Smuggler Mountain Trailhead

An easy/intermediate hike, about 1.4 miles to the Observation Deck. If you are in very good shape - this hike will be a walk in the park. After no exercise the whole winter, and 1 month vacation of overeating and drinking abroad, it felt yesterday as if I was climbing Everest 😂 Still, the easiest uphill hike in the area. The views from the Deck are amazing.
One advice: hike either early (before 10am), or after 5-6pm summer time for a more pleasant experience. There is zero shade on the trail and it’s super hot during the summer. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Smuggler connects to Hunter Creek and you can continue hiking to complete the loop. The total duration of the Smuggler-Hunter Creek Loop is about 2.5 hours.
Smuggler is also a popular trail for uphill biking.
Highly recommended to ease you into the altitude before you do some more strenuous hiking or biking.

A great hike 1.4 miles up (steep incline on a dirt road) to the Aspen overlook platform. Great views of Aspen, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and more. You can hike further about .25 miles up to a mine location. Very cool.

It was a fun hike with my son.

What an amazing trail. I recommend hunter creek up to the smugglers observation deck then take smugglers road back down to Aspen proper. If you take hunters creek up expect a 2.5 to 3 hour trek round trip.

The best views of Aspen mountain and the downtown core are from the Gondola. But I'd wager the second best views are from the Smuggler Mountain Trail. First you see the Aspen ski runs, green grass swatches in the summer. Then, the higher you go, the city comes into view.
The trail has look out points so it's easy to stop, catch your breath and enjoy the astonishing view.
Don't forget to look down and enjoy the mountain flowers. Mother Nature has colors I've never seen in crayons.
In the first half of the hike, you pass the gates of some of the priciest homes in Aspen. I always wonder who lives in these magnificent mansions.
The trail is paved so it's easy walking. However, it's 2.7 miles straight up. We navigated the switchbacks, one by by one, slowly.
This is a really popular trail so it's pretty crowded. The day we were there young kids in summer camp were there with their teacher. Seniors older than me were passing me by.
Not much parking at the trail head, but there's a city park near by with lots of parking. Hey, you're walkin' anyway. (We walked from home.)
The best part: you can take your dog off leash the minute you hit the trail head. However, make sure the dog knows what "come" means because there's lots to smell.
You pass the Smuggler's Mine store in the beginning if you are interested in the mine that used to operate in the mountain.
A great hike even for beginners.

If you are near Aspen, this is an essential walk you should take. Fabulous views of town and the ski areas. Old mines. Lots of connector trails from the top (once the snow melts, or if you have snow gear).

Great view and many trails to hike.

Very nice trail! I haven't personally hiked it but I'm a delivery driver over here but the scenery is something you can't miss out on!

Beautiful place lots of wildlife pretty streams fly
Fishing everywhere

Beautiful hike. Rocky going up the first mole and half but then gets pretty level.
Great day for this hike not too warm.

It doesn't have much offroading capacity the trial narrows down a bit moving ahead.. but great trail to hike with very less traffic.

Clear trail some steep parts. It the view is outstanding about a mile and a half up the trail.

Gotta get up to get down, great MTB trails.

Nice hike - rewarding views from the Observation deck with moderate effort.

Great gentle hike up 840 feet in mile and half. Well worn path even in the snow.

Great views, be ready to do a little climbing, "mountain biking" to enjoy the views.

Great trails at the top of the access road. Worth the suffer time!

Super accessible and tons of options to hike or bike

good hike with great views

Great place to hang out and look out over the town