This journey information takes you round 4 of Colorado’s most iconic peaks, the Maroon Bells, that are the center and soul of the 4 Move Loop.
Over the course of 26 miles, the loop climbs over 4 12,000-foot passes whereas it circles two of essentially the most traditional 14ers. All through the journey, views abound with alternatives to identify Snowmass Mountain and Pyramid Peak in addition to the numerous different 13,000 and 12,000-foot peaks within the space. With comparatively well-graded trails, loads of tenting, and a well-established route, this loop affords a ton of payoff to your work. It’s properly definitely worth the effort to go to at the least as soon as.
Fast Details
- Distance: 26.5 miles from Maroon Lake Trailhead
- Days Wanted: 1-4 days
- Peak Elevation: Buckskin Move- 12,494 ft
- Low Elevation: Maroon Lake Trailhead- 9,600 ft
- Elevation Acquire/Loss (Approximate): 8,600 ft
- Greatest Time to Hike: July-September
- Permits: Sure
- Issue: Tough
Highlights
- Unimaginable alpine views whereas mountaineering over Buckskin, Path Rider, Frigid Air, and West Maroon passes.
- Loop hike makes logistics simple for in a single day journeys.
- Plenty of bang for the buck- nice views with well-graded trails.
- Entry Snowmass, the Maroon Bells, and Pyramid Peak 14ers (for skilled climbers)
- Many facet journeys and add-on choices
Lowlights
- Extremely busy on the West Maroon Path
- Excessive altitude could also be troublesome for these coming from sea degree
- Monsoon thunderstorms can pose a hazard in July and August
- IGBC-approved bear-resistant containers are required
- Permits are required for parking and in a single day journeys
Greatest Time to Hike
As a result of excessive altitude nature of this loop, the perfect time to hike is July, August, and September. Extra skilled hikers could possibly get away with late June journeys, significantly in low snow years. Nonetheless, snow within the Colorado Rockies tends to stay round till the start of July, significantly on the north faces of passes the place cornices have fashioned over the winter. Given the central location of this hike and its proximity to a number of 14,000-foot peaks, snow will doubtless stick round a bit longer right here in comparison with different areas of Colorado.
July is usually a great time to backpack within the mountains. It’s when many wildflowers start to bloom, water sources are plentiful, and the air temperature appears like summer time. Hikers ought to beware that remoted monsoon thunderstorms roll by way of most afternoons in July. It’s a good suggestion to plan your days and campsites to keep away from being on the passes within the afternoons. The rule of thumb is to go all the way down to treeline by midday, although it’s at all times finest to watch the skies. Monsoon thunderstorms are much less frequent in August, and the flowers are often peaking by this time.
By September, the alpine is ablaze with the traditional golden yellow, and the tundra turns orange and purple. Whereas nonetheless scorching within the afternoon, temperatures start to chill off, significantly at night time. The danger of snow will increase all through the month, and water sources start to amass a movie of ice at night time. This additionally interprets to fewer bugs and exquisite, golden aspens close to the Maroon Lake trailhead.
By October, plan for snow. It is not uncommon to get something from a light-weight dusting to ft at a time, and it isn’t advisable to plan journeys after October 1st except you’ve received a transparent climate window and are ready for the surprising.
Issue of Path
The 4 Move Loop is well-maintained and marked, making it an ideal alternative for hikers of any degree on the lookout for a phenomenal journey. That mentioned, the altitude, specifically, might be difficult for these not but acclimated.
TERRAIN
The vast majority of the paths are packed filth with some sturdy rocks all through. The West Maroon path between the Maroon Lake Trailhead and Maroon Lake can really feel particularly tiring to hike on the return journey to the automotive after finishing the Loop.
The larger situation with the path tread tends to be erosion because of excessive visitors. Many steep sections, significantly under the passes, have braiding or ruts from water runoff. As a lot of the path traverses alpine tundra, it’s best to attempt to comply with the official path and keep away from strolling on the grasses. They take a very long time to develop and may endure immensely from foot visitors.
GRADIENT
Like a lot of the western US, the paths making up the 4 Move Loop are constructed with switchbacks to make the climb extra gradual. The general fee of elevation acquire is about 330 ft per mile, which is pretty simple going. In fact, some sections, significantly near the passes, might be a lot steeper.
Buckskin Move, specifically, is usually a brutal climb, with 800 ft of acquire per mile on the east facet. Your complete route is taken into account a category one walk-up: there isn’t a scrambling or want to make use of fingers to succeed in the passes. The path is walkable always.
ELEVATION
By far essentially the most daunting and difficult side of this hike is the excessive altitude. All 4 passes prime out at over 12,400 ft above sea degree.
In fact, when you acquire all that vert to the go, you drop fairly a bit to get to the following strategy. For these coming from sea degree, the probabilities of altitude illness bogging you down is fairly excessive. Taking a couple of days to acclimate in Denver or Aspen earlier than mountaineering is a good suggestion.
Even locals who haven’t accomplished a number of high-altitude hikes ought to plan to take it gradual and look ahead to indicators of altitude illness. Consuming a lot of water and taking issues slowly can go a great distance in stopping signs. Selecting campsites on the low factors between the passes may also make a giant distinction.
PERMITS & Restrictions
This space is not any secret and to guard this beautiful panorama, permits and use restrictions are in place. Learn rec.gov’s Must Know part on the Maroon Bells-Snomass Wilderness for particulars on hearth restrictions, pets, tenting, waste administration, and group sizes.
Permits are snatched up rapidly. Both attempt to reserve a allow as quickly as they develop into out there should you don’t have flexibility or look ahead to cancellations throughout June, July, August, and September.
PERMITS
These trying to guide a allow can discover all the data and make their reservation at Recreation.gov, however right here’s the abbreviated model:
On February 15, hikers could make reservations for June and July journeys.
August and September permits can be found beginning June 15 for that yr. Every individual is simply allowed to guide two permits per yr for as much as seven days every. A number of totally different tenting zones overlap with the 4 Move Loop.
Remember to examine which zone you might be planning to camp in every night time earlier than reserving your reservation. Charges are at the moment listed as $10 per individual per night time plus a $6 non-refundable reservation charge.
BATHROOM PLAN
Ah, sure. Pooping within the wilderness might be mighty satisfying expertise. Nonetheless, you might be removed from the one individual pooping in these woods. For that motive, we advocate utilizing a wag bag and packing out your waste.
BEAR-PROOF YOUR SMELLY STUFF
This loop is in black-bear nation, and as you could know, a fed bear is a useless bear. Meals, trash, and scented objects needs to be saved in an IGBC-approved container. Right here’s the PDF of authorised merchandise. We favor to make use of an Ursack bear sack as a result of it’s light-weight, works nice, and isn’t cumbersome.
Getting There
PARKING
It needs to be famous that backpacking permits don’t embody parking, which is restricted and managed by visitmaroonbells.com in cooperation with the White River Nationwide Forest. Parking passes are $10 per automobile as a flat fee for as much as three days.
If parking is full, a bus runs from the Maroon Bells Welcome Middle at Aspen Highlands Ski Space. The fee to journey the bus is $16 per individual for adults. It needs to be famous that every one costs are as of 2025 and are topic to alter.
TRAILHEADS
The 4 Move Loop is situated between Aspen and Crested Butte, Colorado. Most hikers decide to begin on the Maroon Lake Trailhead, which is situated about 12 miles south of Aspen up Maroon Creek Highway. Parking or shuttle reservations are wanted to entry this trailhead from Might by way of October, even if you’re simply planning to day hike.
Some hikers select to begin from the West Maroon Trailhead which is situated about 14 miles north of Crested Butte over Schofield Move. Excessive clearance is advisable to succeed in this trailhead and it could actually nonetheless be fairly busy in the summertime.
Each Crested Butte and Aspen are a number of hours from Denver by automotive, however the scenic drive is properly definitely worth the effort. For many who determine to finish their hike early or hike the Aspen to Crested Butte route, it takes a number of hours to drive from Aspen to Crested Butte and vice versa.
Planning Your Itinerary
There are lots of web sites, Fb teams, and on-line boards devoted to planning a visit on the 4 Move Loop. The White River Nationwide Forest and Recreation.gov web sites present extra details about required gear and permits. When planning a hike, we use a cellphone GPS app corresponding to GAIA GPS to trace mileage, search for water sources, and discover campsites.
Although some avid path runners and hikers full the loop in a single day, many decide to separate the journey into 2-4 days to totally take in the surroundings. We wish to hike the loop counterclockwise and deal with Buckskin Move first. For the match hiker, this implies all the passes shall be summited early within the morning to keep away from encountering afternoon thunderstorms. Those that will not be as used to the altitude or as match could favor to strategy West Maroon Move first, because the climb is rather more gradual.
MAPS & RESOURCES
Day 1: Maroon Lake Trailhead to Snowmass Lake by way of Buckskin Move
On day one, begin off from the Maroon Lake Trailhead and comply with the principle path to Crater Lake. A facet path will department off to ascend Buckskin Move. Ensure that to make use of a GPS, there are a lot of social trails and some path junctions alongside the best way. This route takes you across the north facet of the Maroon Bells as much as Buckskin Move. There are lots of wildflowers across the go in the summertime. The views from the highest of the go are stupendous, with Pyramid Peak seen to the east and Snowmass Mountain to the west.
Descend the west facet of the go down a sequence of switchbacks to Snowmass Creek. There are lots of campsites on this valley, however essentially the most scenic websites are a bit additional across the shores of Snowmass Lake. Get pleasure from lounging round camp or taking a dip within the lake after your onerous work is accomplished for the day.
Day by day Mileage- 8.3 miles
Day by day Elevation Acquire- 3228 ft
Day 2: Snowmass Lake to Fravert Basin by way of Path Rider Move
Ranging from Snowmass Lake, the path rapidly begins climbing once more in direction of Path Rider Move. After climbing a couple of steep sections across the facet of some scree fields, the path ranges out and affords fanatic views down the valley. A fast climb up some switchbacks tops out on a ridge saddle under Snowmass Peak.
After taking a break to soak within the views, the hike downhill oscillates between steep and mellow sections. Move a couple of small ponds and a turnoff for Geneva Lake earlier than making the ultimate descent to the North Fork Crystal River.
The afternoon is spent mountaineering up the valley in direction of Fravert Basin. There are numerous campsites all alongside the valley, however we favor tenting near treeline to raised arrange the ultimate day.
Day by day Mileage- 7.4 miles
Day by day Elevation Acquire- 2,437 ft
Day 3: Fravert Basin to Maroon Lake Trailhead by way of Frigid Air and West Maroon Passes
The ultimate day of the journey ascends the ultimate two passes of the 4 Move Loop. Tenting excessive up in Fravert Basin on day 2 implies that the climb as much as Frigid Air Move is comparatively quick. The path wanders by way of some willows and wildflowers earlier than reaching the highest in the middle of a couple of switchbacks.
After marveling on the views of the Raggeds off within the distance, the path loses some elevation on its approach to West Maroon Move. This part doesn’t descend under 11,700 ft, so the views are beautiful. Generally sheep ranchers graze their sheep right here in the summertime. Hold a watch out for guardian canines and provides the flock house!
The climb as much as West Maroon can really feel tiring at this level within the hike: it’s a bit steep, however it’s the final huge uphill push. The purple rocks encompassing this go are a bit extra sheer than the opposite passes on the hike. There may be extra foot visitors from day hikers and people mountaineering the Aspen to Crested Butte path.
After a fast drop off of the go, the remainder of the path slowly loses elevation. It winds down the West Maroon Creek valley previous the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak earlier than ultimately rejoining the unique path at Crater Lake. Proceed on to the Maroon Lake Trailhead, then head again to Aspen for a well-deserved meal on the town!
Day by day Mileage- 10.8 miles
Day by day Elevation Acquire- 2,087 ft
Gear Checklist
Ensure that to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines so that you don’t neglect one thing essential.
Under you’ll discover our present favourite backpacking gear. If you wish to see extra choices, our curated gear guides are the results of a few years of in depth analysis and hands-on testing by our crew of outside consultants.
BACKPACK
Conclusion
We totally loved ourselves on the beautiful 4 Move Loop. Certain, it could actually get hectic with crowds and navigating permits, however we nonetheless suppose it’s definitely worth the work. Remember to overview all the most recent requirements for go away no hint whereas visiting the good outdoor.
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