Silver Bell Campground
Located just outside Aspen, Colorado, Silver Bell Campground is hemmed in by aspen groves and subalpine forests on the banks of Maroon Creek. The campground sits at an elevation of 8,460 feet, allowing guests to experience warm summer days and cool evenings with probable afternoon thunderstorms. Come prepared for changing weather conditions. Snow is possible even at the peak of summer.
More like this: reservable in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 6 |
| Walk-in | 6 |
| Standard, no hookups | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
14 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | Walk-in | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 003 | Walk-in | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 004 | Walk-in | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 005 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 006 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 008 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
Silver Bell Campground has 14 sites, including tent-only and walk-in sites. RVs and trailers are welcome at the standard sites. Sites are equipped with picnic tables, vault toilets, food storage lockers (bear boxes) and campfire rings. Drinking water and electrical hook-ups are not available. The campground is usually full before noon during peak Summer/Fall season.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | White River National Forest |
| Rules | 5 day stay limit. There is an 8 person, two car limit per campsite. Pets must be on a leash at all times while visiting campgrounds AND within designated Wilderness. The leash should not exceed 6 feet in length. Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds and/or designated campsites only. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Coming to Aspen via Independence Pass: Take Highway 82 West from downtown Aspen, 1 mile to the roundabout (rotary). From the roundabout, take Maroon Creek Road 4.7 miles to the Maroon Bells Welcome Station. Continue past the Welcome Station half a mile. Silver Bell Campground is on the left hand side.
| Nearest town | Carbondale, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.1417° N, 106.8917° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Silver Bell campsites 2-4 and 8-14 are not available for advanced reservation on Recreation.gov and are set aside as first-come, first-served for up to the five day stay limit.
- Please visit the welcome station on Maroon Creek Road during staffed hours 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the day of arrival to check availability.
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
25 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ute Mountaineer ↗ | 5.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Silver Bell Campground - White River National Forest, CO
Trails nearby
- 1.3 miLower Maroon Creek3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.4 miMaroon Creek3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.5 miConundrum Creek ↗10.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.5 miEast Maroon ↗8.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.7 miSugarbowl1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miWest Maroon Portal Link Trail0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.4 miEast Maroon Trailhead #1983 ↗White River National Forest
- 1.4 miWest Maroon #1970 ↗White River National Forest
- 2.5 miConundrum Creek TH #1981 ↗White River National Forest
- 2.9 miGovernment TH #1980 ↗White River National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, which overlaps White River National Forest.
- inMaroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 181,973 acres
- inWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 acres
- 8.2 miHunter-Fryingpan Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 82,496 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Holden Mining and Smelting Co.Historic district · Aspen · 4.6 mi
- Samuel I. Hallett HouseBuilding · Aspen · 4.7 mi
- Maroon Creek BridgeStructure · Aspen · 4.8 mi
Natural features
The Maroon Bells Scenic Area is surrounded by the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. This wilderness is one of the five original Colorado wilderness areas designated by the 1964 Wilderness Act. Its scenic value exudes from its aspen groves, meadows of wildflowers, and dark forests of spruce and fir that rise up from the valleys to alpine landscapes. Here, bighorn sheep, pika, and ptarmigan find habitat above timberline. Towering over glacial valleys at over 14,000 feet in elevation, the Maroon Bells are the most recognizable peaks in the Elk Mountains. The Maroon Bells are unique in the Rockies in that they are made up of metamorphic sedimentary mudstone that gives the peaks their maroon color and unstable nature for climbing.
Recreation
For hikers and backpackers, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area epitomizes the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Starting from the Deadly Bells Trailhead at Maroon Lake, the West Maroon Trail gains elevation through aspen groves and evergreens, traverses boulder fields, crosses streams, and leads hikers through high-elevation (10,000+ feet) mountain passes. Climbing through alpine terrain, backpackers will find high mountain lakes and a smattering of wildflowers in mid-summer. Check specific regulations for camping in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area. For day hikers and horseback riders, nearby Maroon Creek Trail offers a less crowded alternative to viewing the Maroon Bells, Pyramid Peak and the entire Maroon valley. The gentle, flat terrain offers scenic stops that are great for picnicking.
Nearby
The nearby resort town of Aspen is a popular destination for visitors to the area. From downhill skiing and world-class fly fishing, to dining and shopping, there is a multitude of outdoor and indoor opportunities in this mountain town.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Silver Bell Campground?
Sites at Silver Bell Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Silver Bell Campground?
Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Silver Bell Campground have?
14 sites, including 6 tent-only sites, 6 walk-in sites, and 2 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Silver Bell Campground?
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at Silver Bell Campground?
For hikers and backpackers, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area epitomizes the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Silver Bell Campground?
Carbondale, Colorado. The nearby resort town of Aspen is a popular destination for visitors to the area.
Source: Getting there
What if Silver Bell Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Silver Bar Campground (0.3 mi), Silver Queen Campground (0.7 mi), and Maroon Bells Amphitheatre (4.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby