Hike Belleview Mountain Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, CO

Jul 28, 2023 — Belleview Mountain is a gorgeous Colorado 13er that overlooks the Maroon Bells Wilderness. My original plan was to hike a few more peaks in the area, but the high altitude had other plans for my poor little lowlander lungs' capabilities and I was humbled into only getting this one peak today. I wasn't too upset though, since wildflowers were in full bloom and it was my first time over 13,000 feet for the year. I drove to the West Maroon Trailhead, a busy lot that requires at least some clearance and decent tires to reach. The West Maroon Trail approach trail leads to West Maroon Bells Pass, a popular portal for the four-pass loop that avoids the permit system from the Aspen side. For this reason I had company during much of the hike.

I set out through the forest, which paralleled the Crystal River for a short time before passing an old cabin and emerging into a glorious meadow-filled valley. I was immediately overwhelmed by a variety of wildflowers dominated by Aspen sunflowers. The trail climbed gradually so I could really enjoy the morning in this beautiful valley as I made my way toward West Maroon Pass. A couple of marked junctions kept me going the right way, and eventually the trail began ascending more steeply to West Maroon Pass. A couple of switchbacks help to prevent erosion toward the top. West Maroon Pass was covered with resting hikers enjoying the view toward Maroon Peak and its surroundings. This was an excellent spot, but I knew the view would only get better at the summit of Belleview Mountain so I continued on, leaving West Maroon Pass and heading north.

An obvious social trail leads away from the pass as it starts ascending to Belleview Mountain, initially weaving around some rotten pinnacles before keeping just left and below the ridge crest. An exposed Class 2 ledge was the first real obstacle, but the social trail persisted past this and led up to the ridge crest for a bit. A signficant headwall ahead forced the social trail to its left, wrapping around it using a ledge. I scrambled up Class 2 to regain the crest, where Belleview Mountain's false summit became visible ahead, the true summit also poking out on the right, separated from the ridgeline. Some more ridgeline walking and a couple more Class 2 obstacles on somewhat loose terrain and I had reached the false summit. Belleview Mountain lay ahead, photogenically serving as a foreground for its taller northern neighbors. I dropped a hundred feet or so toward it, then started up to the peak's eastern shoulder. Past here some loose Class 2+ brought me up a talus-covered steep slope to the summit. The route I chose was a little exposed, but there might be another way.