Rocky Mountains · Roaring Fork Trail

Frying Pan River Valley

It’s hard to pin one of Colorado’s many mountain river valleys as the most scenic, but the Frying Pan is surely among the top contenders. Perhaps most famous as a fishing destination, it is also a birdy stretch of habitat. Check the blue spruce/Douglas-fir forest from some of the many pullouts and you could find things like Cordilleran Flycatcher, Common Merganser, American Dipper, Western Tanager, and a host of other birds, as well as squirrels and mule deer.

Restrictions: None

County: Pitkin

Directions: Head downvalley (west) from Aspen on Highway 82 for about 20 miles to Basalt. At the traffic light at the intersection of 82 and Fiou Lane turn right and go around the roundabout to continue west on Midland Rd. Drive through Basalt and just beyond the town you pick up the Frying Pan road. Stop at the many pullouts along this 18-mile drive to Ruedi Reservoir, which straddles the Pitkin-Eagle county line.

Alternate Directions: From Aspen, head west on CO 82 for 20 miles to Basalt. Take a right onto Fiou Lane and go west onto Midland Rd. This road becomes Frying Pan Road and enters the valley.

Habitat: Lake, Foothill Shrub, Lowland Riparian, Spruce-Fir Forest, Aspen Grove

Dates of Access: Limited access in the winter months
Hours: Any
Ownership: US Forest Service
Admission or Fees: Free

Parking: Roadside gravel pullouts

Lodging: Camping Area

Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: limited car birding

Delorme: 46 C2-D2

ROC: 84 C3

Latitude: 39.36821539
Longitude: -107.0348845