Do I need a permit for Capitol Lake?
Yes. Every overnight stay in the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness needs a permit, year-round. At Capitol Lake you and your group have to camp in the designated campsite on your permit, where most zones let you pick any established site.
Campfires are banned at the designated sites, and overnight pack and saddle stock aren't allowed there. Capitol Lake and Conundrum Hot Springs are the two zones with designated sites that keep stock out.
How much does a Capitol Lake permit cost?
$10 a person a night from May 1 to October 31, free for kids 16 and under, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit, per recreation.gov.
When are Capitol Lake permits released?
Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness permits release in batches on recreation.gov at 8 a.m. Mountain Time, not on a rolling window. In 2025, the Forest Service opened April 1 to July 31 trips on February 15, and August 1 to November 30 trips on June 15. The 2027 dates weren't posted when we checked, so watch the Important Dates on the recreation.gov permit page.
Can I get a Capitol Lake permit after it sells out?
Yes, it can happen. People cancel, and recreation.gov puts cancelled permits back into inventory within 24 hours. Permit holders can cancel for a refund, minus the $6 fee, up to 48 hours before their start date. Once a permit is printed, which you can do up to 14 days ahead, it can't be changed or cancelled.
What should I know before I go?
A bear-resistant canister on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee list is required. There are no toilets, and WAG bags are recommended.
Snow typically covers the area from early October through late June, with avalanche hazard. The Forest Service posts Capitol Creek road and trail conditions in its White River National Forest conditions report, so check the latest one before you drive up.
Pups are a gray area: recreation.gov says dogs must be on a leash, while the White River National Forest page says dogs are prohibited. Ask the Forest Service before you bring one.
How many people can go on one permit?
The Forest Service lists Capitol Lake at 9 designated campsites with 4 people each, but we couldn't open the zone's campsite map to confirm, so check recreation.gov. A group can't go over 10 people across several sites. You can sleep in only one zone a night, and each person can hold 2 permits a calendar year, up to 7 nights each, with no overlapping nights.
Sold out for your Capitol Lake dates?
Pick your nights and we'll email you when a Capitol Lake permit opens. You book it yourself on recreation.gov. Setting a watch is free.
Nearby and related
Common questions
Do you need a permit for Capitol Lake?
Yes. Every night at Capitol Lake needs a permit, year-round, booked on recreation.gov, and you camp at the designated site on your permit.
When do Capitol Lake permits come out?
Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness permits release in batches on recreation.gov at 8 a.m. Mountain Time, not on a rolling window. In 2025, the Forest Service opened April 1 to July 31 trips on February 15, and August 1 to November 30 trips on June 15. The 2027 dates weren't posted when we checked, so watch the Important Dates on the recreation.gov permit page.
How much is a Capitol Lake permit?
$10 a person a night from May 1 to October 31, free for kids 16 and under, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit, per recreation.gov.
Can you have a campfire at Capitol Lake?
No. Campfires are prohibited at the designated sites, and a wilderness-wide rule bans them above 10,800 feet.
What happens to cancelled Capitol Lake permits?
recreation.gov puts them back into inventory within 24 hours, where anyone can book them. Set a watch and we email you when one opens for your dates.
Can Campsite Ranger book a permit for me?
No. Campsite Ranger never books for anyone and never asks for your recreation.gov login. It emails you when a permit for your dates opens, and you book it yourself on recreation.gov.