How to Get a Capitol Lake Permit
Nine campsites, nine groups, four people each — Capitol Lake is the tightest designated-campsite zone in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.
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Groups Per Day
$10 per person, per night from May 1 to October 31 (children 16 and under free), plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee
Permit Cost
1-7 nights
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Capitol Lake
Capitol Lake is an Overnight Permit Zone in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness with a quota of nine groups per night. It is one of only three zones — with Conundrum Hot Springs and Crater Lake — where the permit assigns you a specific campsite. All nine campsites are sized for 1-4 people. There is no large-group site in this zone. USFS caps party size at the maximum allowable at your campsite, and if you reserve more than one, the total group is limited to 10. The fee is $10 per person per night from May 1 to October 31, children 16 and under free, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee. Permits are limited to two per person per calendar year and the maximum stay on a single permit is seven nights. Overnight pack and saddle stock are not allowed at any designated campsite in this zone.
Capitol Lake sits under Capitol Peak, the fourteener with the reputation, and it is the standard high camp for anyone attempting it. USFS caps the zone at nine groups a night in nine assigned campsites, every one of them sized for 1-4 people. There is no large-group site here at all, which makes it the most restrictive party-size zone in the wilderness.
The Experience
A small lake in a rock basin with a very large mountain behind it, and eight other tents. Everything about the place is scaled down except the peak.
This is one of the three designated-campsite zones. USFS requires the permit holder and group to camp in the reserved campsite, not merely inside the zone. Nine campsites, all sized 1-4 people.
The practical consequence for a bigger party is a booking problem, not a camping one: group size is limited to the maximum allowable at the campsite, so a party of eight has to reserve multiple sites, and the total group is capped at 10 across them. Overnight pack and saddle stock are not allowed at any designated campsite in the Capitol Lake permit zone.
What to Expect
Nine groups a night, in nine assigned campsites
Every campsite sized 1-4 people — no large-group option exists here
No campfires at any designated site in this zone
No toilets, and no stock allowed overnight at the designated campsites
A bear canister check that USFS will actually enforce
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Permit Requirements
Every Capitol Lake campsite takes 1-4 people — a larger party has to reserve multiple campsites, and the total group is then capped at 10
Group size is limited to the maximum number of persons allowable at the campsite, with total group size limited to 10 if multiple campsites are reserved
You must camp in your reserved campsite in the Capitol Lake zone — this is one of the three zones where campsites are assigned, not chosen
Permits are limited to two per person per calendar year, and two permits cannot overlap the same night
Maximum length of stay per permit is seven nights
Food, trash and any scented item must be stored in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container. USFS states that visitors without one will be ticketed and required to leave
There are no toilets in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. WAG bags are highly recommended but not required and must be packed out; otherwise dig a cat hole six to eight inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails
Campfires are prohibited at all designated sites at Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake, and anywhere above 10,800 feet including Snowmass Lake
Dogs must be on leash everywhere in the wilderness except the Conundrum Hot Springs Zone, where they are prohibited entirely
Permits are only available through Recreation.gov — ranger stations will not issue them
The permit must be printed and carried with photo ID, and can be printed as early as 14 days before your date
Overnight pack and saddle stock are not allowed at any designated campsite in the Capitol Lake permit zone
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •An IGBC-approved bear canister or Ursack — this is enforced, not encouraged
- •A stove. Campfires are banned at every designated site in this zone
- •A WAG bag or a trowel, because there are no toilets anywhere in this wilderness
- •A printed permit and photo ID
- •Water treatment
Recommended Gear
- •Trekking poles for a long approach with a pack
- •A tarp for afternoon storms
- •A helmet if Capitol Peak is the objective — that is a serious mountain and not covered by this permit in any way
Hazards & Safety
Altitude. This is Colorado high country and the campsites sit well above most people's baseline
Afternoon thunderstorms, which arrive on schedule in July and August and have nowhere to hide from
Snow on the passes and at the campsites from early October to late June, with avalanche hazard and difficult route finding
Black bears — the reason USFS writes the canister rule as a ticketable offence
Trailheads that may be inaccessible to vehicles outside the July-to-September window
Best Time to Visit
July through September, which is the window USFS names. Outside it, the approach and the basin are snow-covered and the trailhead may not be reachable by vehicle.
Pro Tips
Reserve a spot in the zone for every night of the trip — the permit is per zone per night, not per trip
Permits are capped at two per person per calendar year, so do not burn one on a date you are unsure about
Permits cannot be booked into a future release window: a trip that spans a month boundary has to wait for the later month to open
If you are starting from the Maroon Scenic Area you also need a separate parking or bus reservation — the confirmation email links to it, and parking spaces are limited
Once the permit is printed it cannot be changed or cancelled, so print it late
Every site here is 1-4 people. A party of six needs two campsites and should book them in the same session
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Capitol Lake permit?
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Capitol Lake permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Capitol Lake?
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July through September, which is the window USFS names. Outside it, the approach and the basin are snow-covered and the trailhead may not be reachable by vehicle.
How difficult is Capitol Lake?
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Small parties — four or fewer — heading for a high camp under Capitol Peak.
What gear do I need for Capitol Lake?
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Essential gear includes: An IGBC-approved bear canister or Ursack — this is enforced, not encouraged, A stove. Campfires are banned at every designated site in this zone, A WAG bag or a trowel, because there are no toilets anywhere in this wilderness, A printed permit and photo ID, Water treatment.
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