Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee Ng
This is the page to purchase Indian Peaks Wilderness Overnight Permits – Full Season in Advance.
Permits go on sale the first Tuesday in March. For 2024 this will be March 5th at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
This may not be the only permit you need for your trip. Overnight Permits, Day Use Permits and Parking Reservations are required to visit Indian Peaks Wilderness depending on season, group size, and location. Before purchasing this permit, view all requirements at Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Indian Peaks Wilderness is located along the Continental Divide between Boulder County to the east and Grand County to the west. Indian Peaks Wilderness is a popular destination for day hiking, backpacking, fishing, and viewing wildlife.
Indian Peaks Wilderness is divided into 17 backcountry zones. Each zone has a permit quota to ensure enjoyment by all visitors and to protect and preserve the wilderness environment from the adverse cumulative impacts due to repeated use.
CONDITIONS UPDATE:
As of July 3rd, patchy snow drifts remain on many trails. Where snow has recently melted, trails are very wet and muddy. Conditions vary with aspect and tree-cover; sunnier or more open locations have less snow and drier trails. Popular camping areas now have more campsites available, but many sites still have snow drifts or standing water. About 50% of the designated campsites at Jasper Lake and Diamond Lake are free of snow.
As a reminder, FINES WILL BE ISSUED FOR ANY CAMPING NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH WILDERNESS REGULATIONS, regardless of snow conditions. In zones that have designated sites, tents must be in an official campsite (marked by numbered, wooden posts). In zones without designated sites, tents must be at least 100ft. from trail and from water.
Buchanan Pass is still completely blocked by a steep cornice on the east side of the Continental Divide. Devil’s Thumb Pass also has a large cornice making passage difficult. Passes may be more navigable in about 12-14 days; until then, loop hikes are strongly discouraged, especially over the northern loop (Buchanan and Pawnee pass). Remember, just because you "can", doesn't mean you "should"; scrambling at all costs to reach your destination causes significant trail and resource damage.
Reports are being updated as conditions change. For more information, you can also contact the Forest Service Visitor Information Line at (970) 295-6600 or visit the Forest Service website .
CONDITIONS UPDATE as of July 10:
Snowmelt was slower than expected over the last week due to cooler temperatures and the EAST SIDE OF BUCHANAN PASS IS STILL COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY A LARGE CORNICE AND STEEP SNOWFIELD (think, “crampon/ice axe, NOT “micro spikes”).
The Buchanan – Pawnee Pass Loop is strongly discouraged at this time. Out-and-back hikes are lovely this time of year.
Diamond Lake designated sites 1-5 are useable. Sites 6 and 7 are still completely covered with snow. Jasper Lake has at least 3 sites that are available and snow-free (5,6,7). Sites 1-4 were not assessed this week, but based on the amount of snow at the last assessment, these sites are likely to have at least some large drifts in them, and may or may not have dry ground available. Plan to camp on snow if using these sites (tarp/shovel advised). As a reminder, FINES WILL BE ISSUED FOR ANY CAMPING NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH WILDERNESS REGULATIONS, regardless of snow conditions. In zones that have designated sites, tents must be in an official campsite (marked by numbered, wooden posts).
Reports are being updated as conditions change. For more information, you can also contact the Forest Service Visitor Information Line at (970) 295-6600 or visit the Forest Service Website
These permits allow for advanced planning and are released for the entire season in early March. During the summer, you can also check the "3 Day in Advance" permits for additional availability.
This permit allows the permit holder and their group (max. 12 people) to overnight camp in one of the selected Backcountry Zones within Indian Peaks Wilderness. The permit holder will have the ability to print their permit through their Recreation.gov account starting 7 days prior to the permit entry date.
This may not be the only permit you need for your trip. Overnight Permits, Day Use Permits and Parking Reservations are required to visit Indian Peaks Wilderness depending on season, group size, and location. Before purchasing this permit, view all requirements at Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Regulations –These regulations exist to protect and preserve the Indian Peaks for present and future generations. The following are subject to minimum $100 and maximum $5000 in fines and/or 6 months imprisonment:
Campfires
Pets
Camping
Group Size
Motorized/Mechanized Equipment
Recreation Livestock
Backcountry Safety
Leave No Trace
Each Overnight Permit costs $11.00
Cancellation Policy:
Change Policy:
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland Visitor Information: 970-295-6600