The Grottos Trail In Aspen
Complete Hiking Guide (By Locals)
The Grottos Trail in Aspen, CO - Everything You Need To Know
The Colorado Local's Review And Guide To One Of Aspen's Most Iconic Hiking Trails
As Coloradans, we’ve hiked all over our great state, and when it comes to bang for your buck, the Grottos Trail in Aspen has some of the best payoffs for your effort.
In just a short half-mile loop, you get to witness caves of stone carved by ice and roaring, dreamy blue-hued cascading falls with the most refreshing post-hike mist.
The Grottos Trail is located about 9 miles outside of Aspen, along Independence Pass, making it a super accessible must-see spot if you’re in the area.
As one of the shorter trails around Aspen, it also tends to be more family-friendly (although, you’ll want to keep the kids close, as the caves and roaring waters of the Roaring Fork River pose their own risks).
As Coloradans who’ve spent a ton of time exploring Aspen and the surrounding trails, we’ll give you the breakdown of everything you need to know about the Grottos Trail, along with some tips on what else there is to do in the area. Consider us your local guide.
Disclosure: We’ve included lodging and product recommendations in this guide. If you choose to book or buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Shopping through these links helps support our small Colorado business and allows us to continue creating this free content.
All recommendations in our Grottos Trail guide are crafted with love and expertise, from platforms we use and trust for our own adventures, both in Aspen and beyond.
Why Are Outdoor Adventures So Inaccessible?
Outdoor culture and outdoor adventures have a history of being intentionally exclusive and inaccessible. And if you’re just getting into it, it can feel seriously intimidating.
We created The Wilder Dispatch, an email newsletter with an intent to make getting outside feel genuinely approachable. Subscribe for our best tips for adventuring outdoors and our musings on the outdoor industry in general.
Where Is The Grottos Trail Located?
Directions From Aspen And Twin Lakes
The Grottos Trail is located along Indy Pass and can be accessed either from the Aspen side or the Twin Lakes side.
Ultimately Aspen will be much closer to the Grottos Trail. Simply take E Cooper Ave southeast out of town. It’ll eventually become Indy Pass, and in about 9 miles, you’ll hang a right to turn into the trailhead (we’ve included GPS coordinates below).
If you’re coming from Twin Lakes, you’ll drive up the pass toward Aspen (so going northwest). It’ll be about a 28 mile drive, and the trailhead will be on your left.
Note: the pass is seasonal, so accessibility to the Grottos Trail will be impacted during parts of the year. More on that in the next section.
- GPS Coordinates:Â 39.118777, -106.703481
- Nearest Towns: Aspen and Twin Lakes, CO
- The Grottos Trail Length: 0.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 29 ft
- Wheelchair Accessible: sort of (There’s a section of trail that starts on the left from the trailhead that is, but the rest isn’t.)
- Family/Kid Friendly: it depends on your kids (keep them close, given the roaring river waters and deep ice caves are both risks)
- Dog Friendly:Â yes (must be on leash)
- Cell Service: No, we always recommend bringing along a Garmin InReach for emergencies.
- Fee: none
Is The Grottos Trail Open All Year?
Must-Know Details On Trail Closures
The Grottos Trail is located on a mountain pass that’s only open during a small fraction of the year (typically late May to the very beginning of November, though this varies based on weather conditions).
This means that accessing it from the Twin Lakes side is all but impossible during those colder months.
You can get closer via the Aspen side, but the road closes before the trailhead, so you’ll have to cross country ski your way to the trailhead.
That said, we highly advise against visiting the Grottos Trail in the winter months. The snow gets quite deep at elevation, and with there being a river and ice caves, the risk of injury is pretty high.
Our personal opinion? Visit the Grottos Trail in the summer months, when you can actually explore the caves and watch the river and waterfalls flow.
No one is maintaining these trails in the winter, and the risk just isn’t worth the reward.
Must-Know Details About The Grottos Trail
The Local Perspective
It really doesn’t get cooler than hiking a trail home to some of the oldest rocks in Colorado. The grottos of the Grottos Trail were quite literally carved by glaciers, and when you look at the sculpted rocks that make up the caves, you can’t help but be in awe.
Let’s get into the details on this hike.
Visiting Colorado? We've Got You Covered.
There’s really no better way to explore Colorado than by driving around to all the best mountain gems.
As Coloradans who’ve explored all over our great state, we’ve crafted the ultimate CO road trip guide, with all the local advice you won’t find from those big travel sites.
Is The Grottos Trail Good For Beginners?
Ok, let’s dive into who the Grottos Trail is best for. This hike is definitely on the shorter end, less than a mile in total. And there’s minimal elevation gain, so in that sense it’s definitely an easier hike.
That said, there are some risks to adventuring on the Grottos Trail, which we’ll break down below.
The Grottos Trail Requires Shoes With Excellent Traction
There are sections of the Grottos Trail where you’ll be walking on smooth, slippery rock. You can find this on several parts of the trail, including near the ice caves and by the cascades on the Roaring Fork River.
All of these are easy slip risks, and people have gotten injured and even died on this trail. In several sections of the Grottos Trail, the fast waters of the Roaring Fork are nothing to mess with, and falling in can be life-threatening.
All of this to say, please do not hike the Grottos Trail without shoes that can handle/grip on slick, wet surfaces.
The Ice Caves Along The Grottos Trail Can Be Steep And Dangerous
The ice caves on the Grottos Trail are one of the most scenic stops along the route. However, they’re also quite deep and in some cases almost feel like they pop up out of nowhere.
You’ll be walking along a giant slab of granite, and there’s just a slot in the stone-covered ground where the ice caves live.
If you’re not careful where you’re walking, it can be risky. As parents, the Grottos Trail is one in which we highly advise other parents to either carry their children or keep them extremely close by.
For anyone who wants to adventure into the caves, please know it is not easy to get in and out of them, and they are quite narrow in many places. Descend at your own risk.
The Parking Situation At The Grottos Trail
It’s worth noting that the Grottos Trail has a pretty small dirt parking lot that doesn’t quite accommodate how popular this trail can be, especially on weekends.
To ensure you’re actually able to secure a parking spot and enjoy the hike, we highly recommend either coming on a weekday or opting to get there around sunrise.
Personally, we love hiking the Grottos at sunrise. It’s so much more peaceful, and the golden hour light makes the trail even more enchanting.
Amenities On The Grottos Trail
The Grottos Trail has vault toilets in the parking lot and a lovely little picnic area with tables along the river. So even if you don’t necessarily want to take your family on the full hike, given the risks we mentioned earlier, there are still some great spots where the whole family can hang out.
Some Of Our Favorite Gear For Hiking The Grottos Trail
The Items We Always Pack With Us When We Do This Hike
We’ll preface this gear list with this: we’re not including any specific equipment for descending into the ice caves or for getting in the river.
This is simply a list of some of our top items we bring with us when we’re just hiking and exploring the trail portion of the Grottos hike.
- AllTrails – If we’re completely honest, the trail system for the Grottos can be a little bit messy and confusing, and there are multiple routes to get to the same spot. Even though it’s a short hike, we like to have an offline map downloaded from AllTrails to know exactly where we are and where we’re going. They’ve generously offered our readers 30% off their first year of a Peak membership through our link.
- Sunscreen – Listen, anywhere you go in Colorado, sunscreen is essential. But the higher the elevation, the easier it is to burn, and it can happen fast. The areas of the Grottos Trail near the cascades get a good bit of sun, so pack accordingly. This is our favorite sunscreen to use, and they also make a version just for the face that doesn’t leave a white cast or clog pores.
- Snackle Box – The Grottos Trail is the perfect place to have a picnic. It has picnic tables as well as many flat areas (along the Roaring Fork River and elsewhere) to set up for a quick meal. We love packing a snackle box with snacks that everyone in the family will love. The dividers make including tons of food options so easy, without everything getting soggy and weird.
- Bug Spray – Sure, Colorado is a dry state, but the Grottos Trail is right by a river, and it can be a total magnet for mosquitos. People are always surprised by the necessity of bug spray here, but it’s essential.
- A Lightweight Puffer Jacket – We love the versatility of a lightweight puffer, since the temps in the mountains fluctuate so much, especially from sunrise to later in the morning. We always start the day with our lightweight puffers and then pack them away (they’re crazy compact and amazingly light) when we no longer need the extra warmth.
Hiking The Grottos Trail With Kids? Given the risks with the fast flowing river and deep ice caves, popping the kiddos in a hiking carrier can be a really solid idea. This is the one we use and absolutely love.
Want The Details On The Best Places Throughout Colorado?
We’ve been all over Colorado, and explored the mountains high and low. This is our ranked list of the best of the best mountain villages throughout the state.
The Best Lodging Spots Near The Grottos Trail
Our Favorite Lodging In And Around Aspen
If you’re looking to get as close to the Grottos Trail as possible, and you don’t plan on camping, staying in Aspen is going to be your best bet.
These are the places we love:
- Hotel Jerome – We’ll never stop raving about Hotel Jerome. Not only is it full of undeniable charm, but it is also Aspen’s oldest hotel. The interior design is beyond stunning, and the lobby is connected to our favorite cafe in Aspen, Felix Roasting. Definitely swing by for a pick-me-up before hiking the Grottos Trail.
- This Cabin-Meets-Luxury Modern Condo – Compared to a lot of pricey vacation rentals in Aspen, this one is a much better deal, and it sleeps 6. Add to that the luxuriously cabin-inspired modern touches, and you have a dream stay.
- The Famous Aspen XO House – If you do dream of splurging, it doesn’t get better than the famous XO House, which combines a renovated late 1800’s mining cabin with a modern Scandi style add-on. It’s located in the Aspen Core, so you’re in a central location to everything. Plus, the home comes with practically every amenity you could imagine. It’s not a cheap stay, but it is a bucket list one.Â
Find The Best Coffee In Aspen
Felix Roasting Co. is arguably one of the best coffee shops in Colorado, and undeniably the prettiest. It’s a full-on experience, not just a coffee pit-stop.
Swing by here before you hit up the Grottos Trail. Our full coffee shop review covers everything you should know.
Other Things To See Near The Grottos Trail
Aspen and the surrounding mountains are home to some of our favorite adventures in the state. We’ve compiled a little list of favorite spots and adventures while you’re out exploring the Grottos Trail.
- Independence Pass – The Grottos Trail is quite literally along Indy Pass, and this route is hands-down one of the most scenic in the state. Drive the whole thing for some other-worldly high alpine views. Our guide covers all the details.
- Twin Lakes – Speaking of Indy Pass, if you drive it out of Aspen, you eventually end up in Twin Lakes, one of the best little mountain spots for paddleboarding, fishing, and camping. This one’s a local favorite.
- Ashcroft Ghost Town – Get a feel for the mining vibes of the 1800s when you visit Ashcroft. It’s our favorite ghost town in all of Colorado, and absolutely breathtaking. It’s only about a 30 minute drive outside of Aspen.
P.S. Want to see more dreamy photos from the Grottos Trail? We’ve dropped a few more of our favorites down below.
We're Your Personal Colorado Experts
Hey there! We’re Sheena and Ed. We’re Colorado locals and outdoor adventurers who make it our business to find the best spots and trails throughout the state, including the Grottos.
Planning a trip to the Centennial State? Start here with some of our most-loved guides:
- Can’t decide where in the Rockies you want to travel to? We’ve narrowed it down for you with our list of best mountain spots.
- Think you could move to CO? There are a few pros and cons you’ll need to consider before you make the jump. We break it all down.