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Colorado overnight catalog

Backpacking trips with exact permit nights.

Browse sixteen reviewed trips across three Colorado destinations. Every guide names the direction, overnight order, permit areas or designated campsites, current authorities, and the exact itinerary Wild Chime can watch.

Destinations
3
Watchable now
16

Plan the shared permit system

Destination permit guides.

Start here for releases, fees, permit-area meanings, and access rules shared by several trips.

Compare clockwise and counterclockwise Four Pass Loop permits · See the verified Colorado 2027 release guide

Maroon mudstone · Colorado

Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness

High alpine passes, lakes, and designated overnight permit zones in the Elk Mountains.

Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness permits

Permit
Recreation.gov 4675333
Largest supported party
Up to 10 people, depending on the trip
Rules verified

  1. 3 nights

    Four Pass Loop Clockwise

    A fixed three-night circuit over West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider, and Buckskin passes.

    Clockwise from Maroon Lake via West Maroon Pass

    Maroon Lake Trailhead → Maroon Lake Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Maroon Zone Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Maroon Zone Small Group Dispersed; Maroon Zone Large Group
    2. N2 Night 2 — North Fork Zone Advance reservation · Permitted locations: North Fork Zone Small Group Dispersed; North Fork Zone Large Group
    3. N3 Night 3 — Snowmass side Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Snowmass Lake Zone Small Group Dispersed; Snowmass Lake Zone Large Group; Upper Snowmass Zone Small Group Dispersed
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  2. 3 nights

    Four Pass Loop Counterclockwise

    The same fixed three-night circuit in reverse, beginning toward Buckskin Pass.

    Counterclockwise from Maroon Lake via Buckskin Pass

    Maroon Lake Trailhead → Maroon Lake Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Snowmass side Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Snowmass Lake Zone Small Group Dispersed; Snowmass Lake Zone Large Group; Upper Snowmass Zone Small Group Dispersed
    2. N2 Night 2 — North Fork Zone Advance reservation · Permitted locations: North Fork Zone Small Group Dispersed; North Fork Zone Large Group
    3. N3 Night 3 — Maroon Zone Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Maroon Zone Small Group Dispersed; Maroon Zone Large Group
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  3. 1 night

    West Maroon Pass to Schofield Park

    A fixed one-night point-to-point trip from Maroon Lake to Schofield Park over West Maroon Pass; Crested Butte is beyond the walking exit.

    Maroon Lake to Schofield Park via West Maroon Pass

    Maroon Lake Trailhead → Schofield Park Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Maroon Zone Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Maroon Zone Small Group Dispersed; Maroon Zone Large Group
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  4. 2 nights

    Three Pass Loop

    A fixed two-night circuit over East Snowmass, Willow, and Buckskin passes, with trailhead self-registration for Willow Lake and an advance Snowmass Lake reservation.

    Clockwise from East Snowmass Creek Trailhead via East Snowmass, Willow, and Buckskin passes

    East Snowmass Creek Trailhead → Snowmass Creek Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Willow Lake Trailhead self-registration
    2. N2 Night 2 — Snowmass Lake Zone Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Snowmass Lake Zone Small Group Dispersed; Snowmass Lake Zone Large Group
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    Sources & verification

  5. 1 night

    Conundrum Hot Springs Out-and-Back

    A fixed one-night out-and-back from Conundrum Creek Trailhead using every designated site that can accommodate the saved party.

    Out-and-back via Conundrum Creek

    Conundrum Creek Trailhead → Conundrum Creek Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Conundrum Hot Springs designated site Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Conundrum Hot Springs
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  6. 1 night

    Capitol Lake Out-and-Back

    A fixed one-night out-and-back from Capitol Creek Trailhead using every Capitol Lake designated site for an individual party of up to four.

    Out-and-back via Capitol Creek Trail #1961

    Capitol Creek Trailhead → Capitol Creek Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Capitol Lake designated site Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Capitol Lake
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  7. 1 night

    Snowmass Lake Out-and-Back

    A fixed one-night out-and-back from Snowmass Creek Trailhead to the Snowmass Lake dispersed permit zone for an individual party of up to four.

    Out-and-back via Maroon-Snowmass Trail #1975

    Snowmass Creek Trailhead → Snowmass Creek Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Snowmass Lake Zone Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Snowmass Lake Zone Small Group Dispersed
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

Spruce forest · Colorado

Indian Peaks Wilderness

Continental Divide passes, alpine lakes, and designated backcountry zones in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

Indian Peaks Wilderness permits

Permit
Recreation.gov 4675318
Largest supported party
Up to 4 people, depending on the trip
Rules verified

  1. 3 nights

    Pawnee–Buchanan Pass Loop

    A fixed three-night loop from Brainard Lake over Pawnee Pass and Buchanan Pass.

    Clockwise via Pawnee Pass, Cascade Creek, Buchanan Pass, and Beaver Creek

    Long Lake Trailhead → Long Lake Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Cascade Creek Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Cascade Creek
    2. N2 Night 2 — Buchanan Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Buchanan
    3. N3 Night 3 — Coney Creek Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Coney Creek
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  2. 1 night

    High Lonesome Loop

    A fixed one-night loop from Hessie via King Lake, the High Lonesome Trail, and Devils Thumb.

    Clockwise via King Lake and the High Lonesome Trail

    Hessie Trailhead → Hessie Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Devils Thumb Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Devils Thumb
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  3. 1 night

    Caribou Pass to Arapaho Pass Traverse

    A fixed one-night point-to-point trip from Junco Lake to Monarch Lake with a designated Caribou Lake camp.

    Junco Lake to Monarch Lake via Caribou Pass and Arapaho Pass

    Junco Lake Trailhead → Monarch Lake Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Caribou Lake Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Caribou Lake
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and USDA Forest Service · Verified

  4. 1 night

    Crater Lake Out-and-Back

    A fixed one-night out-and-back from Monarch Lake Trailhead to the designated campsites at Crater Lake.

    Monarch Lake Trailhead to Crater Lake and back via Cascade Creek Trail

    Monarch Lake Trailhead → Monarch Lake Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Crater Lake Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Crater Lake
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov, USDA Forest Service, and Colorado Trail Explorer · Verified

Alpine spruce · Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park

Continental Divide crossings, high tundra, and designated wilderness campsites in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park backpacking permits

Permit
Recreation.gov 4675320
Largest supported party
Up to 7 people, depending on the trip
Rules verified

  1. 2 nights

    Tonahutu Creek–North Inlet Loop

    A fixed two-night loop using the adjacent Tonahutu and North Inlet trailheads over the Continental Divide.

    Tonahutu and North Inlet trailheads via Tonahutu Creek and the Continental Divide

    Tonahutu Trailhead → North Inlet Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Granite Falls Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Granite Falls [Waste Bag] (Snow-free average: June 18)
    2. N2 Night 2 — North Inlet Junction Advance reservation · Permitted locations: North Inlet Junction (Snow-free average: June 11)
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and National Park Service · Verified

  2. 2 nights

    Wild Basin: Thunder Lake, Lion Lakes, and Upper Ouzel

    A fixed two-night lollipop from and back to Wild Basin Trailhead: camp at Thunder Lake and Upper Ouzel Creek, with Lion Lake No. 1 as a middle-route visit rather than an overnight permit site.

    Wild Basin Trailhead to Wild Basin Trailhead via Thunder Lake, Lion Lake No. 1, and Upper Ouzel Creek

    Wild Basin Trailhead → Wild Basin Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Thunder Lake Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Thunder Lake (Snow-free average: July 5)
    2. N2 Night 2 — Upper Ouzel Creek Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Upper Ouzel Creek (Snow-free average: July 6)
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov, National Park Service, and Colorado Trail Explorer · Verified

  3. 2 nights

    Glacier Gorge Basecamp & The Loch

    A fixed two-night out-and-back from Glacier Gorge Trailhead, based at Glacier Gorge campsite with a middle-day visit to The Loch on maintained shared trails.

    Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Glacier Gorge Trailhead via Glacier Gorge campsite and The Loch

    Glacier Gorge Trailhead → Glacier Gorge Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Glacier Gorge Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Glacier Gorge [Waste Bag] (Snow-free average: June 19)
    2. N2 Night 2 — Glacier Gorge Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Glacier Gorge [Waste Bag] (Snow-free average: June 19)
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov, National Park Service, and Colorado Trail Explorer · Verified

  4. 2 nights

    Lawn Lake / Mummy Range

    A fixed two-night out-and-back from Lawn Lake Trailhead, camping first at Lawn Lake and then at Cutbank on the return.

    Lawn Lake Trailhead to Lawn Lake Trailhead via Lawn Lake and Cutbank

    Lawn Lake Trailhead → Lawn Lake Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Lawn Lake Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Lawn Lake (Snow-free average: June 26)
    2. N2 Night 2 — Cutbank Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Cutbank (Snow-free average: May 21)
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov, National Park Service, and Colorado Trail Explorer · Verified

  5. 1 night

    Longs Peak via the Keyhole

    A fixed one-night out-and-back from Longs Peak Trailhead to the summit by the Keyhole Route, with a reserved Boulderfield campsite.

    Longs Peak Trailhead to Longs Peak Trailhead via Boulder Field, the Keyhole Route, and Longs Peak summit

    Longs Peak Trailhead → Longs Peak Trailhead

    1. N1 Night 1 — Boulderfield Advance reservation · Permitted locations: Boulderfield
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    Sources & verification

    Recreation.gov and National Park Service · Verified