Indian Peaks Wilderness Permit Guide 2026
Colorado · Leashed dogs OK
By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger
Last updated
Indian Peaks Wilderness sits along the Continental Divide in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, a compact, high-alpine area of lakes, cirques, and namesake peaks that draws heavy overnight use for its proximity to the Front Range. An overnight permit is required during the summer quota season and is issued for a specific backcountry camping zone, with one reservation covering your whole party. Popular zones and summer weekends sell out fast, so competitive dates can be hard to secure.
Indian Peaks Wilderness issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. The entire Jun 1 – Sep 15 overnight quota season goes on sale the first Tuesday of March at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-zone quota). Short-notice leftovers also sell via a separate 3-day advance permit. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.
When permits are released
The entire Jun 1 – Sep 15 overnight quota season goes on sale the first Tuesday of March at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-zone quota). Short-notice leftovers also sell via a separate 3-day advance permit.
Quota seasons: June 1 to September 15, 2026; June 1 to September 15, 2027 - off-season: Outside Jun 1 – Sep 15 no overnight permit is required in Indian Peaks - just go.
Fees
- Reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable)
- Recreation: $5 per permit (non-refundable)
How to get a Indian Peaks Wilderness permit
- Choose the overnight camping zone you want for each night of your trip (Group variants are available for larger parties).
- Mark the opening: the entire June 1 to September 15 overnight quota season goes on sale the first Tuesday of March at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific).
- Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as the season opens, reserving each zone for the nights of your itinerary.
- For short-notice trips, watch the separate Indian Peaks last-minute permit, which sells leftover zone quota within three days of entry.
- If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen zones through the season, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched zone frees up.
Notable trails
- Isabelle Glacier via Pawnee Pass Trail - 4.9 on AllTrails
- Arapaho Pass and Lake Dorothy Trail - 4.9 on AllTrails
- Columbine Lake Trail - 4.9 on AllTrails
- Diamond Lake Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Mt Neva Loop via 4th Of July Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Crater Lake and Lone Eagle from Long Lake Trailhead - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Devils Thumb Pass and King Lake Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Jasper Lake via Devil's Thumb Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
Top passes in this area
The most in-demand Indian Peaks Wilderness entry points, each with its own detail page.
- Diamond Lake
- Jasper Lake
- Crater Lake
- Diamond Lake Group
- Coney Creek
- Cascade Creek
- Crater Lake Group
- Buchanan
Frequently asked questions
When do Indian Peaks Wilderness permits open?
What if my dates are sold out?
Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?
More permits in Colorado
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison permit guide
- Great Sand Dunes permit guide
- Indian Peaks: Last-Minute permit guide
- Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness permit guide
- Rocky Mountain National Park permit guide
Dog-friendly permits
- Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permit guide
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area permit guide
- Cedar Mesa (Bears Ears) permit guide
- Central Cascades Wilderness permit guide
- Desolation Wilderness permit guide
- Hoover Wilderness permit guide
- Indian Peaks: Last-Minute permit guide
- Inyo National Forest permit guide
Plan ahead
Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.
Browse Indian Peaks Wilderness passes · Book on recreation.gov