So technically, you cannot sleep in your vehicle at the Maroon Lake parking lot, though if you have darkened windows, I'm not sure they could tell you were in there or not
(note: there is a $10 fee for entrance to the area, yes even if you enter at 5am. They will be driving around early (maybe @ 6am they start) putting Fee Envelopes on your windshield. If you have an Annual Parks Pass, write your Pass # on the envelope and place the receipt on the dash).
What I might attempt is to park at the Entrance Station, just beyond the Entrance building. It might be a bit noisy & bright, but it's an option.
Aside from that, you could see about parking at the
Aspen Recreation Center near Aspen Highlands. They have a large parking lot and I don't recall seeing any signs that prevent one from doing so.
One other spot that you could use would be this
parking area up CO-82. It would be approximately 50 minutes from there to the Maroon Lake Parking Lot.
You will be in a darker area, less potential overnight traffic, but you will have to drive through Aspen, so WATCH YOUR SPEED ... 25MPH and they DO patrol overnight (especially out of state plates, so heads up).
Those are my two primary recommendations that are <1 hr from Maroon Lake Parking Lot.
Maroon Bells photography notes:
This time of year, I'd recommend being at the Maroon Lake Parking Lot by 5am. Yes, twilight isn't til 6:10-615am and Sunrise 30 minutes later...but to get a "prime spot" at the eastern edge of the lake, you need to be there WAY early.
Lower loop hiking trail is closed due to moose (or was last Sunday), so that area which is really neat for fall colors photography may not be available.
The colors up at Crater Lake are pretty phenomenal though.
Any other questions, PM me.
