How to get to Crystal Mill
Perhaps one of the most iconic images of historic Colorado. Crystal Mill is everything it’s cracked up to be. The view is incredible, and the trail through the forest is worth every craggy rock and slippery boulder if you have an appropriate vehicle for the trek. It’s every bit as beautiful in person as you would imagine. The historic mill sits on a sheer rock slab, adjacent to a sizable waterfall that plummets into a multi-hued pool, framed by mountains and aspen trees. The aptly named Crystal River is by far the clearest water I have ever seen. Even at turbulent points, you can clearly see the riverbed below rushing rapids. The river is fed by snowmelt from pristine mountain wilderness.
In order to access Crystal Mill you will need a 4WD vehicle with high clearance. We managed to barely make it through with a 2019 Subaru Forester (8” of clearance) but we have off-road experience, all-terrain tires, and a recovery kit in case we get into automotive trouble. It’s not very likely that you’ll be completely alone on this trail, so if nothing else make sure you have the ability to be towed/winched out of a tough spot. The trail isn’t terribly narrow, so there are plenty of opportunities for vehicles to tightly pass one another, but turning around would definitely be a challenge. Bring a friend to spot you. According to trailsoffroad.com, this is a 3-4 moderate trail, but I personally did not feel like it was quite that challenging. It was, however, terribly fun.
The paved road ends in Marble, Colorado, about an hour from Aspen. This tiny town has one paved road that zig-zags through only a handful of streets. There’s a general store, a few lodges, and a restaurant that cater to travelers like us heading for the mill. We did not stop, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when we passed Slow Groovin BBQ around 1:00pm there was a line out the door and cars lined the narrow streets of Marble.
The trail is steep in places and narrow in others. You follow the Crystal River nearly the entire way, and you can see the pure, unspoiled water for most of the drive, albeit sometimes from a ledge 40ft. above the water. Actually, it can be a challenge to keep your eyes on the road with all of the surrounding beauty. The water was a chilly 46 degrees Fahrenheit when we visited in July. Glorious views of the mountains are available around just about every corner and you’ll pass a number of small waterfalls. Eventually you’ll see the mill peek through a grove of aspens and elation overtakes you. The sight is nothing short of spectacular.
The mill is on private property so be respectful of boundaries. There is a fence and a no trespassing sign that deter visitors from taking the short steep trail down to the bottom of the waterfall, but few respect the signs. In the summer, an attendant keeps watch over the area and will let you into the private area if you pay $10 per person and sign a liability waiver. Then you are free to spend the day down by the water. The attendant will take your picture and might even offer photography tips, depending on who it is.
If you don't have a vehicle suited to make the trek, hiking is a popular alternative. Depending on exactly where you leave your vehicle the hike can be anywhere from 9-12 miles round trip. After Lizard Lake there’s nowhere to leave a car parked, so this should be where you make your decision to walk or not. Lizard Lake is also the point where the trail is closed from November to May. It may still be possible to hike, but vehicular travel is prohibited during this period.
