The Sunnyside Trail joins the Shadyside Trail to form an 11.2 mile lollipop loop up and around the summit of Red Mountain. The Sunnyside Trail climbs 1900' in 3 miles up the SW flank to reach the loop, which runs 5.2 miles through long intervals of aspen and mixed conifers just below the summit. Hikers, runners and mountain bikers will enjoy neat singletrack, great views and trail extensions into Hunter Valley on this varied route.

The Sunnyside Trail offers panoramic views across the Elk Mountains, considered the westernmost range in the Colorado Rocky Mountains-proper

The Aspen valley was first populated by European settlers in 1879 after promising reports of silver deposits in the area

Dusky Grouse and Sooty Grouse have only recently received distinction from their common name, Blue Grouse

After a steady climb through oak shrublands, the Sunnyside Trail moderates across long intervals of aspen and glades

View of Aspen Highlands Ski Area from the Base (8,040 feet) to the top of Highland Bowl (12,392 feet)

Small bogs along the Shadyside Trail support frogs and attract wildlife

Gambel Oak, serviceberry, mountain mahogany, snowberry and sagebrush are primary constituents of Mountain Shrubland communities

Pyramid Peak (14,026 feet) stands over the Aspen Highlands Ski Area and Maroon Creek valley

Red hues in the Elk Mountains come from weathering of hematite, an iron-bearing mineral; color variations can be traced to the source sediment and heat at the time of deposition

Hunter Valley separates Red Mountains long shoulder from Smuggler Mountain above Aspen

The Shadyside Trail is true to its name, traversing a north-facing slope under a tall coniferous canopy

The Serviceberry is a small tree or large shrub that produces showy white flowers in the spring and edible fruits in the fall

Mount Sopris is the the northernmost peak in the Elk Range, an eroded intrusion of granitic rocks of Oligocene age

The Sunnyside Trail generally faces SW and supports a markedly drier shrubland community than spruce-fir forests on the north side of Red Mountain