The standard route on the taller of the famous Maroon Bells, and one of the most serious standard 14er routes in Colorado — sustained scrambling on notoriously loose, rotten rock.
From Aspen, drive Maroon Creek Road about 9.4 miles to the Maroon Lake trailhead at roughly 9,580 feet. During the main season (roughly mid-June through early October), the road is restricted during the day: visitors generally must arrive via the paid RFTA shuttle bus from Aspen Highlands rather than drive in, unless arriving before the restriction window starts each morning, and a parking/reservation system applies to the area. Confirm current shuttle hours and reservation requirements before the trip. From Maroon Lake, follow the Maroon-Snowmass Trail to Crater Lake, then continue toward the south ridge of Maroon Peak. The south ridge climbs through a series of Class 3 and Class 4 sections on notoriously loose, crumbling sedimentary mudstone. The route is difficult to follow, and climbers regularly get cliffed out trying alternate lines — careful route-finding matters as much as climbing ability here.
Reverse the south ridge with extra care — downclimbing loose rock is more dangerous than ascending it, and most incidents on this route happen on the way down.