Maroon Bells Climbing Closed After Second Fatal Fall

The U.S. Forest Service temporarily closed all climbing access to Colorado’s Maroon Peak on September 8, 2026. The closure was to recover the body of a climber who had fallen, marking the second fatal mountaineering accident on the state's 14,000-foot peaks in less than a week.

Authorities have not released the names, sex, or ages of either person who died. Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) led the recovery mission for the climber who went missing on September 2. Rescuers found notes in the climber's vehicle at the trailhead, which guided aerial searches in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

“During the aerial search, the climber was located deceased and tentatively identified in very technical and difficult terrain to access,” MRA stated. To help the recovery, officials closed the standard route from West Maroon Creek and the traverse from North Maroon Peak.

A Witnessed Fall on Castle Peak

In a separate incident on September 6, a second climber died after falling from the north face of Castle Peak, roughly 12 miles south of Aspen. Rebecca Rees, a 44-year-old dental anesthesiologist from a Denver suburb, witnessed the fall while hiking with a group nearby.

Rees, who has been climbing Colorado 14ers since 2017, said her group was accustomed to hearing rockfall that day. “At 12:25 P.M., we heard the rocks again but it was a different sound,” she told Outside. “I looked over and I saw this gentleman tumbling down the mountain. It was horrifying because it was not a fall that would be survivable.”

She estimated the man fell about 30 feet initially, then tumbled hundreds more feet down the slope. Her group called emergency services, but the climber was unresponsive. MRA personnel reached the climber by approximately 3:58 P.M. And determined the injuries were not survivable. A team of 21 volunteer members evacuated the body using a technical lowering system.

The Notorious 'Deadly Bells'

The Maroon Bells, encompassing Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, are among Colorado's most photographed and dangerous destinations. The nonprofit Colorado Fourteeners Initiative notes the peaks have earned the nickname “Deadly Bells” due to highly technical, difficult terrain and loose rock.

“These mountains are known for having a lot of loose rock and being fairly dangerous,” Rees said. “Up close, the rock is very loose and unforgiving.”

The steep terrain means minor slips can turn deadly. In May, a hiker slid 200 feet down the Maroon Bells after slipping near 11,300 feet in elevation. In August, Colorado hiker Brandon Hinkle tumbled 500 feet down a sheer rock face and suffered serious injuries while completing the Maroon Bells Traverse.

Safety Reminders for Backcountry Travel

Rees emphasized the critical importance of hiking with a partner in such terrain. “Without even realizing it in the moment, you’re constantly checking in with each other when you’re hiking up,” she said. “Having that constant feedback and another opinion is helpful checks and balances.”

She also stressed knowing when to turn back. “The mountain will be there forever, and it’s okay to get to a certain point and realize today is not the day,” Rees added.

MRA advises all backcountry travelers to leave a detailed itinerary with a trusted contact, including the intended route and expected return time. Carrying appropriate equipment, preparing for rapidly changing conditions, and bringing a reliable two-way satellite communication device in areas without cell service are also essential.

“We’re not going to stop hiking these peaks,” Rees concluded. “It’s traumatizing but, just be safe and be prepared. Know when to stop, and know your limits.”