Conundrum Hot Springs: Permit, Route and Dates
Conundrum Hot Springs permits are booked by advance reservation in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The route covers 17 miles.
Twenty numbered campsites at hot springs deep in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness - and unlike the Four Pass Loop, you book an actual site.
This guide covers the Conundrum Hot Springs permit.
$10 per person, per night (May 1-Oct 31) + $6 non-refundable reservation fee
Permit Cost
2 days
Duration
17 miles
Distance
2,500'
Elevation Gain
moderate
Difficulty
About Conundrum Hot Springs
Conundrum Hot Springs sits at about 11,200 feet in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, roughly 8.5 miles up the Conundrum Creek valley. Overnight permits are required and come only from Recreation.gov. Unlike the Four Pass Loop zones, Conundrum is booked by numbered campsite. There are 20 of them, and the Forest Service rule is explicit: permit holders "must camp in their reserved zone each night, or at their reserved campsite at Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake, and Capitol Lake." Each site carries its own group-size cap - nine sites take a maximum of two people, nine take four, and only sites 17 and 18 take six. Permits are released in three rolling windows each year at 8am Mountain Time: February 15 for April 1 through July 31, June 15 for August 1 through November 30, and October 15 for December 1 through March 31. There is no lottery.
Conundrum is the one corner of this wilderness where the Forest Service abandoned the zone model entirely. There are 20 numbered campsites, each with its own group-size cap, and you camp at the one you reserved. The sites are small on purpose: eleven of the twenty take a maximum of two people, and only sites 17 and 18 take six.
The Conundrum Hot Springs route
- Distance
- 17 miles
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Elevation gain
- 2,500 ft
- High point
- 11,200 ft
- Low point
- 8,700 ft
- Trip length
- 2 days
- Difficulty
- moderate
Starts at Conundrum Creek Trailhead
Elk Mountains, Colorado. Nearest town: Aspen
Points along the route
- Conundrum Creek TrailheadMile 0, 8,700 ft
- Conundrum Hot SpringsMile 8.5, 11,200 ft
- Campsite 1Mile 8.5
- Campsite 2Mile 8.5
- Campsites 17 and 18Mile 8.5
Conundrum Hot Springs permit detailsandAll Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness permits
The Experience
The walk in is long and steady rather than steep, following the creek up the valley. Then you top out and there is steam coming off the rock. You get your site, set up, and go soak while the light drains off the peaks above. There are no toilets up here, so you handle that yourself, and no fires at any of the designated sites - it is a stove-and-headlamp evening, which suits the place.
The trail runs from the Conundrum Creek Trailhead up the valley to the springs at about 11,200 feet, roughly 17 miles round trip. The trailhead is outside the Maroon Scenic Area, which means you do not need a parking or shuttle bus reservation to get here - but the Forest Service still asks you to carpool, because the parking is limited.
Booking is site-specific. The 20 numbered campsites carry individual group-size limits: sites 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 16 cap at two people, sites 3, 4, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19 and 20 cap at four, and sites 17 and 18 cap at six. Site 1 sits about 300 feet from the hot springs and site 2 about 400 feet, so the numbers closest to the water go first.
The rules at the springs are stricter than elsewhere in the wilderness. Dogs are prohibited in the designated campsites here, campfires are prohibited at all of them, and overnight pack and saddle stock are not allowed at any designated campsite in the Conundrum Hot Springs permit zone.
What to Expect
About 17 miles round trip to springs at roughly 11,200 feet
A reserved numbered campsite, not a zone - 20 sites in total
Group-size caps that vary by site: nine sites cap at 2, nine at 4, and only sites 17 and 18 at 6
Sites 1 and 2 closest to the water, about 300 and 400 feet away respectively
No campfires at any designated site, and no toilets anywhere in the wilderness
A trailhead that needs no parking or shuttle reservation, unlike the Maroon Scenic Area
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Permit Requirements
You must camp at your reserved campsite, not anywhere you like around the springs
Each numbered site has its own maximum group size - check it before you book
Dogs are prohibited in the designated campsites at Conundrum Hot Springs; elsewhere in the wilderness they must be on leash
Campfires are prohibited at all designated sites at Conundrum Hot Springs
Overnight pack and saddle stock are not allowed at any designated campsite in the Conundrum Hot Springs permit zone
Food, trash and any scented items must be stored in an IGBC approved bear resistant container - visitors without one will be ticketed and required to leave
There are no toilets: use a WAG bag or dig a cat hole six to eight inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails, and pack out toilet paper
Permits are limited to two per person per calendar year, with a maximum stay of seven nights
Permits are only available through Recreation.gov; ranger stations will not issue them
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •IGBC approved bear resistant container
- •WAG bag or trowel - there are no toilets in the wilderness
- •Stove, since campfires are prohibited at every designated site here
- •Warm layers for evenings at 11,200 feet
- •Water treatment for the walk in and for camp
Recommended Gear
- •Quick-dry shorts or a swimsuit for the pools
- •Camp shoes for walking between your site and the springs
- •Headlamp for the evening soak
- •Trekking poles for a long, steady 8.5-mile approach with a full pack
Hazards & Safety
Altitude - the springs are at roughly 11,200 feet and the approach gains steadily
Getting chilled after a soak, with no fire allowed to warm up by
Afternoon thunderstorms in the upper basin during summer
From early October to late June the trail and campsites are snow covered and the trailhead may be inaccessible
Bears, which is why the container rule carries a ticket and an ejection
Hot water hot enough to scald in the upper pools
Best Time to Visit
July through September, which the Forest Service names as the best time to visit the wilderness generally. From early October to late June the campsites and trails are snow covered, avalanche hazards exist, and the trailhead may be inaccessible.
Pro Tips
Check each site's group-size cap before you book - nine of the twenty take only two people
Sites 17 and 18 are the only ones that fit a group of six
Sites 1 and 2 are closest to the water, about 300 and 400 feet, and they go first
This trailhead needs no parking or bus reservation, which makes it simpler to reach than the Maroon Scenic Area
Release mornings are February 15, June 15 and October 15, all at 8am Mountain Time
Canceled permits reappear online within 24 hours, so keep watching after the release sells out
No fires at any site - pack a stove and warm layers for the post-soak chill
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 Conundrum Hot Springs permit?
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Conundrum Hot Springs permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Conundrum Hot Springs?
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July through September, which the Forest Service names as the best time to visit the wilderness generally. From early October to late June the campsites and trails are snow covered, avalanche hazards exist, and the trailhead may be inaccessible.
How long is the Conundrum Hot Springs route?
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The route is 17 miles, as an out-and-back. Plan on 2 days.
How difficult is the Conundrum Hot Springs route?
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Backpackers who can cover 8.5 miles with a full pack and camp comfortably above 11,000 feet.
Where does the Conundrum Hot Springs route start?
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Conundrum Creek Trailhead.
What gear do I need for the Conundrum Hot Springs route?
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Essential gear includes: IGBC approved bear resistant container, WAG bag or trowel - there are no toilets in the wilderness, Stove, since campfires are prohibited at every designated site here, Warm layers for evenings at 11,200 feet, Water treatment for the walk in and for camp.
Don't Miss Your Conundrum Hot Springs Permit
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