Aspen's Historic Redstone Castle in Colorado

Arrive at your hotel in Aspen, Colorado. Check in at your hotel and enjoy a relaxing day of mountain views as you await a Rocky Mountain sunset. 

The city of Aspen is full of local entertainment opportunities for you to take advantage of your first night. Go for a walk, get a bite to eat, and enjoy the beautiful views as you prepare for the eco-conscious adventures to study history that await you!

After a peaceful night of sleep, you will awaken and prepare to embark on your journey to Redstone Castle in the beautiful Crystal River Valley. You will drive to your shuttle pickup location for your reserved tour of Redstone Castle. As you make your way to the historic mansion, you will be delighted by the beautiful forestry, mountains, and streams that decorate the Crystal River Valley. 

Upon reaching Redstone Castle, you will embark on a 1.5-hour tour of the castle, where you will take in the sights of the early 20th-century high-society piece of architecture. At the end of your tour, you will be shuttled back to your vehicle, where you can make your way back to your hotel in Aspen.

No matter what season you choose to take your visit, Aspen is full of eco adventures! Spend your third day exploring the many hiking trails that litter the Aspen/Snowmass area, get on your mountain bike and speed down some singletrack, or perhaps visit the resort and enjoy taking in the stunning mountain views.

Whatever you choose to do on your third day of travel, use it as an opportunity to enjoy the amazing environment that Aspen boasts, and to do so respectfully. The ski town is a great place to foster a love and appreciation for the Rocky Mountain wilderness.

There is nothing better for tired bodies than soaking in hot springs, and after your exhausting adventures from yesterday, that is exactly what you will be doing!

Today you will make a short drive to mile marker 55 on Highway 133 in Carbondale, Colorado. Here, on the east side of the highway, just north of the mile marker, you will find Penny Hot Springs sectioned off in the Crystal River. The quick walk down will lead you into a beautiful natural hot spring where you can relax beneath immense granite cliffs to the sound of a bubbling river.

The Crystal River Mill is one of the most-photographed locations in Colorado and will be the site of your travels today. In order to get the most out of your experience, leave relatively early as to avoid any possible crowds. The road up to the mill does require a 4×4 vehicle. However, if you are not confident in your vehicle’s capabilities, you can always park at the bottom of the road and hike the rest of the way.

Once you reach the Crystal River Mill, you will be met with stunning views of the old mining wheel sitting before an aspen grove just beside a timid waterfall. The scene will leave you speechless, an image that will soothe you to sleep once you have returned to your hotel.

After all that the beautiful alpine region of Aspen has given you throughout your trip, today you will give back. Well-rested and well-fed, you will proceed to the trail you have signed up to work on, where you will volunteer doing cleanup and restoration. At the end of the day, you will get to enjoy the rewarding knowledge that you have helped maintain Colorado’s beautiful hiking environment.

Today you will leave the city of Aspen, reminiscing about your eco adventures, the old walls of Redstone Castle, and the waters of Penny Hot Springs. A beautiful drive will take you out of the mountains on your journey home.