Four Pass Loop (Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness)

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest (Maroon Lake, near Aspen)

The Four Pass Loop circles the Maroon Bells near Aspen, crossing four passes above 12,000 feet, including West Maroon, Frigid Air, and Buckskin. The Forest Service calls it an international treasure. Over about 26 miles, it passes wildflower basins, Crater Lake below the Bells, Snowmass Lake, and Geneva Lake.

It’s also heavily regulated, with advance permits, mandatory bear canisters, and separate parking reservations.

The hike

The loop starts and ends at Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells Scenic Area. Wild Trail Hiker says it climbs over four passes above 12,000 feet in the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness. The Forest Service says the loop is often snowbound from October through June.

Getting to the trailhead takes its own reservation. Aspen Snowmass says reservations are required to visit Maroon Bells by car or shuttle, with vehicle access from May 15 through October 31, 2026, and the shuttle from Aspen Highlands running May 22 through October 18, 2026. Kate Outdoors says overnight parking at Maroon Lake is limited and must be reserved through your backpacking permit confirmation.

The first stop is Crater Lake, below the Maroon Bells. Recreation.gov says permit holders at Crater Lake must camp in their reserved designated campsite. The Dyrt notes that site 1 sits closest to the lake, while site 11 is near Maroon Peak and Pyramid Peak.

From Crater Lake, the loop climbs to the passes. Guides describe camping zones along the way: Wild Trail Hiker lists seven, from Crater Lake to Upper Snowmass, and says you must camp in the zone on your permit each night. Visit Maroon Bells says all zones except Crater Lake allow dispersed camping, and that Geneva Lake has numbered sites reserved for permit holders in that zone.

Kate Outdoors found all the overnight parking reservations already taken when she checked the Aspen Chamber of Commerce site a few months ahead. Aspen Snowmass adds that car and van camping aren’t permitted in the Day Use lot, the overnight lots at Maroon Bells, or the Aspen Highlands parking garage. Visit Maroon Bells says an advance overnight reservation is required in the busiest areas year-round, not just in summer.

Snowmass Lake is a highlight. Recreation.gov notes that campfires are prohibited there, since it lies above 10,800 feet. Colorado Hikes and Hops marks campsites at Snowmass Lake on its route map.

The rules are the same across the loop. Recreation.gov says food, trash, and scented items must be stored in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container, and that visitors without one will be ticketed and required to leave. Campfires are prohibited at designated sites at Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake, Capitol Lake, and above 10,800 feet anywhere in the wilderness. The Forest Service says that outside the permit zones, overnight visitors register at the trailhead instead.

Visit Maroon Bells calls the Four Pass Loop difficult and challenging because of the elevation and terrain. Roam Ready Trips recommends storing all scented items in the canister at least 100 feet from camp, and keeping a printed permit with you at all times.

For another classic loop through high passes, see the Rae Lakes Loop in California.

Tips

Reserve your permit early. Advance overnight permits are required for every night in the permit zones.
Book parking or the shuttle. Maroon Lake access needs its own reservation in season.
Carry an approved bear canister. Without one, Recreation.gov says you’ll be ticketed and asked to leave.
Start passes early. Four passes above 12,000 feet mean exposure to afternoon storms.
Check the season. The Forest Service says the loop is often snowbound from October through June.

Camping

Recreation.gov says overnight permits are required in the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness Overnight Permit Zones, including the Four Pass Loop, Snowmass Lake, and Geneva Lake. Permit holders at Crater Lake, Conundrum Hot Springs, and Capitol Lake must camp in their reserved site. Bear-resistant containers are required. Campfires are banned at designated sites and above 10,800 feet. Contact the White River National Forest for current conditions.

Inside Intel: Plan your days around the zones you can book. Wild Trail Hiker says your permit ties you to a specific zone each night, and Roam Ready Trips adds that your reservations effectively set your itinerary. At Crater Lake, a Dyrt reviewer notes that site 1 is closest to the lake and site 11 is past it, near the base of the Maroon Bells.

Trail facts

Distance: About 26 miles
Route type: Loop, usually done over several days
Difficulty: Strenuous. Four passes above 12,000 feet.
Campsites: Zones along the loop; designated sites at Crater Lake and numbered sites at Geneva Lake
Water: Lakes and creeks. Treat all water.
Permits: Advance overnight permit required (Recreation.gov)
Bear and food storage: IGBC-approved bear canister required
Fires: Prohibited at designated sites and above 10,800 feet
Parking: Separate Maroon Bells parking or shuttle reservation in season
Trailhead: Maroon Lake, Maroon Bells Scenic Area, near Aspen
Last verified: October 2, 2026

The Lowdown

Four passes, three nights out:

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.