Do I need a permit to backpack Four Pass Loop?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Four Pass Loop in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It is the Four Pass Loop Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Four Pass Loop permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $10 per person, per night from May 1 to October 31 (children 16 and under free) + $6 non-refundable reservation fee
- Group size limit
- 10 people
- Season starts
- July
- Season ends
- September
What the rules require
- Permits are available only through Recreation.gov - ranger stations do not issue them
- Reserve a spot in each zone for each night you camp there, and camp only in your reserved zone
- Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake and Capitol Lake are designated campsites, not zones
- Two permits per person per calendar year, and permits cannot overlap dates
- Maximum stay is seven nights per permit
- Food, trash and scented items must be in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container - no container means a ticket and being required to leave
- $10 per person per night May 1 through October 31; 16 and under free
- Group size is capped by the campsite, with a total of 10 if multiple campsites are reserved
- Campfires are prohibited above 10,800 feet anywhere in the wilderness, including Snowmass Lake, and at all designated sites at Conundrum, Crater and Capitol Lakes
- Dogs must be on leash everywhere in the wilderness and are prohibited in the Conundrum Hot Springs Zone
- The permit holder or named alternate trip leader must be present, with the printed permit and photo ID
- There 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
Published rules for the Four Pass Loop Permit, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Four Pass Loop sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Four Pass Loop Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Four Pass Loop permit
Do I need a permit to backpack Four Pass Loop?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Four Pass Loop in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It is the Four Pass Loop Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Four Pass Loop permit cost?
$10 per person, per night from May 1 to October 31 (children 16 and under free) + $6 non-refundable reservation fee.
How many people can be on one Four Pass Loop permit?
10 people.
When is the Four Pass Loop permit season?
Season starts: July. Season ends: September.