Colorado · Hiking · Near Durango

Aspen Loop

Aspen LoopPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.4 mi
round trip
99 ft
climb
8,185 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Aspen Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Columbine Ranger District. It doesn't name Aspen Loop, so check the source for the area it covers (5 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Columbine Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Aspen Loop is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 2.4 miles in the Columbine Ranger District of Colorado's San Juan National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises about 100 feet from a low point of 8,083 feet to a high of 8,185 feet, so it's a short walk with a gentle climb. The route is on natural surface, and it is open to both horses and bikes. The Haviland Lake Winter Trailhead is the parking for the trip, and the trail is typically open from May 1 through October 31. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Lemon Dam weather station show July highs around 79°F with lows near 49°F, while September cools to highs around 70°F. Haviland View sits just 0.1 mile away, and the Cowboy Cuttoff mountain biking route is about half a mile off. Haviland Lake Campground is 0.7 mile away, and Country Club Cave, a climbing area, is 0.8 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Haviland Lake Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Pinkerton Hot Springs

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 5 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Durango

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Aspen Loop

    Best months: May–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 9°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      40° / 11°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      47° / 19°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 26°

      7 wet

    5. May

      63° / 35°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 43°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 49°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 48°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 41°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 32°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 22°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      37° / 13°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lemon Dam, CO, 13.4 mi away at 8,110 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Hermosa ViewPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hermosa View

Next door

1.77-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's San Juan National Forest with 100 ft of elevation gain.

Goulding CreekPhoto: Daniel Weber, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Goulding Creek

~2 min drive

6.07-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's San Juan National Forest with 2,152 ft gain.

HIKE

Miners Trace

~1 min drive

3.77-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's San Juan National Forest with 93 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Hermosa Creek Trail

~11 min drive

25.7-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 4,730 ft elevation gain and loss.

Wagon TrailPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wagon Trail

~1 min drive

2.34-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 579 ft elevation gain and loss.

Dutch Creek TrailPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dutch Creek Trail

~3 min drive

12.2-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,935 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Jones Creek Trail

~9 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,084 ft elevation gain

HIKE

HERMOSA CREEK

~13 min drive

19.16-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 4,491 ft elevation gain/loss.

Waterdog TrotPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Waterdog Trot

~1 min drive

1.30-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 26 ft of elevation gain.

Pinkerton-Flagstaff TrailPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pinkerton-Flagstaff Trail

~5 min drive

14.44-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,479 ft elevation gain.