Picture this: you, your friends, your family, and your four-legged friends earning your turns in the San Juans. Wanna know the best part? You have a cozy hut waiting for you at the end of the day. We have backcountry ski huts stocked with everything you need for your next winter adventure.
| ROUTE | MILES | ASCENT | DESCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Dollar | 2.7 | 1,290' | 60' |
| North Pole | 10 | 2,700' | 380' |
| Blue Lakes | 5.1 | 1,260' | 60' |
| Ridgway | 6.7 | 1,930' | 430' |
| Burn | 5.4 | 1,360' | 190' |
| Spring Creek | 1.2 | 138' | 55' |
| Last Dollar to North Pole | 8.6 | 2,550' | 1,550' |
| North Pole to Blue Lakes | 7.3 | 1,170' | 1,700' |
| Blue Lakes to Ridgway | 5.0 | 1,640' | 1,090' |
| Ridgway to Burn | 4.2 | 730' | 1,074' |
| Burn to Ouray | 4.6 | 340’ | 2,660’ |
The hut system is designed to accommodate all levels of backcountry skiing ability. All skiers should be familiar with changing mountain weather conditions and must be adequately prepared. Skiers should possess knowledge of snow and avalanche conditions while in the backcountry. The route linking huts, however, is designed for intermediate skier ability. The terrain above the huts is for advanced/intermediate, expert, and extreme powder skiing/riding. Need help to decide what route or hut is appropriate for your group? Give us a call, and our expert staff can point you in the right direction.
For skiing between huts, Alpine Touring (AT) skis or split boards are required. The Blue Lakes, Spring Creek, and Burn Huts can be accessed on Nordic setups. Last Dollar, North Pole, and Ridgway require AT setups or split boards to access. Snowshoers with excellent cardiovascular fitness and experience in the backcountry can access most of our huts. Not sure what the difference is between an AT setup and a Nordic setup? Check out our blog post about it here (link to blog post).
The huts are intimate, one-room structures with everything you need and nothing more. You’ll find bunk beds and sleeping pads, a wood stove and firewood, an axe, mallet and hatchet, a propane cooktop and fuel, all the pots, pans, and utensils you need to prepare meals, a big snow melt pot, and a separate outhouse. All you need are your skis, snowshoes, or split board, clothing, food, first aid kit, and sleeping bag.