When it comes to planning a backpacking itinerary for Colorado‘s iconic Four Pass Loop, 4 days is the perfect amount of time to spend on the trail. With 4 days of hiking, backpackers have plenty of time to enjoy the stunning scenery, take lots of photos, and stay off the mountain passes in the afternoon when there is a higher risk of thunderstorms.
This 4 day itinerary for backpacking the Four Pass Loop starts at the West Maroon/Maroon Lake trailhead in Aspen, Colorado and includes some of the most scenic campsites on the trail. The total mileage for this Four Pass Loop itinerary is ~29 miles with ~8,300 feet in elevation gain, which includes a detour to Geneva Lake. If you choose to skip the Geneva Lake detour, the hike is ~26 miles with ~7,800 feet in elevation gain.
We recommend following along with this Four Pass Loop itinerary and hiking the loop clockwise. By hiking clockwise, backpackers will have an easier climb on day 1 and save the best campsite, the campsite at Snowmass Lake, for last.
4 Day Itinerary for Backpacking the Four Pass Loop
Day 1: Maroon Lake Trailhead to Upper West Maroon (5.6 miles with ~2,300 ft elevation gain)
Begin your backpacking trip at the West Maroon/Maroon Lake trailhead in Aspen, Colorado and soak in the iconic view of the Maroon Bells (what a way to start a hike!). We recommend starting at 8AM or earlier so you have more time on the trail and more flexibility in case the weather takes a turn. Also, with an early start, you can catch the magical pink glow of the Maroon Bells at sunrise.
At the fork in the trail for the loop, take a left towards Crater Lake to hike the loop clockwise. Hike alongside beautiful Crater Lake and continue on towards West Maroon Pass. Along the way, take in the wonderful scenery and listen to the chorus of pikas calling.
The trail at the first water crossing was a bit confusing. The trail appears to follow alongside the stream with an offshoot for those who want to collect water, but the offshoot is the trail! There are logs laying horizontally across the false trail that follows alongside the stream to indicate that hikers should not continue that way.
Camp in the Maroon Zone below West Maroon Pass
Continue on until you reach the campsites in the trees below West Maroon Pass. All of the campsites in this area are only a few steps from epic views of the valley and West Maroon Pass. It took us about 4 hours to reach the campsites.
We recommend setting up the tent, collecting water, and cooking food as soon as you reach camp in case of storms later in the day. During our hike, the forecast was a high of 70°F and sunny, but at 2:30PM, a storm rolled in…and it didn’t stop for 12 hours! Luckily, we had done everything we needed to do before the storm hit. When we woke up in the morning, the storming had stopped, the air was calm, and outside the tent was a peaceful winter wonderland.
Alternative to the Maroon Zone: Camp in the East Fork Zone
We highly recommend camping in the Maroon Zone to stay off West Maroon Pass until the morning of day 2. If you can’t get a permit for the Maroon Zone and choose to get a permit for the East Fork Zone instead, start your hike as early as possible in the morning to avoid climbing West Maroon Pass in the afternoon when thunderstorms are common.
Day 2: West Maroon to Geneva Lake (10.2 miles with ~2,700 ft elevation gain)
Wake up in the morning to beautiful views of the valley and West Maroon Pass, your first climb of the day. Hike the steep climb up to the top of West Maroon Pass and catch your breath with 360-degree views of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness. 1 pass down, 3 to go!
Continue down the other side West Maroon Pass. This downhill section will be short lived; Frigid Air Pass is only 2.4 miles from West Maroon Pass so soon enough you’ll be trekking up your 2nd pass of the day. From the top of Frigid Air Pass, you’ll have views of the striped Maroon Peaks and the lush Fravert Basin below.
And just like that, 2 passes down, 2 to go! The trail is downhill from Frigid Air Pass to the green Fravert Basin. Along the way down, you’ll see a stunning waterfall.
Camp in the Geneva Lake Zone
Begin the climb towards Geneva Lake via the North Fork Cut Off (the trail on the right of the fork that splits away from the North Fork Crystal River). This section of trail is only a mile long, but the ~1,200 ft climb on tired legs is a doozy. Take your time and take breaks. The mirror-like lake views at sunset and tomorrow morning’s sunrise will make the grind well worth it!
Turn left onto Geneva Lake Trail and finish out the last mile to the campsites at Geneva. The homestretch is a glorious gradual downhill.
Alternative to Geneva Lake: Camp in the North Fork Zone in Fravert Basin
If permits are unavailable for Geneva Lake or you would prefer not to add the detour to Geneva Lake to your hike, camping in the North Fork Zone in Fravert Basin is an option. There are several camping spots with amazing views of a large waterfall.
Day 3: Geneva Lake to Snowmass Lake (4.4 miles with ~2,000 feet in elevation gain)
Wake up early to enjoy breakfast while watching the morning reflections of mountain and sky in the glassy water of Geneva Lake.
When you pack up and set off, you’ll already be part-way up the climb towards Trail Rider Pass. After climbing ~2,000 feet up to Trail Rider Pass, you’ll have views of your next stop, Snowmass Lake!
As you approach the lake, there is a rockfall along the route that obscures the trail. Carefully traverse this rocky section, and keep an eye out for cairns marking the trail (they can be difficult to spot amongst all the rocks!). The boulders along the cairn-marked trail are more stable than other areas of the rock slide.
Camp in the Snowmass Lake Zone
Turn left at the sign marking the junction for Snowmass Lake. This trail eventually diverges into a maze of footpaths near the lakeshore. Continue to head in the general direction of the lake until you reach a stream crossing with logs laying across, then take your pick for your campsite. There are tons of campsite options in this area. If you arrive early enough, you may be able to snag a campsite that is near the shore! It took us about 4 hours to hike from Geneva Lake to Snowmass Lake.
Once you pick a campsite, spend the rest of the afternoon soaking in the magnificent views of the mountains and glittering turquoise water. If you dare, take an icy cold plunge! At nighttime, stargaze along the shore and enjoy a sky and mirroring lake full of stars.
Day 4: Snowmass Lake to Maroon Lake Trailhead (8.5 miles with ~1,700 feet in elevation gain)
Wake up early to take in your last views of Snowmass Lake and the glassy water. Once the breeze ruffles the mountain’s reflection, pack up camp for the last time and start your hike back to the trailhead. The trail is downhill for a short while, then the uphill starts again for the 4th and final pass, Buckskin Pass. Buckskin Pass feels more gradual than the other passes, especially during the last few hundred yards where the trail gradually zig zags up to the saddle.
From the top of Buckskin Pass, you’ll see a hint of Snowmass Lake in the distance behind you and the beautiful greenery of Minnehaha Gulch ahead. The remaining 4.8 miles through Minnehaha Gulch to the trailhead are downhill. Once you reach the fork for Maroon Lake, you’re in the homestretch, and in 1.8 miles, you’ll reach trailhead.
After hiking a total of 28.7 miles with 8,278 feet in elevation gain, your journey ends at the base of the beautiful Maroon Bells. Now head into town to grab a well-deserved burger, beer, and french fries!
Logistics
Keep in mind that advanced reservations are required for overnight camping along the Four Pass Loop. Also, if you are starting at the West Maroon/Maroon Lake trailhead (as suggested in this itinerary), you will need to book overnight permits for the trail AND reserve a parking or shuttle pass for accessing the Maroon Bells area.
Overnight camping permits are available through the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Overnight Permits page at recreation.gov.
Parking and shuttle reservations for the Maroon Bells area are available through the Aspen Chamber website.
We hope you enjoy this 4 day itinerary for backpacking the Four Pass Loop as much as we did. For more information on the Four Pass Loop, check out our Four Pass Loop Packing List and Four Pass Loop Planning Guide.
For more Colorado trip ideas, head to our Colorado travel guide.