The Maroon Bells- Wow!

What is the most photographed place in the world? According to our Forest Service guide it is the Maroon Bells near Aspen Colorado. I’m not sure how one would know that and it doesn’t even matter for “The Bells,” as they are locally known, ARE the most picturesque of any mountains in the country and form a backdrop that epitomizes what the Rocky Mountains are all about.

Our Trips and Tours program took museum travelers this past Saturday to the base of the Maroon Bells, two of Colorado’s famous 14er’s (those peaks that rise above 14,000 feet) to identify wildflowers and learn about the subalpine and alpine environments of the high Rockies.

The “Maroon” part of the name comes from the rich, reddish color of the rocks that form this part of the Rockies. The “Bells” come from the peaks’ appearance, two side by side bells. Along the way to our destination we saw the scouring effects of numerous avalanches on the slopes and glaciated valleys of Maroon Creek.  Even though our guide did her best to hold our attention to the ground identifying an incredible array of wildflowers or looking at local wildlife (no, not other visitors), we kept diverting ourselves to the breathtaking mountains before us.

If you haven’t seen the Maroon Bells yet make it a point to not let another season pass without a visit.