Travel, hotel info for Maroon Bells, Colo.

THE BEST WAY TO THE MAROON BELLS, COLO.

If you go

From LAX, nonstop service to Aspen, Colo., is offered on United, which also offers connecting service (change of plane). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $444.

The drive from Denver to the Aspen area is so pretty that you might want to consider flying into the Colorado capital instead. From LAX, nonstop service is offered on United, American, Southwest and Frontier; direct service (stop, no change of plane) on Southwest; and connecting service on Delta, Southwest and United. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $272.

From Denver, take I-70 west to U.S. 24 south and then pick up Highway 82, which will take you up and over Independence Pass and down into Aspen.

WHERE TO STAY

Aspen has a range of hotels. We liked Aspen Meadows Resort, 845 Meadows Road, Aspen; (‎866) 539-8430, https://www.aspenmeadows.com. Because it is away from the Aspen business area, it has a mellow feel to it. Doubles from $199.

Whenever possible, we prefer to camp. There are three small but delightful campgrounds along the road to the Maroon Bells. Reservations are recommended. Silver Bar, five miles southwest of Aspen, has four walk-to, tent-only, primitive campsites. Electrical hook-ups are not available. Silver Bell is just outside Aspen and is at 8,460 feet. It has 14 sites, some tent-only, but it can also accommodate RVs and trailers. Silver Queen, also just outside Aspen, has six sites for tents, trailers and RVs. Cost per night is $15 a person. Info: (970) 925-3445, https://www.reserveamerica.com.

TO LEARN MORE

U.S. Forest Service: (970) 963-2266, https://www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver.

For more information about the Aspen area: (800) 670-0792, https://www.aspenchamber.com.