Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop

The Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop is the most-photographed multi-day wilderness loop in Colorado — 27 miles, four 12,000-foot passes (West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider, Buckskin), and 8,000 vertical feet of cumulative climb that earned the route its very-strenuous rating despite being hikeable in 3-4 days. Overnight permits via recreation.gov are required June through September (50 daily permits, drawn one month ahead) and the day-use crowd at Maroon Lake reaches 1,500 visitors during peak season. The Maroon Creek Road is closed to private vehicles 8am–5pm peak season — visitors board the RFTA bus from Aspen Highlands. Rigs are barred entirely above the bus station; the closest USFS RV-friendly campground is Silver Bell at 22-ft rig cap, dry only, 4 miles from the trailhead. Snow lingers on the passes through mid-July most years, and Trail Rider Pass holds snow until August in heavy years.