Permits Required for Maroon-Snowmass Camping in 2023

[thebeave7]

Darwinism... If someone wants to risk their life, that's their choice, until SAR has to go rescue them (which is terrible for SAR). There's always going to be stupid people in the mountains, we'll never change that, and the reasons just shift with time.

Eric

[Istoodupthere]

Narcissists….Plenty of them in the mountains as well.

[IntrepidXJ]

Got to love people who book campsites on Rec.gov and have no idea what they are doing...

MaroonBellsPermit.jpg (134.33 KiB) Viewed 1029 times

[XterraRob]

Got to love people who book campsites on Rec.gov and have no idea what they are doing...

MaroonBellsPermit.pg

This is absolutely terrible.

#PrayForTheInstagrammers

[ltlFish99]

You can start the Four Pass Loop just as easily from Schofield Pass.

That is how i plan to do it.

[sfreytag]

You can start the Four Pass Loop just as easily from Schofield Pass.

That is how i plan to do it.

Sure, but you still need a permit if a ranger stops you. You probably reduce the chance of being stopped if you start from Schofield or Lead King Basin TH. Rangers are crawling all over Crater Lake and you could easily be stopped there. Definitely don't camp near Crater Lake if you are ridin' dirty without a permit

[SkaredShtles]

You can start the Four Pass Loop just as easily from Schofield Pass.

Awesome! Time to start researching my new options, as I'm not too familiar with that area. I've got a Toyota Corolla, so I hope that won't be a problem But yes, I'll look into what options are available, and I'm willing to hike a few extra miles if I have to -- thanks!

I'd be a *little* leery of taking a Corolla to Schofield Park. If the Gothic road is open, it should be fairly do-able, but if you have to come over Paradise Divide from Slate River it might be a bit hairier.

[ltlFish99]

If i recall correctly, a permit us only required for overnight stays.
If people are day tripping the 4 pass loop, as many do, then a permit is not required.
Please correct me if I an wrong.

[ltlFish99]

You can start the Four Pass Loop just as easily from Schofield Pass.

That is how i plan to do it.

Sure, but you still need a permit if a ranger stops you. You probably reduce the chance of being stopped if you start from Schofield or Lead King Basin TH. Rangers are crawling all over Crater Lake and you could easily be stopped there. Definitely don't camp near Crater Lake if you are ridin' dirty without a permit

If i recall correctly, a permit us only required for overnight stays.
If people are day tripping the 4 pass loop, as many do, then a permit is not required.
Please correct me if I an wrong.

[madmattd]

If i recall correctly, a permit us only required for overnight stays.
If people are day tripping the 4 pass loop, as many do, then a permit is not required.
Please correct me if I an wrong.

Permits are for camping only - so not applicable to day-trippers. Other than a parking permit possibly, depending on your starting point.

[CheapCigarMan]

Also, there are two different zones for camping near the Maroon Bells, under the MAROON BELLS-SNOWMASS WILDERNESS area, on the recreation site.
Crater Zone - covers the 11 different campsites near Crater Lake. Crater Lake sites 1 - 11.
Maroon Zone - covers dispersed camping in that area. Maroon Zone small group (1-4 people) and Maroon Zone large group (5-10 people).

Refer to the map for these zones. However, by looking at the map it's not clear where the exact boundary lines are for these two zones. I am assuming that the Crater Zone is for camping in the reserved campsite spots. And the Maroon Zone is anywhere outside those sites.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 083862.pdf

[timewarp01]

I threw together a caltopo map for a friend of the FPL and its various zones for this year that should be a bit easier to navigate than the forest service one. I've also marked the several trailheads that access the area, as well as a couple of nearby camping spots that will not require a reservation to spend a night just off the loop. Hope somebody will find it useful!

https://caltopo.com/m/HB77G