Hunter Valley Trail - 8.9 Miles Round-Trip

The Hunter Creek Trail joins the Hunter Valley Trail to form an 8.9 mile out-and-back route east of downtown Aspen. The hike features scenic bridges over Hunter Creek and expansive, aspen-ringed meadows with alpine backdrops in the Maroon Bells and Hunter-Frying Pan wilderness areas.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

The Hunter Creek Trail climbs steeply along the creek to a big meadow at 10th Mountain Bridge, where the Hunter Valley Trail continues east up the north side of Hunter Creek until fading out shortly past the last cabin remains.

The Hunter Creek trail system sees heavy use, especially on summer weekends. Honor yield protocols and posted leash laws.

There are several access points and potential routes for reaching Hunter Valley Trail - the following description begins on Lone Pine Road in downtown Aspen:

From Lone Pine Road, follow signs behind the residential area to boardwalks along the creek and consecutive bridge crossings (.3 and .47 miles). Note diverse vegetation in this riparian corridor, including large cottonwoods ain the creek channel.

Grades steepen past the Lani White Trail split (.5 miles : 8,050') to a 3rd bridge (.65 miles) and Benedict Bridge - Red Mountain BLM Trailhead spur (.95 miles : 8,370').

Cross Benedict Bridge back to the south side, where steep travel continues past the Verena Mallory Trail split (1.15 miles : 8,525') and over a service road (1.4 miles) to a Backcountry Board + Map on the edge of a large meadow (1.6 miles : 8,655').

The valley opens and levels past the Hunter Creek Cutoff Trail (1.7 miles : 8,665') to the 10th Mountain Bridge and first sign for the Hunter Valley Trail (1.85 miles : 8,695').

Here you may cross the bridge or continue straight to another at 2.6 miles (8,790') - both lead to the north side of Hunter Creek and continue on as the Hunter Valley Trail. The routes are virtually equidistant; the following description keeps straight to the 2.6 mile bridge.

The 2.6 mile bridge crosses Hunter Creek and a series of scenic pools ideal for fishing. The meadow expands considerably in a park-like setting with the Elk Mountain's distinct red-hues framing the west, and high peaks in the Hunter-Frying Pan to the east.

Travel levels on near-perfect singletrack through the meadow to a rise at 3.5 miles (8,880'), which drops you back into a similar but smaller meadow. The trail moves quickly to the far end, where the valley rapidly tapers in thicker timber to the last cabin remains on the left (4.45 miles : 8,972').

It continues past the cabin and is intuitively followed along Hunter Creek, but soon loses clarity and is absorbed by heavy brush.