass | Live and Let Hike, The Grottos in the Aspen Highlands – Travel & travelling, Top 10 Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park's "Frontcountry", Appalachian Trail to The Pinnacle and Marys Rock (Shenandoah National Park, VA), Trail Gulch Lake (Trinity Alps Wilderness, CA), White Rock Canyon - Arizona Hot Spring Canyon Trail Loop (Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ), Rock Circuit Trail (Middlesex Fells Reservation, MA), Follow Live and Let Hike on WordPress.com, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, North Vista Trail to Exclamation Point (Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO), Chasm View Nature Trail (Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO), Peekaboo Loop Trail (Bryce Canyon National Park, UT). The ice caves are more of a slot canyon type of thing, with the bottom covered in ice that rarely sees the sun, if at all. Most will be able to complete the entry but should use caution—dropping off to the left could cause injury, or at least an unpleasant dip into icy cold water. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. it was a lot of fun climbing down into the ice caves. The Grotto Wall, with its historic and appealing Cryogenic Corner and John Sherman's highballing masterpiece The Ineditable, is the centerpiece of the Pass. Pingback: Colorado Highway 82 and Independence Pass | Live and Let Hike, Pingback: The Grottos in the Aspen Highlands – Travel & travelling. Here the slot cuts some 30-40 feet deep into the granite and narrows to about 3-4 feet wide. After edging past an ovular granite dome on the left, the trail drops to a junction. For around 1/10 mile, the narrowing trail beyond climbs amid spruce and pine trees to a second junction, this time indicating the start of the detour to the ice caves. Needless to say there is no social distancing in any caves, caverns, or grottoes, so plan accordingly. Between Aspen and Twin Lakes, Independence Pass is bordered by White River and Pike-San Isabel National Forests and traverses the Continental Divide, reaching 12,095 feet at the summit. Easy short hike to the Ice Caves and the Grottos! During its 60-mile journey from the Pass to its confluence with the Colorado River, the Roaring Fork River is fed by its tributaries, the Fryingpan and Crystal Rivers. Climbed down the ice caves and felt like a fantasy land! Not too deep in length, maybe could only go about 40ft until we reached an impassable section of water. Find a park. Our 5yo and 8yo loved the ice caves. Happy strolling. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from June until September. All products featured are independently selected by our editors. We spent unexpected 2-3 hours here and had such an awesome experience. Highly recommend a stop here if you are in the area! Easy to navigate and amazing sites. Amazing blue water and waterfalls! Easy, well signed trail through the area, and it's more of a walk than a hike. To reach the Grottos, drive east from Aspen for approximately nine miles on Highway 82, looking for signs on the right marking the Grottos Day Use Area. Awesome all around. Bear left to reach a nice creekside grove with a picnic table and the cascades beyond; bear right to head to the ice caves. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20). Getting There From Aspen head up the pass and look for the "Grottos Day Use Area" sign. Lesser-skilled hikers should use caution, though, especially when climbing back out—the rocks can be slippery. My wife and I stopped here to check this spot out. Worth checking out!! There is only an elevation gain of 300 feet on the three-quarters of a mile loop making it an ultra-family friendly hike. Visited The Grottos Trail and wasn't impressed. The highlight is definitely the cascades. Short and sweet. This is a site found along the Grottos Trail. During its 60-mile journey from the Pass to its confluence with the Colorado River, the Roaring Fork River is fed by its tributaries, the Fryingpan and Crystal Rivers. Go early to avoid crowds. Easy and lots of stuff to look at. Was easy for us but some people with small children strapped to their backs were nervous, which is reasonable. The Grottos Cave is a long cavern where small pools of water freeze and create an ice cave. Love the stream at the end. Highly recommend. Nice diversion on the way to Aspen on Independence Pass. The Grottos Trail offers one of the more otherworldly Aspen experiences. ( Log Out /  Super short easy stroll. The Grottos Aspen, Colorado, United States ratings, photos, prices, expert advice, traveler reviews and tips, and more information from Condé Nast Traveler. The river originates as a tiny rivulet draining Independence Lake at an elevation of over 12,500 feet. The cave itself is unmarked, but can be located by looking for a large hole opening in the rocks around the open area where the signs lead. Ice Grottos on Independence Pass. Vale l pena la parada para entrar dentro de la cueva. All rights reserved. And like most areas on Independence Pass, crowds shouldn't be an issue especially since the approach is steep and the Grotto Wall is just up the road. We loved our visit to the Grotto’s area as a perfect stop along the way up to Independence Pass. Espectacular. The Roaring Fork will grow to be 1,000 times the size of its original trickle. By using this site you agree to the terms of our. Turn here, drive about 200 feet to the parking area. ( Log Out /  i highly recommend it. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Grottos Trail #2180 is an intermediate/moderate winter trail you can snowshoe that is dog friendly. You can get down into them, worth doing in order to see the formations from the inside (go in winter or spring to see why locals nicknamed them "ice caves"). The roads to reach this trailhead are subject to weather related closures.

Grand Hyatt Vail Reviews, Best Ebook Promotion Sites 2020, Two Bad Ants Printable Story, Antares Capital Balance Sheet, Ben Brown Brothers, Special Library Association, étoile Room London House,