--- title: "Four Pass Loop · Route planning guide" description: "Maroon Lake clockwise via West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider and Buckskin. 27.2-mile reference route with a sample itinerary, season guidance, water and logistics to review." canonical: "https://www.trailready.run/adventures/four-pass/" modified: 2026-10-02 reference_only: true --- # Four Pass Loop Maroon Lake clockwise via West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider and Buckskin. 27.2-mile reference route with a sample itinerary, season guidance, water and logistics to review. ## Route overview Maroon Lake clockwise via West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider and Buckskin A four-day study plan around the Maroon Bells. Each day links a pass to a proposed overnight zone, leaving room to adjust to permits and conditions. Colorado · USA. Reference route distance: 27.2 miles. Sample itinerary: 4 days with 20 assumed moving hours. Mapped variant: 27.2 mi; guide estimate: 26.0 mi. Connected mapped trails, not a recorded activity. Unmatched intermediate mileages remain approximate guide markers. 20 moving hours are an editable study budget; camp choices are proposals. Passes match mapped saddles. Overnight markers are trail planning checkpoints, not campsite coordinates; add campsite approaches and verify your reserved zones. ## Sources, dates and assumptions Reference sources reviewed: 2026-09-24. Guidance reviewed: 2026-10-05. Saved route provenance reviewed: 2026-09-24. Connected mapped trail segments; cumulative geodesic mileage. Terrain: Copernicus GLO-90 via Open-Meteo. Not a recorded activity or an access report. Reference review dates describe the catalog sources. An edited copy needs its own route review. Dates do not establish current access. This reference summary includes no trip-date weather. Check the dated forecast separately. Moving hours, breaks, daylight times, water rates and alternatives are planning inputs. Calculated arrivals are estimates. The app has not verified current fire, smoke, closures, trail access, permits, water availability or transport. Preparation and refill confirmations are owner reports for this itinerary, not independent verification. Owner approval saves the chosen plan or change. It does not verify terrain, current access, conditions or readiness. ## When to plan this route Planning season: July–September. Plan for the summer alpine season across four passes above 12,000 feet. Check snow and the mountain forecast before choosing dates; the calendar alone does not establish passability. Seasonal guidance does not establish current trail access. Confirm conditions for your dates with the linked source. ## Stops and proposed itinerary Stop mileages and sample schedules are planning references. Verify approximate locations against your chosen track. Camps and water candidates are unconfirmed. - Maroon Lake trailhead · 0.0 mi. Check the trailhead access arrangement. - West Maroon Pass · 6.6 mi. First pass; reassess weather before crossing. - East Fork · West Maroon junction · 7.3 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Overnight planning checkpoint at the West Maroon trail junction. This is not a campsite; choose a legal site within your reserved zone and add its approach distance and time. - Frigid Air Pass · 9.0 mi. Second pass; keep the group together. - North Fork · river crossing · 12.9 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Overnight planning checkpoint at the mapped river crossing. This is not a campsite or proof of a safe crossing; choose a legal site in your reserved zone and adjust the schedule. - Trail Rider Pass · 16.2 mi. Third pass on the way toward Snowmass. - Snowmass Lake · trail approach · 18.3 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Overnight planning checkpoint on the lake approach. This is not a reserved campsite; confirm the zone and add any campsite detour. - Buckskin Pass · 22.4 mi. Final pass before descending toward Maroon Lake. - Maroon Lake trailhead · 27.2 mi. Return to your arranged transport. ## Terrain skills, exposure and practical exits Review navigation and the four pass crossings; assess snow skills if relevant. Review high-pass weather, snow and creek conditions. Identify legal alternatives from each camp; a shorter line may not match the permit. Editorial planning prompts from the reference itinerary and linked guidance; not a technical grade or current access check. Guidance reviewed 2026-10-05. ## Respect this place Check reserved camping zones, food storage and local waste requirements. Check current rules with the route’s land manager. - Follow local access rules and closures; check tribal boundaries and permissions. - Pass courteously, announce your presence and follow posted yielding rules. Give uphill users room; ask stock riders where to move. - Use established trails and durable surfaces; avoid shortcuts and widening trails. Follow local wet-trail restrictions. - Pack out litter, small packaging and food scraps. Check local human-waste requirements; clean up after permitted pets. - Keep noise down, give wildlife space and protect water sources. ## Water planning Plan treatment at overnight areas, with supply checked before committing. Pass crossings are not refill stops. ## Transport and logistics Resolve Maroon Lake access, parking or shuttle arrangements and overnight permits for the selected zones. ## Decisions and current conditions Review the next pass each morning. Permit availability may require moving camps or reversing the itinerary. Check snow, thunderstorms and current wilderness restrictions before setting your dates. Reference sources reviewed: 2026-09-24. This is dated planning context; consult the linked agencies for updates. ## Packing to review The starter list needs adapting to your route, season and group. Check the interactive guide for item-level reasoning and provenance. - Water containers and treatment - Weather shell - Warm hat and gloves - Headlamp - Spare battery - Phone with offline route - Paper map and compass - Food for the full trip - Satellite communicator - Warm layer - IGBC-approved bear-resistant container - Campsite reservations / permit - Shelter and sleep system - Stove and fuel ## Sources - [Colorado Mountain Club · four-day Four Pass itinerary](https://www.cmc.org/education-adventure/trips/routes-places/bpx-routes-places/copy_of_bpx-5-day-four-pass-loop) - [US Forest Service · route guide](https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5186829.pdf) - [OpenStreetMap contributors](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) - [Route data · ODbL 1.0](https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0/) - [Elevation · Copernicus GLO-90 via Open-Meteo](https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/elevation-api) - [OpenStreetMap · matched waypoint features (see each stop)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) - [NPS · Trip planning](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/healthandsafety/trip-planning-guide.htm) - [Leave No Trace · Sharing the trail](https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/be-considerate-of-other-visitors/) - [Leave No Trace · Durable surfaces](https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/travel-camp-on-durable-surfaces/) - [Leave No Trace · Waste](https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/dispose-of-waste-properly/) - [Colorado Mountain Club · season guidance](https://www.cmc.org/education-adventure/trips/routes-places/four-pass-loop) Canonical URL: https://www.trailready.run/adventures/four-pass/ Content updated: 2026-10-02. 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Trips stay in this browser unless you deliberately share or export them. Signing in lets you keep account preferences and review assistant proposals; it does not upload your local library. Route references and planning estimates help preparation. Check current access, conditions, water and your group’s readiness before heading out. Keep an editable JSON backup of plans you want to retain.