‘Four years in the making’: Maroon Creek Multi-Use Trail officially opens

After years of toiling, this new Aspen trail looks mighty fine.

Amid cold conditions created by an ongoing storm, the city of Aspen on Tuesday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Maroon Creek Multi-Use Trail near the Aspen Recreation Center campus.  

The event, which was open to all community members, provided a recap of the work involved in opening the trail, which is integral to Aspen’s already vast trail system.

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“We are thrilled to open the Maroon Creek Multi-Use Trail and provide our community with a space that promotes wellness and connectivity,” said John Spiess, the city’s senior Open Space and Natural Resource manager.

Attendees were encouraged to explore the trail after the ceremony. Many braved the cold temperatures to walk along the trail and enjoy the newest addition to Aspen’s trail infrastructure.

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“Construction initially kicked off in April of this year and has now wrapped up. This has been four years in the making,” said Aspen Communication Specialist Emily Ford. “We are excited to return this improved amenity to the public, where they can use it year-round.”

Spiess agreed with Ford.

“We started late in 2020 by hiring a design firm. We worked through the planning for two years before bringing on Gould Construction,” Spiess said. “We broke ground in April and finished ahead of schedule.”

Maroon Creek Trail provides a safe, year-round connection between the Highway 82 roundabout and the Aspen Recreation Center (ARC), according to city officials. The newly paved trail follows Maroon Creek Road, offering a preferred route for cyclists and pedestrians.

Before the project, the connection between the roundabout and ARC was a combination of trail, sidewalk, and roadway. This setup, though functional, lacked consistency and did not offer reliable, year-round accessibility — especially during the winter months when snow and ice posed challenges.

A collaborative team, including experts from Otak, Connect One Design, and several city of Aspen departments — Engineering, Open Space and Trails, and Parks and Recreation — came together to design and execute the project. 

Their goal was to ensure a dependable, paved connection that would remain accessible throughout the year. The project did come in a little over budget, but everyone in attendance said the price was well worth it.

“We ended up being over budget due to some unanticipated subsurface conditions,” Spiess said. “The project team was great at solving these problems, and because of that, we saved overall in additional expenses.”

The finished trail features a 10-foot-wide paved surface that accommodates a variety of users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and individuals with mobility challenges. Built to meet ADA accessibility guidelines, the trail maintains a maximum 5% grade where practical and minimizes crossings with access points to enhance safety. 

The design also incorporates a separation from Maroon Creek Road where possible, creating a safer and more enjoyable experience for all users, according to city officials.

“The original intent was to provide a safe way to travel in Maroon Creek Valley,” Spiess said. “The trail provides a whole new experience in this part of the valley that we didn’t have before because, prior, the area was automobile-centric. Now, we have a pedestrian and bicycle experience we didn’t have before.”

With the completion of the Maroon Creek Trail, the community now benefits from a consistent, safe, and accessible route between the roundabout and important destinations such as the ARC and Aspen Highlands, according to the city.

Aspen Mayor Torre commented on the large turnout of community members who came to celebrate the Maroon Creek ribbon cutting.

“I am excited about this new connection to our trail system that connects our schools and recreation facilities with the town,” he said. “This is a wonderful day with a great gathering of people.”

More details can be found on the city’s website, http://www.aspen.gov/Maroon-Creek-Trail-Project.