Conundrum Hot Springs will be the first place in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness where a permit system will be implemented to manage overnight camping, U.S. Forest Service officials said Tuesday.
The permit system will likely be ready to roll out in 2018 or 2019, according to Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Karen Schroyer.
A proposed Overnight Visitors Use Management Plan is also being studied as a tool to ease resource damage at popular spots along the Four Pass Loop as well as Capitol Lake, Schroyer said. But Conundrum Hot Springs, which attracts up to 300 backpackers on summer weekends, will be the guinea pig.
The White River National Forest Supervisor’s Office released a draft Environmental Assessment Wednesday on a “proposed adaptive management plan” for the 181,535-acre wilderness area.
The Forest Service is looking into various ways to issue permit. One method would be using an online reservation system, which would include an administrative fee on top of a camping fee. An alternative would be issuing permits out of a local office at no fee. A third option would be to create a Special Recreation Permit that would generate revenues that could be used in the wilderness area for management expenses.
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