New to Four pass loop

[Alex]

I plan to do Four pass loop in August. As being new to that trail I have some questions that might have been answered, but I either have not found the answers searching the forums or need some clarification.
1. Do I understand correctly, that one needs to buy a permit for that? If yes, how many people in the party one permit covers?
2. Is it different permit than the one needed for Conundrum hot springs?
3. Is there any way to go from Four pass loop to Conundrum hot springs not exceeding YDS class 2+, or the best would be to come back to TH and to drive to the Conundrum TH?
Thank you!

[JROSKA]

I’ve developed some experience with the reservation system on recreation.gov and may apply it to Four Pass Loop at some point myself. So here’s my understanding of your first two questions.

1. Yes. Unless you are doing the Loop in one day, you will need reservations for any potential camping nights because the entire Four Pass Loop is within the reservation permit zone. There’s a map on recreation.gov. I would come up with a general plan with your group, as to where you intend to camp each night and set yourself up with reservations at 8 AM on June 15. Put multiple people to work at it, because they go very fast. Permits for weekends in August will probably go in under 10 minutes. There doesn’t seem to be a strict limit on group size on the site, but remember that the person designated as the leader must be present on the trip.

If you plan to park at Maroon Lake, you’ll need reservations for that as well; not sure if that system has opened yet.

2. Four Pass Loop is in a completely different zone than Conundrum Hot Springs. So any reservation you have for Conundrum Hot Springs won’t do you a whole lot of good for the Four Pass Loop.

3. Have to defer to others on this question since I haven’t the slightest idea.

Hope the answers to questions 1 and 2 help. I have no idea if rangers patrol Four Pass Loop or if they make you stay true to the exact nights reserved. But it’s probably not a bad idea to have a reservation that can be presented if stopped.

[dwoodward13]

To add a little bit to 1) you select group size when reserving. There are two categories small or large group, 1-4 and 5-10 people respectively. I don’t believe every zone has a large group permit. There are obviously more small group permits than large. Importantly, you can change the number in your group up until the permit is printed. Once print you are locked in! If you print saying you have 3 people then want to add a 4th you cannot do that.

For 3) you could but it would not be easy or short. Would need to walk down from Maroon Lake to the East Maroon Trail. Take it all the way up to Copper Pass then over Triangle Pass and down to the springs. Be somewhere around 13 miles and 4500 gain to go that way, far far more effort that just hiking the standard route to the springs.

Yes the rangers absolutely patrol and ask to see your permit and food storage. I’d encourage you to familiarize yourself with the rec.gov website for the permits as it will answer these questions and a whole lot more things necessary for your trip.

The Four Pass Loop group on FB is very active for questions and help as well.

[Alex]

Thank you.
And I have additional questions.
Is Maroon Lakes TH the only place where I can park my car and start on that side? Can I park, for instance, on East Maroon TH? If yes, do I need to have a reservation for multi nights parking? Is there any restrictions on how long I can have my car parked there?

[thebeave7]

Alex, if you're on Facebook come join the group "Four Pass Loop", all the beta you want/need there.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/581773065256376/

Eric

[Alex]

Unfortunately, my next question in the recommended facebook group is sitting in "under checking" state, therefore, I have to revitalize this topic here. The following is my question that has not been shown so far:
"Thank you for the suggestions! So, I will choose Crater Lake zone, Snowmass Lake zone, and North Fork zone. Now, I am looking at recreation.gov site, just to make sure I would not waste time at the reservations day. Some spots for June are available, so, if I simulating my reservation I need to choose, for instance, Crater Lake zone permit for night 1, Snowmass for night 2, and North Fork for night 3 if going CCW, or in opposite order if going CW. So, I need to have this combination of three permits available and book them. Is this a correct assumption?"

Many thanks in advance.

[madmattd]

"Thank you for the suggestions! So, I will choose Crater Lake zone, Snowmass Lake zone, and North Fork zone. Now, I am looking at recreation.gov site, just to make sure I would not waste time at the reservations day. Some spots for June are available, so, if I simulating my reservation I need to choose, for instance, Crater Lake zone permit for night 1, Snowmass for night 2, and North Fork for night 3 if going CCW, or in opposite order if going CW. So, I need to have this combination of three permits available and book them. Is this a correct assumption?"

Correct. Though the reverse order may not be what you want for a CW loop (which for your list would be North Fork, Snowmass, Crater - you'd presumably still want Crater Lake night 1).