As of May 15th, the Backcountry Permit office of RMNP switches back to summer rules for bivy permits.
As of May 15th of every year until the onset of winter in December, the NPS for Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado requires all overnight campers who want to stay in "undeveloped" sites for climbing purposes only, to register with the Backcountry Office in person for a "bivy permit".
To acquire a bivy permit, your entire group must be doing multi-pitch, roped climbing in specific areas of the park, there is a fee (credit cards accepted) and no free-standing shelters are allowed and you must apply in person during office hours. You can reach the Backcountry Office at 970-586-1242 for more specifics or visit the RMNP website at www.nps.gov/romo for more information. Some areas are off-limits to backcountry camping - inquire before making plans.
Bivouac Area Regulations |
A bivouac is defined as a temporary, open-air encampment.
-
Permits are issued only to technical climbers.
-
The climb must be 4 or more technical pitches and 3½ or more miles from the trailhead.
-
Party size is limited to 4 people and all members must be climbing.
-
A bivouac must be established.
-
within the designated bivy zone, or at the base or on the face of the climb.
-
at least 200' (70 adult steps) from water.
-
with camp set up at dusk and taken down before dawn.
-
without the use of erected type shelters, tents or supported tarps.
-
on rock or snow only, not on vegetation, and out of meadows.
-
Fires prohibited. Use portable stoves only.
-
Stock prohibited.
|
The limits for climbers in each specific bivouac area listed below:
|
Name
|
Number of Climbers
|
|
Longs Peak Area
|
|
Broadway, below the Diamond
|
10
|
|
Chasm View
|
6
|
|
Mills Glacier
|
20
|
|
Meeker Cirque
|
8
|
|
Black Lake Area
|
|
McHenry Peak
|
6
|
|
Arrowhead (Lake Solitude)
|
6
|
|
Spearhead (Moon Pillar)
|
8
|
|
Chiefshead/Pagoda
|
4
|
|
Notchtop Peak Area
|
|
Base of Notchtop
|
8
|
|
Sky Pond Area/Andrews Glacier
|
Taylor/Powell Peaks |
6
|
Sharkstooth Peak
(Petit Grepon, Cathedral Spires) (Loch Vale Pinnacle, Saber) |
6
|
Andres emerges from a winter bivy below Longs Peak
|
