North Fork Cutoff
Begins at the forest's mile 0, 39.0968, -107.0639 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins
North Fork Cutoff TH #1976 the Forest Service's write-up
ALERTS:
• Bear canisters are required for all backpackers in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.
• Advance reservation permits are required for overnight stays in the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness Overnight Permit Zones.
Get Permits
This trail starts at the junction with the North Fork Trail and winds with the junction to the trail which connects with Geneva Lake and continues over Trail Rider Pass. It has a nice view of the north fork of the Crystal River Valley and Lead King Basin. It is a short cut for travelers going to Snowmass Lake, but it is very steep. The trail is heavily used by horses and backpackers. Please give horses the right-of-way to prevent erosion near the trails.
Restrictions <h4>The following regulations apply to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and are in place to protect this special area:</h4><ul><li><strong>Overnight permit required </strong>for overnight stays within the <a href="http://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs.usda.gov%2FInternet%2FFSE_DOCUMENTS%2Ffseprd1083862.pdf&data=05%7C01%7C%7C7d1c148b617d420ee8cb08daf91dc92c%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638096203576998810%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kwU8ie72JuD4SazHVfhqzSL%2BLxv%2BIq72MQzrDaEEk%2Fs%3D&reserved=0">Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Overnight Permit Zones</a>.</li><li><strong>Food, refuse and any scented items must be stored in an </strong><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1029220.pdf">IGBC approved bear resistant container</a><strong>. </strong>Human food habituated bears are a threat to human safety. Visitors without approved bear resistant containers will be ticketed and required to leave. </li><li><strong>You must have a plan for human waste. Human waste bags (WAG) bags are highly recommended</strong> and are available free of charge at the Conundrum Creek and Snowmass Lake trailheads. WAG bags must be packed out. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpiX07wPKgE&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Learn more</a> about how to use a WAG bag. If a WAG bag is not used, visitors are required to deposit solid human waste in holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet (70 paces) from water, camp and trails.</li><li><strong>Group size is limited to 10 with no more than 15 stock animals in one group</strong>. Large groups multiply impacts to the wilderness and disrupt the solitude of others.</li><li><strong>Dogs are prohibited</strong> in the Conundrum Creek Valley from Silver Dollar Pond to Triangle Pass, including the hot springs. <strong>Everywhere else, dogs must be leashed.</strong></li><li><strong>Campfires are prohibited at all designated sites at Conundrum Hot Springs, within ¼ mile of Crater Lake and above 10,800 feet. </strong>Campfires consume wood, accumulate trash, kill fragile alpine vegetation, sterilize the soil and scar the land.</li><li><strong>Campers must camp in designated sites at Conundrum Hot Springs, Copper Lake, Crater Lake, Geneva Lake, and Capitol Lake.</strong> Everywhere else campers should set up more than 100 feet from lakes, streams and trails and use previously impacted campsites. Help provide a feeling of solitude, camp out of sight of others and fragile areas.</li><li><strong>As with all designated Wilderness, motorized and mechanized equipment is prohibited including bicycles, motorbikes, chainsaws, ATVs, carts, drones, hang gliders and paragliders. </strong>This equipment is prohibited to provide visitors with a primitive recreational experience and to preserve outstanding opportunities for solitude.</li></ul>