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Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness · Elk Mountains, Colorado

Four Pass Loop Clockwise

A difficult 26-mile circuit that leaves Maroon Lake toward West Maroon Pass, crosses four high passes, and returns over Buckskin Pass. This Wild Chime variant pairs that route with Maroon, North Fork, and Snowmass-side permit nights in a fixed order.

Clockwise from Maroon Lake via West Maroon Pass

Read the three nights The permit on Recreation.gov

The shape of it

Four passes, clockwise from Maroon Lake

Elevation profile of the clockwise Four Pass Loop showing West Maroon Pass at 12,500 feet, Frigid Air Pass at 12,415 feet, Trail Rider Pass at 12,420 feet and Buckskin Pass at 12,462 feet, with three permit-zone markers. Night 1 permit location at mile 1.9 Night 2 permit location at mile 10.8 Night 3 permit location at mile 17.3
Hiking Project complete-loop geometry reversed into the published clockwise direction. Pass and permit-zone positions are approximate; squares mark representative route points inside zones, not prescribed campsites. Vertical scale is normalized and the graphic is not field navigation.

  1. First pass · mile 5.6

    West Maroon Pass 12,500 ft The first divide crossing comes after the Maroon Zone night in this fixed clockwise permit pattern.

  2. Second pass · mile 8.4

    Frigid Air Pass 12,415 ft The route crosses the exposed crest before descending into Fravert Basin and the North Fork.

  3. Third pass · mile 14.5

    Trail Rider Pass 12,420 ft The third crossing leads from the North Fork toward the Snowmass-side permit zones.

  4. Fourth pass · mile 21.3

    Buckskin Pass 12,462 ft The final high crossing returns toward Crater Lake and the Maroon Lake trailhead.
  1. Maroon Lake Start at the trailhead
  2. Maroon Zone Night 1 permit area
  3. West Maroon Pass First high pass
  4. Frigid Air Pass Second high pass
  5. North Fork / Fravert Basin Night 2 permit area
  6. Trail Rider Pass Third high pass
  7. Snowmass side Night 3 permit area
  8. Buckskin Pass Fourth high pass
  9. Maroon Lake Return to the trailhead
Route length
26 miles
Total climbing
≈7,750 ft gain
High route
4 passes above 12,000 ft
This itinerary
3 nights / 4 days
Difficulty
Difficult

This catalog pattern puts the Maroon Zone night before the first high pass. Route order and permit-night order are related, but they are not a day-by-day mileage plan; exact pass timing depends on camp placement, your plan, and current conditions.

From Maroon Lake, the route follows the West Maroon drainage. This exact permit pattern camps in the Maroon Zone first, before crossing West Maroon Pass. Beyond the pass, the loop turns toward Frigid Air Pass and descends into Fravert Basin and the North Fork of the Crystal River for the second reserved night.

The route then climbs toward Trail Rider Pass, descends to the Snowmass side for the third permit night, and returns over Buckskin Pass to Crater Lake and Maroon Lake. Published individual pass elevations differ slightly, so this guide uses the land manager’s supported aggregate: four passes above 12,000 feet and a high point around 12,500 feet.

Night by night

The exact clockwise permit sequence

This clockwise catalog pattern starts with a Maroon Zone camping night, then follows the North Fork and Snowmass-side zones in walking order. Build the three named zones as one multi-night trip on Recreation.gov.

  1. N1

    Maroon Zone

    Permit option matched to your party size · advance reservation

    Leave Maroon Lake along the West Maroon drainage and camp inside the reserved Maroon Zone before crossing the first high pass. This first night distinguishes the clockwise permit sequence from the counterclockwise pattern.

    Over
    No high pass
    Camp elevation
    ≈10,080 ft
    Water
    West Maroon Creek

    On the ground. Use an established campsite inside the reserved zone. The distance from the trailhead varies with the campsite selected inside the zone, so plan from current route and condition information rather than a fixed daily mileage.

  2. N2

    North Fork Zone

    Permit option matched to your party size · advance reservation

    Cross West Maroon Pass and Frigid Air Pass, then descend into Fravert Basin and the North Fork of the Crystal River. The second camping night must remain inside the reserved North Fork Zone.

    Over
    West Maroon and Frigid Air
    Camp elevation
    ≈10,600 ft
    Water
    North Fork of the Crystal

    On the ground. This is an exposed two-pass leg. Check current weather, snow, crossings, and trail conditions before setting a schedule.

  3. N3

    Snowmass-side Zone

    Permit option matched to your party size · advance reservation

    Climb from the North Fork toward Trail Rider Pass, then descend to the Snowmass side. The saved party selects the qualifying Snowmass-side permit option for this one logical third-night watch choice.

    Over
    Trail Rider Pass
    Camp elevation
    ≈10,980 ft
    Water
    Lake and inlet creek

    On the ground. Snowmass Lake and Upper Snowmass remain separate physical permit options. Confirm the current zone map and camp only inside the zone reserved for that night.

The permit

How the clockwise permit actually works

These details come from Recreation.gov and the current land-manager and access authorities. Confirm them again before booking and before departure.

One multi-night permit
Build one Recreation.gov trip and select Maroon, North Fork, and the chosen Snowmass-side zone for consecutive camping nights.
Released on a schedule
Inventory opens in seasonal release windows at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time. Verify the release covering the intended start date on the current permit page.
Party size is binding
Wild Chime selects the named permit options for one through ten people. Availability must fit the saved party size.
Zones, not campsites
Maroon, North Fork, Snowmass Lake, and Upper Snowmass are dispersed permit zones rather than numbered campsites.
Trailhead access is separate
The wilderness permit does not include Maroon Lake parking or shuttle access. Reserve transportation separately with the current operator.
Food storage
Food, trash, and scented items must be secured in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container when unattended.
Canceled inventory returns
Recreation.gov says canceled permits become available within 24 hours without promising an immediate return at a predictable minute.

Primary planning intent

Clockwise permit-order answers.

The named nightly order distinguishes this page from the counterclockwise trip and from the shared Four Pass permit guide.

Does the permit include Maroon Lake access?

No. Parking and bus access for the Maroon Scenic Area are separate from the overnight wilderness permit and must be arranged independently.

Maroon Bells Scenic Area

Hard-won

Worth knowing before you go

Permit, access, and alpine-condition details that matter before reaching Maroon Lake.

First night

Camp before the first pass

This exact catalog variant reserves Maroon Zone first. The route diagram is an order, not a universal daily pace plan.

Weather

Exposure changes the plan

Mountain thunderstorms can develop quickly. Check the latest forecast and make conservative decisions on exposed terrain.

Snow

Season is not a condition report

Early-summer snow can linger on passes while snowmelt makes creek crossings hazardous. Check current field reports.

Water

Treat every source

There is no potable water service on the loop. Carry treatment and do not assume every mapped source will be flowing.

Camps

Stay inside each reserved zone

Use established sites on durable ground and follow current distance rules for water, trails, and restricted areas.

Access

Book the road separately

Parking and shuttle inventory are separate from the wilderness permit and can change on a different schedule.

Questions

Clockwise Four Pass Loop, asked and answered

Does clockwise mean West Maroon Pass comes first?

Yes. The route leaves Maroon Lake on the West Maroon side, then crosses West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider, and Buckskin passes in that order.

Does the first permit night come before the first pass?

Yes for this exact Wild Chime variant. Night 1 is in the Maroon Zone before West Maroon Pass; that sequence is not a universal pace recommendation.

Do I need one separate permit for each night?

No. Build one multi-night permit itinerary on Recreation.gov and choose the correct overnight zone for each camping night.

Does the permit include parking or shuttle access?

No. Maroon Lake parking or shuttle access is reserved separately through the current access operators.

Are these nights numbered campsites?

No. The named reservation options in this itinerary are dispersed permit zones. Use an established campsite inside the zone reserved for that night.

Can I change dates or zones after booking?

Changing dates or zones requires canceling and making a new availability-dependent reservation. Changes also stop after the permit is printed.

Keep the intent distinct

More trips in Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness.

Compare exact permit-night orders rather than substituting a nearby route or reversing the dates.

Exact-trip availability

Watch Four Pass Loop Clockwise.

Start with this exact direction, overnight order, and the permit locations that fit the saved party. Wild Chime reports qualifying openings; it never books or holds them.

Create this trip’s watch

For this exact direction and three-night permit order.

Review the current permit on Recreation.gov