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Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness · Elk Mountains, Colorado

Four Pass Loop, counterclockwise

Twenty-six miles around the back of the Maroon Bells, over four passes above 12,000 feet. Three nights, three named permit zones, in a fixed order — and all three permits have to line up for the same trip.

Counterclockwise means you climb Buckskin Pass first, out of Maroon Lake, and follow the pass order shown below. It is the direction described by this itinerary.

Read the three nights The permit on Recreation.gov

The shape of it

Four passes, counterclockwise from Maroon Lake

Elevation profile of the counterclockwise Four Pass Loop showing Buckskin Pass at 12,462 feet, Trail Rider Pass at 12,420 feet, Frigid Air Pass at 12,415 feet and West Maroon Pass at 12,500 feet, with permit-zone markers for the Snowmass side, North Fork, and Maroon Zone. Night 1 permit location at mile 8.7 Night 2 permit location at mile 15.2 Night 3 permit location at mile 22.6
Segment mileages approximate · permit zones marked by representative route points

  1. First pass · mile 4.7

    Buckskin Pass 12,462 ft The big climb straight out of the trailhead, on day one with a full pack.

  2. Second pass · mile 11.5

    Trail Rider Pass 12,420 ft Long switchbacks above Snowmass Lake, with the whole basin behind you.

  3. Third pass · mile 17.6

    Frigid Air Pass 12,415 ft Out of Fravert Basin past the waterfall. Steep, loose, and often the coldest.

  4. Fourth pass · mile 20.4

    West Maroon Pass 12,500 ft Highest of the four, and the last thing between you and Crater Lake.
  1. Maroon Lake Start at the trailhead
  2. Buckskin Pass First high pass
  3. Snowmass side Night 1 permit area
  4. Trail Rider Pass Second high pass
  5. North Fork / Fravert Basin Night 2 permit area
  6. Frigid Air Pass Third high pass
  7. West Maroon Pass Fourth high pass
  8. Maroon Zone Night 3 permit area
  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

The walking order and permit-night order are related, but they are not a day-by-day mileage plan. Camps must fall inside the reserved zone for each night; pass timing depends on your own plan and current conditions.

From Maroon Lake, this variant leaves the Crater Lake approach at the Buckskin/Minnehaha fork and climbs Buckskin Pass before dropping to the Snowmass side. It then crosses Trail Rider Pass into the North Fork of the Crystal River and Fravert Basin.

The return half crosses Frigid Air Pass and West Maroon Pass, then follows the Maroon drainage back to the same trailhead. 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 permit sequence

A Maroon Bells–Snowmass overnight permit records one named zone for each camping night and a stated party size, so the three-night sequence has to line up in walking order. Treat the zone order below as one unit when building the trip on Recreation.gov.

  1. N1

    Snowmass-side permit zone

    Permit option matched to your party size · advance reservation

    Over Buckskin Pass on day one and into the Snowmass-side permit area. This catalog pattern selects the Snowmass Lake or Upper Snowmass permit option that fits the saved party for the first night.

    Over
    Buckskin Pass
    Profile marker elevation
    ≈10,980 ft representative route point
    Water
    Varies by reserved zone location

    On the ground. Leave enough time to reach the reserved zone in daylight. Conditions and exact campsite availability vary, so confirm the current route and zone map before departure.

  2. N2

    North Fork Zone

    Permit option matched to your party size · advance reservation

    Cross Trail Rider Pass, then descend the North Fork of the Crystal River into Fravert Basin. The second camping night must remain inside the reserved North Fork permit zone.

    Over
    Trail Rider Pass
    Profile marker elevation
    ≈10,600 ft representative route point
    Water
    North Fork of the Crystal

    On the ground. Camp placement and morning timing remain your responsibility. Check current water, crossing, weather, and trail conditions close to departure.

  3. N3

    Maroon Zone

    Permit option matched to your party size · advance reservation

    Cross Frigid Air and West Maroon, then follow the West Maroon Creek drainage into the reserved Maroon permit zone. The return to the trailhead is a separate final day after this camping night.

    Over
    Frigid Air and West Maroon
    Profile marker elevation
    ≈10,080 ft representative route point
    Water
    West Maroon Creek

    On the ground. Use an established campsite inside the reserved zone and secure food, trash, and scented items in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container when unattended.

The permit

How a Four Pass Loop permit actually works

These details come from Recreation.gov and the Aspen–Sopris Ranger District. Rules change, so confirm them before the trip.

One multi-night permit
Build one trip on Recreation.gov and choose the correct named zone for each camping night. Three unrelated one-night reservations are not the same itinerary.
Released on a schedule
Inventory opens in seasonal release windows at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time. Check the current permit page for the release date covering your intended start.
Party size is binding
Wild Chime selects the permit option that fits the saved party: small-group permit options for one through four people and large-group permit options for five through ten.
Zones, not campsites
These permit options reserve dispersed camping zones rather than numbered sites. Use an established campsite inside the zone held for that night.
Trailhead access is separate
A wilderness permit does not include Maroon Lake parking or shuttle access. Reserve and recheck the transportation plan separately.
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; it does not promise an immediate return at a predictable minute.

Primary planning intent

Counterclockwise permit-order answers.

This page owns the reverse route and night sequence; the shared permit guide compares both directions.

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.

Weather

Exposure changes the plan

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

Snow

Season dates are not conditions

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 the reserved zone

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

Wildlife

Use approved storage

Secure food, trash, and scented items in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container whenever they are unattended.

Access

Book the road separately

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

Questions

Four Pass Loop, asked and answered

Do you need a permit for the Four Pass Loop?

Yes. Overnight camping in these reserved zones requires an advance Recreation.gov permit, built as one trip with the correct named zone for every camping night.

How hard is it to get a Four Pass Loop permit?

Availability can be limited, especially when three consecutive zones must align for the same party and start date. Returned inventory may appear again after cancellations.

Which direction does this itinerary follow?

Counterclockwise from Maroon Lake: Buckskin Pass first, followed by Trail Rider, Frigid Air, and West Maroon. The permit zones follow that same direction.

How many days does this itinerary use?

This catalog pattern uses three camping nights and four days. It describes the permit sequence, not a pace recommendation for every party.

Can I change my nights after booking?

Recreation.gov directs permit holders to cancel and make a new reservation when changing dates or zones, subject to replacement availability. Changes also stop after printing.

What if weather or conditions change?

Check current forecasts, alerts, closures, trail reports, and access information close to departure. Wild Chime monitors qualifying permit openings only, not trip conditions.

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, counterclockwise.

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