The Loop

The Four Pass Loop in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of Colorado is a stunning and challenging trek that offers hikers an unforgettable journey through some of the most picturesque landscapes in the Rocky Mountains. Spanning approximately 27 miles, this loop trail circles the famous Maroon Bells, a pair of iconic peaks, and takes adventurers over four high mountain passes: West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider, and Buckskin. And if that alone isn't enough for your group (such as yours truly's), you can tack on a few extra miles to add in a stop and night's stay at Geneva Lake, a secluded, enchanting, and sometimes buggy alpine lake.

The dramatic array scenery that can be taken in on this trail can only be described as awe-inspiring. From jagged peaks & lush, wildflower-filled meadows to crystal-clear alpine lakes and dense forests of aspen and pine, the diversity and majesty of the sights leaves one slack-jawed. Experiencing this trail really is paramount to walking through postcard vista after postcard vista for days on end (quite frankly, it's dizzying)! Adventurers can expect more than just running into real-life landscape artwork and other backpackers too as wildlife is abundant throughout the area. It’s not uncommon to spot marmots, pikas, and the occasional elk or deer along the trail, a reminder of how wild this place still is.

But all this splendor doesn't come easy! Each of the four passes the trail is named for reach elevations over 12,000 feet, so the climbs leave you as short of breath as the panoramic views at the top do. And unless you're completing it in a day (which with the number of insane trail runners Colorado is teeming with, this is more common than you might think), you're doing it all with all of your gear, water, and days' worth of food weighing down your oversized pack. Safe to say most days end in complete, if satisfied, exhaustion and an easier task identifying areas that aren't sore than listing off the countless that are.

In spite of these harsh realities, the general masses have not been dissuaded and competition for the limited overnight permits is fierce. So much so in fact that most are gone within minutes of their release and for the highly-coveted weekend spots we sought, that window is reduced down to a matter of seconds. After briefly considering writing a bot to book them for us, I figured a rugged, off-grid trail deserved a rugged off-grid solution. So a few of us got together to train through the sequence of clicks required to cut down on any sluggishness and unexpected surprises day of. And boy did it pay off, coming away with 3 permits with a total of 11 people able to come along. Now all that was left was to choose our fighters, get prepared, and prepare to embark on a journey of a lifetime! For a long-winded diatribe on what exactly this trail could have in store for you, check out the trail log!