Grottos Trail
A short trail beside Independence Pass Road, with granite canyons, waterfalls and 'ice caves' carved by the Roaring Fork River, where ice can remain into midsummer.
The Grottos lies about 15 km east of Aspen on Highway 82. It is a free day-use area in the White River National Forest. A short trail (about 1.5 km round trip) runs through aspen groves to granite slabs, small waterfalls and potholes carved by the Roaring Fork River. The 'ice caves' in the rock crevices often hold remnant ice into midsummer, making it an easy family outing. The rocks are slippery and the current is strong, so do not wade in. The road is closed in winter and the area cannot be reached. It can be combined with Independence Pass and Independence Ghost Town as a half-day driving route.
Opening hours
Open all day during the road's open season
Nearby sights
- Ashcroft Ghost Town
- Aspen Mountain (Ajax) & Silver Queen Gondola
- Smuggler Mountain Trail
- John Denver Sanctuary
- Aspen Art Museum
- Wheeler Opera House
- Downtown Aspen
- Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (Hallam Lake)