Willow Lake Trail
Begins at the forest's mile 0, 39.6676, -106.1481 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins
Willow Lake #1978 the Forest Service's write-up
<strong>Fees are charged for high season</strong> overnight stays in permitted zones of the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness, and for parking and shuttle reservations at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recarea/?recid=82346">Maroon Bells Scenic Area</a>. · reservation required
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
The Willow Lake trail starts at Maroon Lake and follows lakeside until it climbs on rocky paths through the aspens to a rock “garden” before it descends to Crater Lake. At Crater Lake the trail forks to the right and climbs steeply through aspen and spruce forest to Minnehaha Gulch. A stream divides the gulch in half with campsites available before and after the stream crossing. The trail continues its steep ascent exiting the gulch into an alpine meadow with Buckskin Pass looming ahead. Camping is prohibited in the meadow. A trail sign for the Maroon-Snowmass/Willow Lake Junction appears in another 1/2 mile. Take the right fork. Follow the trail which traverses the hillside then switchbacks steeply into a basin where Willow Pass looms ahead. Another series of steep switchbacks leads to the top of the pass and provides a view of Willow Lake off to the right. Willow Lake is about 1-1/2 miles farther.
Restrictions <h4><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recarea/?recid=81118">Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness</a> regulations protect this special place:</h4><ul><li><strong>Overnight permit required </strong>for overnight stays within the <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs.usda.gov%2FInternet%2FFSE_DOCUMENTS%2Ffseprd1083862.pdf&data=05%7C01%7C%7C858b5b65c3e44f31eb4a08daf96f07b9%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638096552521659688%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eRHf4%2Fc7xcXGal93pYbLdbtvvXA9N4hqlqiJzF%2FMbps%3D&reserved=0">Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Overnight Permit Zones</a>.</li><li><strong>Food, trash and any scented items must be stored in an </strong><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs.usda.gov%2FInternet%2FFSE_DOCUMENTS%2Ffseprd1029220.pdf&data=05%7C01%7C%7C858b5b65c3e44f31eb4a08daf96f07b9%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638096552521659688%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ovvBLvxS%2BG%2BH0eqUr8rCPtx05BwOag4Ih6cdp4hfMcw%3D&reserved=0">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://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBpiX07wPKgE%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&data=05%7C01%7C%7C858b5b65c3e44f31eb4a08daf96f07b9%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638096552521659688%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pxQ5Vr7wM7EA61DEY3UhzqG4o%2BUDYxC8G7IJUz4kUfM%3D&reserved=0" 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 </strong>at all designated sites at Conundrum Hot Springs, Capitol Lake, Crater Lake and above 10,800 feet including Snowmass Lake. Campfires consume wood, accumulate trash, kill fragile alpine vegetation, sterilize the soil and scar the land. Lightweight camp stoves are recommended.</li><li><strong>Campers must camp in designated sites</strong><strong> </strong>at Conundrum Hot Springs, Copper Lake, Crater Lake, Geneva Lake, Capitol Lake and Thomas Lakes. Everywhere else campers should set up more than 100 feet from lakes, streams and trails and use previously impacted campsites. Camp out of sight of others and away from fragile areas.</li><li><strong>As with all designated Wilderness, motorized and mechanized equipment is prohibited </strong>including bicycles, motorbikes, chainsaws, ATVs, carts, drones, hang gliders and paragliders. This equipment is prohibited to provide visitors with a primitive recreational experience and to preserve outstanding opportunities for solitude.</li></ul>