Stormy Peaks South (Snow-free average: July 5)

Permit required

Stormy Peaks South (Snow-free average: July 5) is a designated backcountry camp. You cannot reserve it directly — you must name it on a wilderness permit, and camping here without one is not permitted.

Apply for the permit on Recreation.gov

Average Snow Melt-Out Date: July 5

Number of Sites: 1 (1-7 people)

Elevation: 10,840 ft.

Elevation Change: 2,880 ft. gain from Dunraven TH, Net gain 1,840 ft. from Pingree Park TH (2,560 ft. gain; 720 ft. loss)

Distance: 8.6 mi. from Dunraven TH, 7.4 mi. from Pingree Park TH

Privy: Yes

Camp safely away from standing dead trees as close to the silver metal arrowhead as possible.

Carry in/out hard sided bear-resistant food storage canister required.

NO FIRES, Fires Prohibited, Use portable stoves only.

Purify water.

Leave No Trace.

Lightning and wind hazard. Be alert and prepared. Be off summits early in the day.

**Hiking through recent burn area - use extreme caution with standing dead trees.**

Fees

Permit Reservation Fee: $6 Wilderness Administrative Fee: $30 Total: $36 Entrance Fee: The park charges an entrance fee which you may pay upon arrival or purchase in advance. The park honors valid annual or lifetime America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes (e.g. Senior, Military, 4th Grade, etc.) also known as interagency passes. For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page. Timed Entry not Required for Wilderness Permit holders: Your wilderness permit will serve as your timed entry reservation for the duration of your permit.

Rules

Our park has a proud culture of backpackers who Leave No Trace while camping here in Rocky Mountain National Park. Thank you for joining us in the Leave No Trace ethics of minimal impact camping. A commercial hard-sided carry-in/carry-out bear-resistant food storage canister is required from April 1 through Oct. 31. Canister must be locked and placed on the ground 70 adult steps away from campsite. Canisters may be rented or purchased at local sporting goods stores in Estes Park and Grand Lake. Plan ahead to leave no food or scented items in your vehicle at the trailhead. Arrive early for parking. Bear canisters are required for all Wilderness overnights in the park and must be brought into the Wilderness Office in order to obtain a Wilderness Permit. To minimize impact on the park's precious Wilderness, the number of permits issued is limited. Important Permit Details Wilderness Office Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily. Please review your Wilderness Campsite Reservation Confirmation and make sure your campsites and dates are correct. Permits must be picked up in person at the Wilderness Office adjacent to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Hwy 36 just west of Estes Park or at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on Hwy 34 just north of Grand Lake. You must furnish the license plate number(s) of any vehicle(s) that will be parked at the trailhead(s). Permits may be picked up as early as 30 days before your trip. Because parking lots fill early, we recommend picking up your permit a day or two before your trip begins so that you can get an early start on the first day of your trip. Wilderness Designated Sites Individual sites: For parties of 1 to 7 people. Each party is assigned 1 campsite. Groups over 7 persons may not camp in neighboring individual sites but must reserve group sites or split up and reserve individual sites at least 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) apart. Group sites: For parties of 8 to 12 people. Groups must camp at special sites. Because of impact caused by group interaction in and between sites (site spread, social trails, etc.), groups over 7 persons may not camp in neighboring individual sites but must reserve group sites or split up and reserve individual sites at least 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) apart. From June through September, campers may stay in the Wilderness for a maximum of 7 nights with no more than 3 consecutive nights in the same campsite. Campfires are PROHIBITED. Use portable stoves only. Sprague Lake Accessible Campsite This is a special wheelchair-accessible Wilderness campsite near Sprague Lake. It is 0.5 miles (1 kilometer) from the trailhead to the campsite. The camp accommodates up to 12 campers including a maximum of 5 wheelchair users. To make a reservation, call 970-586-1242. Wilderness Stock Sites There are special campsites with particular rules and regulations for overnight wilderness camping with stock (horses or llamas.) Some trails are closed to stock use. Wilderness Technical Climbing Bivouac Zones A Wilderness Technical Climbing Bivouac is a temporary, open-air encampment (with no erected tent or shelter) for technical climbers on routes of 4 technical pitches or more. Use of pack in/pack out human waste bags are required. If you plan to bivouac, you must identify your technical climbing route and must obtain a Bivy Permit from the Wilderness Office during listed office hours. Wilderness Technical Orienteering Cross-country Zones (No Trails) Technical Orienteering Cross-country Zones are the least accessible and least traveled and places in Rocky Mountain National Park. The zones are reached through technical orienteering with required orienteering and off-trail navigation skills with map, compass/GPS while bushwhacking off trail, in remote areas characterized by rugged terrain, dense forests, downed trees, wet bogs and icy streams. There are no developed trails, no developed campsites and no pit toilets. The Technical Orienteering zones are below treeline. It takes considerable additional time utilizing technical orienteering and navigation skills along the way to reach your destination than if you were on a trail. Off-trail navigation skills are required. Those who travel here must be skilled with a map and compass/GPS and must be proficient in and dedicated to Leave No Trace camping and hiking ethics and techniques. If you'd like to reserve a Stock, Bivy, or Cross-country Zone site, please contact the Wilderness Office to check availability as these sites are not available for online reservation. Wilderness Winter Camping There are special regulations for overnight wilderness winter camping. To check conditions on Longs Peak before committing to a trip in the area, please check the Longs Peak Conditions Report. Longs Peak - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service)