Indian Peaks Wilderness Overnight Permits – Full Season in Advance
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 2026 this will be March 3rd at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
For the most current trail conditions please visit Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
This may not be the only permit you need for your trip. Overnight Permits, Day Use Permits and Timed Entry 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 . New for 2026: This year, the current concessionaire for the Arapaho Roosevelt Pawnee, Outdoor Recreation Hospitality, will implement fees at two sites with access to the Indian Peaks Wilderness to help maintain those areas. Concessionaires help deliver quality recreation experiences by operating, maintaining and improving recreation sites, such as campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads. In 2026, these fee sites will include Rainbow Lakes Trailhead and Middle St. Vrain Trailhead in the Boulder Ranger District. More information can be found HERE
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.
Notifications and Alerts
The following conditions were evaluated 6/21-6/23:
TRAILS AND MOUNTAIN PASSES:
Trails are still wet and muddy in a few places where snow has recently melted. A few high-elevation trails are still holding on to occasional snow drifts. Several trails have considerably more downed trees this year than in prior years.
Buchanan Pass is still completely blocked by a large cornice and steep snowfield on the east side of the Continental Divide and is not passable. It may be blocked for several more weeks. This loop also has a significant number of downed trees blocking the trails on the west side. The Buchanan/Pawnee Pass loop is strongly discouraged at this time.
Devil’s Thumb Pass still has a large cornice, but it is melting quickly and should be easy to bypass by the end of June or early July. Caution is advised until snow melts completely.
Loop hikes are generally not recommended until passes melt out and trees are mitigated. Please remember, scrambling at all costs to reach your destination causes significant trail and resource damage.
CAMPSITES:
Popular lake destinations above 10,800ft. still have some snow drifts in camping areas, or have mud or standing water, but most campsites are available. Designated campsites 1 and 3 at Jasper Lake still have snow and/or are very wet. Sites 2,4,5,6,7 were reported snow-free enough to be used. Diamond Lake has not been assessed since 06/14. At that time, only site 7 was still snow-covered. It may be melted out by this time. Fourth of July Mine was mostly melted out. Campsites at Caribou Lake were mostly available. Red Deer Lake was last assessed on 6/15. At that time there were large drifts on the south and east side, but campsites were available on the north side. Since the 15th, the remaining snow is likely to have melted off, but no current observations are available.
As a reminder, ALL CAMPING MUST REMAIN 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 signs). In zones without designated campsites, tents must be at least 100ft. from the trail and from water.
**If your permit is issued to camp in a zone with designated campsites, and no sites are available, you may choose to camp on snow or leave that zone and camp in an adjacent zone where dispersed camping is permitted.
Conditions are being assessed throughout the week and are reported to Forest Service Information Services. Updates are also posted as “ALERTS” here, on the Indian Peaks permit website (Recreation.gov). We recommend that you check conditions prior to your trip. For more information, you can contact the Forest Service Visitor Information Line at (970) 295-6600 or visit the Forest Service website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/arp.
Fire Restrictions:
As a reminder, fires are prohibited in most of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, regardless of fire restrictions. Currently, all of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and adjacent Forest Service lands are under stage 1 or stage 2 fire restrictions (in both Boulder County and Grand County), which means that fires are currently not permitted anywhere in these areas, even in locations where they would otherwise be allowed in the absence of a fire ban.
Permit & Season Information
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 Timed Entry 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 .
Need to Know
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
- Campfires are prohibited on the east side of the Continental Divide.
- Campfires are also prohibited in the following areas west of the Continental Divide: Crater Lake, Caribou Lake, Columbine Lake, Pawnee Lake, Gourd Lake, Upper Cascade Creek (above Cascade Falls)
- Where allowed, campfires must be located at least 100 feet away from lakes, streams, and trails
Pets
- Pets must always be on a hand-held leash at all times.
Camping
- A permit is required for anyone planning to stay overnight between June 1 and September 15.
- Campsites must be located at least 100 feet away from all lakes, streams, and trails.
- Four Lakes Backcountry Zone is closed to overnight camping from May 1 through November 15.
- The following backcountry zones allow camping only in designated campsites: Diamond Lake , Jasper Lake , Crater Lake , Caribou Lake .
Group Size
- Group size is limited to no more than 12 people or 12 people and pack stock combined, year-round.
Motorized/Mechanized Equipment
- Motorized equipment (including drones) and mechanized transportation (including bicycles) are prohibited within the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
- Wheeled devices (motorized or non-motorized) that are essential for the mobility of people with disabilities are allowed.
Recreation Livestock
- Hobbling, tethering, or picketing of livestock, such as horses, llamas, or other livestock is prohibited within 100 feet of lakes, streams, or trails.
- Processed weed-free feed is required for livestock and must include original and current documentation.
- Pack stock are prohibited within these backcountry zones and on these trails: Crater Lake, Four Lakes, Diamond Lake, Upper Cascade Creek (above Cascade Falls), Diamond Lake Trail
Backcountry Safety
- Be prepared for changing and severe weather conditions: Afternoon thunder and lightning storms are common in the mountains. Avoid exposed areas and tall single trees during storms. High winds can cause beetle-weakened trees to fall.
- Purify all water from lakes or streams before drinking: Giardia and other parasites are common in mountain water sources and can cause serious illness.
- To reduce the risk of altitude sickness, avoid overexertion, slow down, and stay hydrated: Descend to lower elevations if symptoms occur.
- Hypothermia can be life-threatening: Bring appropriate clothing and gear.
- Plan your route, carry maps and a compass: Always tell someone your plans.
- Carry first aid supplies.
Leave No Trace
- Plan Ahead and Prepare: Proper planning and preparation helps hikers and campers have a safe trip and minimize impacts to natural and cultural resources.
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Camp in wooded areas where trees offer shelter from wind and provide privacy, and the ground is more durable than in open meadows or alpine areas. Avoid areas with standing dead trees.
- Dispose of Waste Properly: Bury human waste in cat holes 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites. Carry out toilet paper, pet waste, food scraps, and all trash.
- Minimize Campfire Impacts: Lightweight camp stoves make low impact camping possible by preventing scars that remain after a campfire.
- Leave What You Find: Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects as you find them. (Removal of artifacts from public lands is illegal.)
- Respect Wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance to avoid disturbing them. Store food securely. Keep garbage and food scraps away from animals so they will not acquire bad habits. Keep pets leashed to avoid harassment or injury to wildlife.
- Respect Others: Travel and camp in small groups and help maintain the peace by camping out of sight and sound of others. Keep pets leashed and always pick up after yourself and your pet.
Fee Policy
Each Overnight Permit costs $11.00
- $6.00 non-refundable recreation.gov reservation fee
- $5.00 non-refundable Forest Service recreation fee
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy:
- Permit holders may cancel their permit at any point prior to 7 days before their trip – no refunds. If you know that you will not be attending your trip please cancel your permit to make those days available for someone else.
- Once downloaded or printed, the permit is considered issued and cancellations are not allowed.
Change Policy:
- Once created, the permit holder may modify their itinerary locations, group size, entry and exit points and number of pets prior to downloading or printing the permit.
- The permit holder may not modify the permit start date. If the permit holder would like to change their start date, they will be required to cancel their existing reservation and book a new reservation.
- Once downloaded or printed, the permit is considered issued and modifications or cancellations will no longer be allowed.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
Phone Number
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland Visitor Information: 970-295-6600
