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Four Pass Loop Permit permit area in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness - backcountry hiking destination
Sold by zone, one night at a time

Four Pass Loop Permit

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness · Colorado

Colorado's most iconic backpacking loop: 27 miles crossing four 12,000+ ft passes through the heart of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

Get an alert when any night of your Four Pass Loop itinerary opens.

Get alerts for your Four Pass Loop itinerary

Nights
3

3 nights: Crater Lake to North Fork Zone

Direction
Night 1: Crater Lake
Party

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Four Pass Loop were gone within 5 minutes.

Four Pass Loop reservation dates

Season
July to September
route distance, loop
26mi
elevation gain
11,000ft
max group size
10people

The four passes of the Four Pass Loop

27 miles on one loop from Maroon Lake Trailhead, over four passes.

Loop from Maroon Lake Trailhead

West Maroon PassFrigid Air PassTrail Rider PassBuckskin PassMI 01020
Pass

West Maroon Pass

MILE
6.5
ELEVATION
12,479 ft
From Crater Lake · mi 1.9+2,383 ftover 4.6 mi

One of the four passes above 12,000 feet.

MILE 6.5 OF 27

Four Pass Loop elevation

MILES 0 TO 27 · 9,538 TO 12,479 FT
9k10k11k12k13kMI 027

Four Pass Loop key landmarks

Zones on the loop

Four Pass Loop camping zones

Reserve a camping zone for each night and camp anywhere inside it. One area books by numbered site. Groups of 5 to 10 fit only in Maroon, North Fork and Snowmass Lake.

  1. Crater Lake11 sites a night: 10 for parties of 1-4, 1 for 5-10
  2. Maroon Zone15 groups a night: 14 for parties of 1-4, 1 for 5-10
  3. North Fork Zone17 groups a night: 15 for parties of 1-4, 2 for 5-10
  4. Geneva Lake Zone8 groups a night, all for parties of 1-4
  5. Snowmass Lake Zone13 groups a night: 11 for parties of 1-4, 2 for 5-10
  6. East Fork Zone7 groups a night, all for parties of 1-4
  7. Upper Snowmass Zone6 groups a night, all for parties of 1-4

Pro tip. Upper Snowmass (6 groups) and East Fork (7) are the tightest quotas on the loop. Build the itinerary around them and the rest usually falls into place.

How to get a Four Pass Loop permit

As of September 2026, Four Pass Loop in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado requires a permit issued via reservation. Four Pass Loop is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 9/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Four Pass Loop permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Four Pass Loop runs July through September. The Four Pass Loop route covers 26 miles with 11,000 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.

Type
Backpacking
Location
Elk Range, Colorado, CO

  1. Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account

    Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation huntingRecreation.gov tips

The camps and zones you book on Four Pass Loop

One a night, in order around the loop. Camp anywhere inside a zone. A camp is a numbered site.

  1. Crater Lakecamp
  2. Upper Snowmass Zonezone
  3. Snowmass Lake Zonezone
  4. Geneva Lake Zonezone
  5. North Fork Zonezone
  6. East Fork Zonezone
  7. Maroon Zonezone

Four Pass Loop pro tips

  1. Be logged in at 8 am Mountain on the release date. February 15 covers April through July; June 15 covers August through November.
  2. Never say camp when you mean zone. Your permit is for a zone and a night, and camping outside it is a citation. The only designated-site zones in this wilderness are Conundrum, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake.
  3. East Fork (7 groups) and Upper Snowmass (6) are the tightest quotas on the loop. Build the itinerary around them and the rest usually falls into place.
  4. Book the Maroon Scenic Area parking or bus the moment the confirmation email arrives. It is a separate reservation with limited spaces.
  5. Two permits per person per calendar year, and they cannot overlap dates, so a partner booking the second half of a longer trip is worth planning for.
  6. Rent the canister in Aspen if you do not own one. The rule is enforced by removal from the wilderness, not a warning.

More on Four Pass Loop: Live availability activityWhen Four Pass Loop permits open upChance of an openingFour Pass Loop permit itineraryDo I need a Four Pass Loop permit?

How much a Four Pass Loop permit costs

Four Pass Loop permit fee: $10 per person, per night from May 1 to October 31 (children 16 and under free) + $6 non-refundable reservation fee.

The Four Pass Loop hike

Distance
26 miles
Elevation Gain
11,000 ft
Route Type
Loop
Duration
3 to 5 days
Difficulty
Strenuous
Elevation Range
9,580 - 12,500 ft

26 miles, four passes over 12,000 feet, and about 11,000 feet of climbing. It is booked by zone, so you pitch wherever you like inside the one you reserved.

About this permit

The Four Pass Loop is a 26-mile circuit in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness that climbs over four passes higher than 12,000 feet, with roughly 11,000 feet of vertical gain. The Forest Service says it takes between three and five days depending on your party's ability and on trail and weather conditions.

Overnight permits come from Recreation.gov only (ranger stations do not issue them), and they are booked by zone. You reserve a spot in each zone you plan to camp in, for each night, and then camp anywhere within it. That is different from Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake in the same wilderness, which are booked as designated campsites. Get this backwards and you are camped outside your permit.

Permits are released in blocks: April 1 to July 31 dates go on sale February 15, August 1 to November 30 dates on June 15, and December 1 to March 31 dates on October 15, all at 8 am Mountain time. The fee is $10 per person per night from May 1 through October 31, children 16 and under free, plus a non-refundable $6 reservation fee. You are limited to two permits per person per calendar year and a maximum stay of seven nights.

Bear canisters are not a recommendation here. Food, trash and scented items must be in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container, and the Forest Service says visitors without one will be ticketed and required to leave.

The route

The loop from the Maroon Lake trailhead is 26 miles with roughly 11,000 feet of vertical gain and takes most parties three to five days depending on ability, trail and weather. It crosses four passes above 12,000 feet (West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider and Buckskin), linking alpine lakes and basins under the Elk Range peaks.

What you book is a sequence of zone-nights. The Forest Service publishes a quota for each: Maroon takes 15 groups a night, North Fork 17, Snowmass Lake 13, Crater Lake 11, Geneva Lake 8, East Fork 7 and Upper Snowmass 6. Within each zone, most permits are for parties of 1-4, with a handful of 5-10 permits in Maroon, North Fork and Snowmass Lake. Total group size is capped at 10 if you reserve multiple campsites.

If you start at Maroon Lake you also need a parking or bus reservation for the Maroon Scenic Area. There are only so many parking spaces, and the link to book it comes in your permit confirmation email.

Why it matters

The Four Pass Loop is a zone permit, not a campsite permit, and getting that distinction right is the difference between a legal trip and a citation. There is no Snowmass Lake Camp or Geneva Lake Camp to book. There are zones (Maroon, North Fork, East Fork, Snowmass Lake, Geneva Lake, Upper Snowmass), and you reserve a spot in the zone you intend to sleep in, for each night you sleep there, and then you camp anywhere within it. Elsewhere in the same wilderness, Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake do work by designated site, which is exactly why people get it wrong.

The feeling

You climb out of the Maroon Valley in the dark to beat the afternoon storms, and by mid-morning you are on a pass at 12,000-something feet looking at the next one. Then you drop, and do it again. Four times. The Elk Range is loose, dark rock and improbably green basins, and by the third pass your legs have stopped negotiating.

Four Pass Loop hike highlights

  1. 26 miles with about 11,000 feet of vertical gain, over four passes above 12,000 feet
  2. Three to five days for most parties
  3. Zone camping, not campsites: reserve a zone for each night and pitch anywhere inside it
  4. Zone quotas per night: North Fork 17 groups, Maroon 15, Snowmass Lake 13, Crater Lake 11, Geneva Lake 8, East Fork 7, Upper Snowmass 6
  5. Total group size capped at 10 if you reserve multiple campsites
  6. A separate parking or bus reservation if you start at the Maroon Scenic Area
  7. No toilets anywhere in the wilderness
  8. Best window is July to September; October to late June means snow-covered passes

How hard the Four Pass Loop hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
  • Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5

Best for: Fit backpackers who are acclimatised or willing to spend a night high before starting. Four 12,000-foot passes in three to five days is the whole difficulty; the trail itself is established and signed.

Recommended experience: Previous nights above 10,000 feet and a couple of 3,000-foot days with a pack. Know how to read a building thunderstorm and how to bail off a pass.

Not recommended for: Anyone arriving from sea level the day before, anyone unwilling to be moving at dawn to beat storms, and anyone who will not carry a bear canister. That one gets you removed from the wilderness.

Trailhead information

Maroon Lake Trailhead

Primary

The standard Four Pass Loop start, in the Maroon Scenic Area above Aspen.

  • No restrooms
  • No water

Parking

A parking or bus reservation for the Maroon Scenic Area is required and separate from the permit. Spaces are limited, so you may end up on a bus ticket. The booking link arrives with your permit confirmation email.

Getting There

Central Colorado near Aspen, Carbondale and Crested Butte. Trailhead parking is limited across the wilderness. The Forest Service asks people to carpool.

Nearest Services

Aspen. Local retailers rent and sell IGBC-approved bear canisters, which are mandatory.

Notes

Trailheads are marked on the Forest Service's Overnight Permit Zone Map. From early October to late June, campsites, trails and passes are snow-covered and trailheads may be inaccessible to vehicles.

Trailhead information

Snowmass Creek Trailhead

Alternate

Alternative approach from the Snowmass Lake side of the loop.

  • No restrooms
  • No water

Getting There

Access is from the Snowmass Village side rather than Maroon Lake, which avoids the scenic-area parking reservation.

Notes

Same permit and the same zone quotas apply. Parking is limited here too.

When to hike Four Pass Loop

Best time to visit

July through September. The Forest Service says so in the permit text itself. From early October to late June, campsites, trails and mountain passes are snow-covered and trailheads may be inaccessible; avalanche hazards exist and snow makes route finding difficult. The Four Pass Loop is often snow-bound from October through June. If you are not prepared to travel and camp on snow, plan for summer.

Peak
July through September
Shoulder
Late June and early October

  • Spring

    Snow-covered. The Forest Service says campsites, trails and passes are snow-covered from early October through the end of June, with avalanche hazard and difficult route finding.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Permits are freely available
    • Advantage: Waterfalls and creeks at full volume
    • Advantage: Nobody else out there
    • Challenge: Snow-covered passes and avalanche hazard
    • Challenge: Perilous river crossings from snowmelt
    • Challenge: Trailheads may be inaccessible to vehicles

  • Summer

    The season. July through September is the Forest Service's own recommendation, though deep snow can persist on the passes late in the summer.

    Crowd level · high

    • Advantage: Passes are clear and the basins are green
    • Advantage: All zone quotas in play
    • Advantage: Longest days for four big climbs
    • Challenge: Daily afternoon thunderstorms above 12,000 feet
    • Challenge: Permits go fast when each release window opens at 8 am Mountain
    • Challenge: Maroon Scenic Area parking has to be booked separately

  • Fall

    September is the best of it. From early October the snow returns and the loop becomes snow-bound.

    Crowd level · moderate

    • Advantage: Aspens turning across the Elk Range
    • Advantage: Storm frequency drops off in September
    • Advantage: Better zone availability than midsummer
    • Challenge: Snow can arrive on the passes any time from late September
    • Challenge: Fee season ends October 31 but conditions end sooner
    • Challenge: Short days for 12,000-foot crossings

  • Winter

    Snow-bound. Permits for December 1 to March 31 exist and release October 15, but this is a snow-travel objective, not a backpacking one.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Permits are available
    • Advantage: Complete solitude
    • Challenge: Avalanche hazard on all four passes
    • Challenge: Trailheads inaccessible
    • Challenge: Route finding under snow

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (9,580 ft)

⚠️

Backcountry Tips

  • Today: Freezing temps at elevation. Bring insulation even if warm below.
  • Tomorrow: Freezing temps at elevation. Bring insulation even if warm below.
  • Tomorrow: Rain below, snow at elevation. Microspikes may be needed.

Today

☁️

46°

35°

Wed

🌧️

45°

33°

47%

Thu

☁️

54°

32°

21%

Fri

☁️

57°

36°

Sat

☁️

57°

38°

Sun

⛅

58°

37°

Mon

🌧️

56°

39°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Four Pass Loop photography guide

Golden Hour

First light on the Maroon Bells from the Crater Lake side, and evening light on Snowmass Peak from across Snowmass Lake.

Best Light

Early. You want to be on the passes before the afternoon build-up anyway, and that is also when the Elk Range has any colour in it.

Beat the Crowds

Maroon Lake is a scenic-area crowd; two miles up it is a permit-quota crowd, which is a very different thing. Going counter-clockwise puts you out of phase with most parties.

Classic Shots

  1. The Maroon Bells reflected in Maroon Lake before sunrise
  2. Snowmass Peak from the Snowmass Lake shore at dusk
  3. Looking back down the North Fork from Frigid Air Pass
  4. Geneva Lake basin in early morning
  5. The switchbacks up Buckskin Pass with the Bells behind you

Four Pass Loop rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • An IGBC-approved bear canister or Ursack: mandatory, and enforced
  • A bathroom plan: WAG bags or a trowel. There are no toilets in this wilderness
  • Shelter and layers for above 12,000 feet, where afternoon storms are the norm not the exception
  • Printed permit and photo ID, carried by the permit holder or alternate
  • A stove: fires are prohibited above 10,800 feet, which covers most of where you will camp

Recommended gear

  • Trekking poles for four descents off 12,000-foot passes
  • Microspikes if you go before mid-July; deep snow persists on the passes late
  • Water shoes for the river crossing, which the Forest Service warns is perilous in early-summer snowmelt
  • A pre-dawn start plan and a headlamp, because the passes want to be crossed before afternoon storms
  • A copy of the Overnight Permit Zone Map, so you know exactly where your zone starts and stops

Rules & regulations

  1. 01Permits are available only through Recreation.gov. Ranger stations do not issue them
  2. 02Reserve a spot in each zone for each night you camp there, and camp only in your reserved zone
  3. 03Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake are designated campsites, not zones
  4. 04Two permits per person per calendar year, and permits cannot overlap dates
  5. 05Maximum stay is seven nights per permit
  6. 06Food, trash and scented items must be in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container. No container means a ticket and being required to leave
  7. 07$10 per person per night May 1 through October 31; 16 and under free
  8. 08Group size is capped by the campsite, with a total of 10 if multiple campsites are reserved
  9. 09Campfires are prohibited above 10,800 feet anywhere in the wilderness, including Snowmass Lake, and at all designated sites at Conundrum, Crater and Capitol Lakes
  10. 10Dogs must be on leash everywhere in the wilderness and are prohibited in the Conundrum Hot Springs Zone
  11. 11The permit holder or named alternate trip leader must be present, with the printed permit and photo ID
  12. 12There are no toilets. WAG bags are highly recommended, or dig a cat hole six to eight inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails

Hazards & considerations

  • Afternoon thunderstorms on four passes above 12,000 feet, with no shelter and nowhere to descend quickly
  • Early-summer snowmelt making the river crossing perilous, per the Forest Service's own warning
  • Deep snow persisting on the passes until late in the summer
  • Altitude: you sleep high and cross higher, repeatedly
  • Black bears; this is why the canister rule is enforced with citations
  • Loose Elk Range rock, which is what the Maroon Bells are notorious for
  • October to late June: snow-covered campsites, trails and passes, avalanche hazard, and difficult route finding

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Four Pass Loop.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Four Pass Loop · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.

Four Pass Loop FAQ

How do I get a Four Pass Loop permit?

Through Recreation.gov, on the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Overnight Permits page. Ranger stations do not issue them. Permits release in blocks at 8 am Mountain time: February 15 for April 1 to July 31 dates, June 15 for August 1 to November 30, and October 15 for December 1 to March 31.

Do I book campsites or zones on the Four Pass Loop?

Zones. You reserve a spot in each zone you plan to camp in, for each night, and then camp anywhere within that zone. There is no Snowmass Lake Camp or Geneva Lake Camp to book. Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake elsewhere in the same wilderness do work by designated campsite, which is where the confusion comes from.

What are the Four Pass Loop zone quotas?

Per night, the Forest Service allows 17 groups in North Fork, 15 in Maroon, 13 at Snowmass Lake, 11 at Crater Lake, 8 at Geneva Lake, 7 in East Fork and 6 in Upper Snowmass. Most permits are for parties of 1-4, with a few 5-10 permits in Maroon, North Fork and Snowmass Lake.

How much does a Four Pass Loop permit cost?

$10 per person per night from May 1 through October 31, with children 16 and under free, plus a non-refundable $6 reservation fee per permit. The Forest Service says 95% of the fee goes back into stewardship of the wilderness.

How long is the Four Pass Loop and how many days does it take?

26 miles from the Maroon Lake trailhead with about 11,000 feet of vertical gain, over four passes higher than 12,000 feet. The Forest Service says it takes between three and five days depending on the party's ability and on trail and weather conditions.

Are bear canisters required on the Four Pass Loop?

Yes. Food, trash and any scented items must be stored in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container, and the Forest Service states that visitors without one will be ticketed and required to leave. Local retailers in Aspen rent and sell approved containers.

What is the group size limit on the Four Pass Loop?

Ten. Group size is limited to the maximum allowable at the campsite, with total group size capped at 10 if multiple campsites are reserved. Within the loop zones, most permits cover 1-4 people and only Maroon, North Fork and Snowmass Lake have 5-10 permits at all.

Do I need a parking reservation for the Four Pass Loop?

If you start at the Maroon Scenic Area, yes: a parking or bus reservation, booked separately from the permit through a link in your confirmation email. Parking spaces are limited, so you may need to take a bus ticket instead.

Can I have a campfire on the Four Pass Loop?

Not above 10,800 feet, which covers Snowmass Lake and most of where you will camp on this loop. Fires are also prohibited at all designated sites at Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake. Bring a stove.

Four Pass Loop trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

Sign in to report trail conditions.

Questions(2)

What is the best direction and daily itinerary for a Four Pass Loop permit trip?

0 votes·1 answer·Jun 25

How do you get a Four Pass Loop permit, and is Maroon Lake trailhead parking separate?

0 votes·1 answer·Mar 18

Trip Reports(2)

Write Report
🏔️

Four Pass Loop Permits: Booking the Late-July Reservation Window

Four Pass Loop

5.0
Jul 25-28, 2026
Four Pass Loop in early July: snow on all four passes before the wildflower rush

Four Pass Loop in early July: snow on all four passes before the wildflower rush

Four Pass Loop

4.0
Jul 2-5, 2026

Alternatives to a Four Pass Loop permit

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Conundrum Hot Springs

    The other headline trip in the same wilderness, on the same Recreation.gov permit: 20 designated campsites a night at a hot spring above 11,000 feet.

    Tradeoffs

    Designated sites rather than zones, and an out-and-back instead of a loop. No dogs allowed in that zone at all.

  • Easier AlternativePermit required

    Maroon Bells - Crater Lake

    One night at Crater Lake, the first zone above Maroon Lake, without committing to four passes.

    Tradeoffs

    Eleven groups a night across designated campsites, and a short walk in. You get the Bells reflection and none of the 11,000 feet.

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Maroon Bells - Snowmass Lake

    The Snowmass Lake zone on its own, reached from the Snowmass Creek side rather than round the loop.

    Tradeoffs

    Thirteen groups a night and the best lake on the circuit, without the passes. Still above 10,800 feet, so no fires.

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    Wonderland Trail

    The other great western loop: 93 miles around Mount Rainier, booked one named camp at a time.

    Tradeoffs

    Three and a half times the distance and a February lottery. Named camps instead of zones, so you sleep exactly where the permit says.

Where to stay near Four Pass Loop

Trip planning

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