Our greatest desire is to see you living your best life with your dog. That includes checking off your bucket list together! We've put together a list of epic, dog-friendly adventures that will hopefully inspire you to explore with your pooch!

Today we're kicking off this series with an icon American destination - the Maroon Bells. Located just outside of Aspen, Colorado, the peaks known as, "The Bells," are among the most photographed mountains in North America. The Bells, themselves, are not dog-friendly due to their rugged nature and high level of climbing difficulty, but the Maroon Bells Scenic Area offers other hiking trails that welcome pups! 

To get the most out of this area, we recommend backpacking to Crater Lake, a high alpine lake surrounded by breathtaking views! This is the type of hike that will be burned in your memory forever; there's just no place in the world like it!

Backpacking in this area requires backcountry permits which can be purchased through Recreation.gov. Here are the need to knows about the hike:

Entering the Park
Note that overnight parking permits are required and you must enter the park before 8am if you want to park your car at the trailhead. If you want to enter the park after 8am, you have to make a shuttle reservation and ride the shuttle from Aspen.

Entry & Exit Point
This trail starts and ends at the Maroon Lake Trailhead. There is an overnight lot specifically for backpackers. 

Distance
3.5 miles roundtrip with 688ft of elevation gain, though this is a low estimate from personal experience. Plan for at least 2 miles each way to the camp sites. For detailed info, check out the AllTrails Trail Map.

Difficulty
Moderate. Don't underestimate this hike - its rocky, technical, and at high elevation. It's doable for most any hiker (including our office manager's 3 year old!) and dog, just remember to account for the weight of your pack, heat, rough terrain for your dog, etc. Start early, go slowly, and drink lots of water! 

Safety
This is bear country! All food and items that smell (sunscreen, dog food, bug spray, toothpaste, etc.) must be stored in an approved bear cannister and must be kept a safe distance away from camp. Moose are also known to frequent the lake - dogs must be kept on leash, under control, and far away from moose.

Camp Sites
You must camp in a designated, reserved camp site. Note that most of the camp sites are not right along the lake - once you get there, you'll need to hike some more (and gain some elevation) to get to your site, especially if it is one of the higher number sites (>5), as these are further. 

Special Considerations for Dogs
This trail is doable for most dogs, but make sure to consider your dog's physical fitness before attempting a hike like this. Ensure that they have good leash manners - this trail gets very narrow in some spots and it's one of the busiest hiking areas in Colorado. Make sure to pack a coat or sleeping bag for them since it can get down to freezing at night, even in the middle of the summer. Stay on top of their hydration - dogs and humans alike need to drink more water to stay hydrated at elevation. Bring a water filter and filter a few liters for them as soon as you get to camp. Always carry a rescue system like the Fido Pro in case of emergency. 

Would you attempt this trip with your dog? Let us know in the comments below!