Monarch Lake TH---safe to sleep in car?

[rdp32]

I am thinking of driving to Monarch Lake TH and sleeping in my car so that I can get an early start towards Crater/Mirror lakes in the morning. Is this allowed? If it's technically not allowed, what are my chances of actually getting ticketed or disturbed by a ranger? (I would get there late and leave early, and not use the bathroom except at the outhouse there. So no harm done). If anyone has any such experience at that trailhead, please let me know!

[lodgling]

The answer probably depends upon day of the week and time of year. That is a busy pay to park area in the summer with a very busy pay to camp area nearby.

[peter303]

Note, they require a day pass or multiday pass (backpacking) there. I think you can buy them on recreation.gov or use a national parks pass. The rangers ticket vehicles without passes.

[rdp32]

Note, they require a day pass or multiday pass (backpacking) there. I think you can buy them on recreation.gov or use a national parks pass. The rangers ticket vehicles without passes.

Do they require a day pass on that side? I wasn't aware of that, and can't find anything about it in my quick google search. But regardless, it wouldn't surprise me if rangers do indeed ticket overnight vehicles without passes (hence my question).

[Chicago Transplant]

They do require passes on the west as part of the ANRA (Arapahoe National Recreation Area), annual parks pass accepted (i.e. America the Beautiful NP pass). You need overnight permits to backpack in IPW, which you get by backcountry zone through recreation.gov now (used to be through Boulder Ranger District).

ANRA:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... ecid=81813

IPW:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... 3&actid=51

[rdp32]

They do require passes on the west as part of the ANRA (Arapahoe National Recreation Area), annual parks pass accepted (i.e. America the Beautiful NP pass). You need overnight permits to backpack in IPW, which you get by backcountry zone through recreation.gov now (used to be through Boulder Ranger District).

ANRA:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... ecid=81813

IPW:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... 3&actid=51

Thanks; I guess I meant "permit" instead of "pass". I have an annual pass, but I was wondering if (a) I can dayhike there without a permit (I thought you could---I know I have in the past---but I think peter303 was saying you cannot), and (b) if I can sleep in my car at the trailhead before my dayhike (this was the original question in my post)

[Chicago Transplant]

They do require passes on the west as part of the ANRA (Arapahoe National Recreation Area), annual parks pass accepted (i.e. America the Beautiful NP pass). You need overnight permits to backpack in IPW, which you get by backcountry zone through recreation.gov now (used to be through Boulder Ranger District).

ANRA:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... ecid=81813

IPW:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... 3&actid=51

Thanks; I guess I meant "permit" instead of "pass". I have an annual pass, but I was wondering if (a) I can dayhike there without a permit (I thought you could---I know I have in the past---but I think peter303 was saying you cannot), and (b) if I can sleep in my car at the trailhead before my dayhike (this was the original question in my post)

IPW permits are needed June 1-Sept 15 for overnight, otherwise if you have the annual interagency pass you are good for day hiking (its really just for parking as far as I know). Sleeping overnight in the car might be tricky because of it being a fee parking area and I don't know if they will check or not. I can't remember if the overnight parking required a separate parking permit or not, when I arranged overnight for IPW they sent me parking passes and a hangtag for my tent.

[pbakwin]

I slept in a car back there in 2016, though at the Roaring Fork TH. Then left the car until the next day. Did not have any issues. I do not know what the regs are.

[cougar]

Those rec areas are usually not good for this. They have campgrounds nearby and it's a fee area. Not sure how aggressively they patrol in that area, but near lake granby likely. At night it may be campground hosts of the contracted company like Brainard. If you were stealthy enough in your car it could be ok. There seems to be dispersed camping by Tabernash near High Lonesome trailhead. Some logging roads back there. For overnight I'd think you'd pay accordingly. Seems like other fee areas like Cordova pass don't get checked at night.