How to Determine Availability The number on a date (Jones /4 for example) indicates the number of riders reserved for that date and the name of the group. A number less than eight (8) indicates space in the hut is still available for that departure date. Full capacity is eight (8) riders. Groups can depart…
Please note, for trips scheduled for 2025, the following pricing will apply:
*8 for 7 Rider Discounts will still be available with the initial booking.
Bike Package $895 per person
Group Discount: 8/7 – Eight riders for the price of seven – $6,265 total. Only available with the initial booking.
Please note, for trips scheduled for 2025, the following pricing will apply:
*8 for 7 Rider Discounts will still be available with the initial booking.
Bike Package $895 per person
Group Discount: 8/7 – Eight riders for the price of seven – $6,265 total. Only available with the initial booking.
Flying into Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) is often the most convenient but also often the most expensive way to get to Telluride which is serviced by Frontier and United Airlines. Most flights will have a layover in Denver. Another good (and often cheaper) option is to fly into Montrose (MTJ) from eight major cities across the United States! Once you arrive at the airport, it’s a 66-mile drive to the town of Telluride. Many Telluride hotels provide free shuttle services. There are several companies that also provide shuttles.
The least expensive option (especially for large groups) can be to fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) and then shuttle to Telluride and then back from Moab. There are five different carriers that service Grand Junction.
(970) 626-5121
https://tellurides.com/
Backcountry personalized concierge services too!
(888) 546-6894 or (970) 728-9606
(435) 260-0896
porcupineshuttle.com
435-210-8082
435-259-9402
(800) 525-0892 or (970) 426-7282
(970) 259-1315
(800) 635-1792 or (435) 259-7882
497 N. Main St. Moab, Utah 84532
http://poisonspiderbicycles.com/
(888) 677-4688
702 South Main Street Moab, UT 84532
https://chilebikes.com/
970.318.0799
621 N. Cora Street Suite 102, Ridgway, CO 81432
https://www.ridgwaywrench.com/
970.626.8500
109 North Lena, Ridgway CO 81432
https://www.ridgwayadventuresports.com/
970.615.7122
223 North 1st Street, Montrose, CO 81401
https://www.gjbikes.com/
970.464.9266
Grand Junction, CO
970.245.2699
(970) 385-1461
970.259.6880
598 B Main Ave. Durango, CO 81301
http://durangobikeshop.com/
970.247.4511
(970)728-4581
236 S. Oak St.
Telluride, CO, 81435
https://www.christysports.com/store-locations/oak-street.html
800-772-1972 or 435-259-3500
535 South Main · Moab, Utah 84532
http://www.moabredstone.com/
(435)-259-6057
1213 S Hwy 191 Moab Ut 84532
http://www.lazylizardhostel.com/
(800) 325-6171 or (435) 259-6171
(800) 633-5868 or (970) 626-3737
(970) 626-5324
1585 County Rd. 3, Ridgway, CO 81432
http://www.orvishotsprings.com/
(800) 368-5444 or 970-626-5444
373 Palomino Trail Ridgway, CO 81432
http://www.ridgwaylodgeandsuites.com/
(970) 242-9636
1-800-800-7796
(800)525-0892 or (970)426-7282
#1 Skier Place Durango, CO 81301
http://www.purgatoryresort.com/
(800) 295-4820 or (800) 295-4820
48475 US 550 Durango CO 81301
http://www.silverpicklodge.com/
(800) 247-4431 or (800) 247-4431
(970) 728-4351 or (800) 200-1891
231 W. Colorado Ave. Telluride, CO 81435
http://www.newsheridan.com/
(970) 728-6601 or (800)611-9893
401 West Pacific Avenue Telluride, CO 81435
http://www.victorianinntelluride.com/
(970) 208-5851
970-730-2058
(970) 626-8500
(970) 728-4581
(970) 325-7342
(970) 615-7122
(970) 728-4581
State maps,virtual byway guide, and other info available here.
Thru-Hiking Eliminate the weight on a 30-mile hike, starting at the top of Last Dollar Pass (10,700′) just outside of Telluride and hiking all the way to Ouray. Big views, stream crossings and wildflowers abound on this trek. The trail starts on the southwest corner of the Sneffels Range, enters the “Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area”…
The Burn Hut accommodates eight people via padded bunk-style beds. The Hut includes a propane stove, propane lamp, wood stove, firewood, cookware, and utensils.
Water is obtained by melting snow. Hut users are responsible for treating water with iodine, pump & filter or UV scanner.
The Burn hut sits at 9,940′ on a slope gladded by an old forest fire with views of the Sneffles Range. The Burn Hut is the farthest east of all our Ski/Destination Huts and closest to the town of Ouray. It is frequently used in conjunction with the Ridgway Hut for multi-day adventures.
| ROUTE | MILES | ASCENT | DESCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Trailhead to Burn | 5.4 | 1,360′ | 190′ |
| Ridgway Hut to Burn Hut | 4.2 | 730′ | 1,074′ |
| Burn Hut to Ouray | 4.6 | 2,660′ | 340′ |
Burn hut is available for winter use from November 25th through June 1st. It costs $30/person/night (maximum of 8 people).
The information provide on this page is intended to give our guests ideas on potential activities at The Burn Hut, but the possibilities are endless. We provide more detailed route descriptions only for the trails accessing the hut and between huts upon booking. Please note, the times given here are estimates for the total time needed for the outing.
A short 5-mile drive on CR5 out of Ridgway takes you to the trailhead for both the Ridgway and Burn huts. A 5.7-mile ski along a summer dirt 4×4 road, with awesome views of the entire Sneffels Range leads you to the Burn Hut.
This tour traverses west along the Sneffels Range for 5.7 miles through meadows and forests.
This is a gladed area for fun turns at a moderate level that lies northeast of the hut.
This is an open area of about 400′ of vertical drop that lies directly south and above the hut. This area generally has very low avalanche danger.
“The Burn Hut is a fine destination for beginning and intermediate skiers, mixed groups, and aspiring backcountry skiers who may not be ready to cope with serious avalanche hazards and complicated route-finding. The route to the hut is somewhat long for a novice-level tour, but overall it is very moderate. The trail follows a low-gradient road, which is challenging but not overwhelming, and you get the beautiful panoramas associated with harder tours in the area.
The Burn Hut is just across Coal Creek in a stately stand of aspens. Now all of the high peaks to the south are visible, framed through the pale limbs of the trees. The final mile of the tour to The Burn Hut is the steepest. The hut is surrounded by meadows, forests, and rolling hills that are ideal for all levels of skiers to explore. Moonshine Park lies to the east of the hut and provides for superb skiing. Far below, is Ouray and, further off in the east is the Cimarron Group of the San Juan Mountains. This is the only spot in the San Juan Hut System where this view can be seen. It is truly incredible.”
The Burn Hut accommodates eight people via padded bunk-style beds, sleeping bags* (Guests who use SJHS sleeping bags need to use their own sleeping bag liner), and Crazy Creek Chairs. The Hut includes a propane stove, propane lamp, wood stove, cookware, and utensils.
*Sleeping bags are not provided for part of October, all of November, and May.
There is a creek 250 yards west of the hut. Hut users are responsible for treating water with iodine, pump/filter, or UV scanner.
The Burn hut sits at 9,940′ on a slope gladed by an old forest fire with views of the Sneffles Range. The Burn Hut is the farthest east of all our Hiking Huts and closest to the mountain town of Ouray. It is frequently used in conjunction with the Ridgway hut for multi-day adventures.
| Route | Miles | Ascent | Descent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trailhead to Burn Hut | 0.1 | 70 | 4′ |
| Ridgway Hut to Burn Hut | 4.2 | 732′ | 1,174′ |
| Burn Hut to Ouray | 4.6 | 339′ | 2,661′ |
From June 1 through November, we only book the Burn Hut in the 4-night/5-day Sneffels Traverse. The Sneffels Traverse is $275 per person and includes your shuttle to the start of the hike.
*We will open up the month of November for custom bookings on November 1st.
During “Off-Season” or the months of May and November, we allow custom bookings in the Hiking Huts. During these months, the huts are $30 per person per night and SLEEPING BAGS AREN’T PROVIDED!
Please call or email the office with any specific questions!
A short drive (approx. 5 miles) on CR5 out of Ridgway takes you to the junction of CR5 and CR5A. From this point, a 5.4 mile 4×4 road leads you to the Burn Hut. This 4×4 road can be impassable when wet. The Burn Hut can also be accessed via the Dallas Trail. This access is the eastern terminus of the Dallas Trail and is approximately 7 miles south on the ‘frontage road’ CR 17.
Hiking around the Burn Hut is enjoyable for people of all abilities, this is due not only to the variety of the terrain, but to the views of both the Cimmaron and the Sneffels ranges as well as the La Sals out in Utah.
Travel on 4×4 roads and then the Dallas Trail that leads to the Ridgway Hut.
Hike east on the Dallas Trail descending through aspen groves, meadows, and along sandstone cliffs down into the mountain town of Ouray where natural hot springs, pubs, and ice cream all await.
This is hands down our favorite weekend ride! Although this loop can be done in one push, we find it far more enjoyable to make a weekend out of it. You start your climb right from the town of Ridgway and are primarily on single lane dirt and 4×4 roads up to the Burn Hut passing through parks and aspen groves with views of the entire Sneffels Range. The next day’s ride is all on the east end of the Dallas Trail and downhill to the town of Ouray where natural hot springs, pubs and ice cream await. You can either leave a vehicle here, or ride the 20 minutes on dirt road back to Ridgway. Basing out of a B&B in Ridgway or Ouray makes this a real weekend treat. There is additional single track around Ridgway if you want to get a few more miles in on either end of your trip.
The Ridgway Hut accommodates eight people via padded bunk style-beds. The hut includes a photovoltaic stove and lamp, wood stove, firewood, cookware, and utensils.
In the winter, water is obtained by melting snow.
Ridgway Hut (10,200’) is located under the North Slopes of Reconnoiter Peak (12,980′). This hut sits in the midst of a spruce forest, but don’t let its forested seclusion deceive you. A wealth of high, rugged peaks lie directly above the hut. It is frequently used in conjunction with the Blue Lakes and Burn huts for multi-day adventures.
| ROUTE | MILES | ASCENT | DESCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Trailhead to Ridgway Hut | 6.7 | 1,930′ | 430′ |
| Blue Lakes Hut to Ridgway Hut | 5.0 | 1,640′ | 1,090′ |
| Ridgway Hut to Burn Hut | 4.2 | 730′ | 1,074′ |
The Ridgway hut is available for winter use from November 25th through June 1st. It costs $30/person/night (maximum of 8 people). View winter availability calendar.
The information provided on this page is intended to give our guests ideas on potential activities at The Ridgway Hut, but the possibilities are endless. We provide more detailed route descriptions only for the trails accessing the hut and between huts upon booking. Please note, the times given here are estimates for the total time needed for the outing.
A short 5-mile drive on CR5 out of Ridgway takes you to the trailhead for both the Ridgway and Burn Huts. A 6.5-mile ski along a summer dirt road, with awesome views of the entire Sneffels Range, and then the Dallas Trail leads you to the Ridgway Hut.
Although there is high quality terrain for Moderate to Extreme skiiers at the Ridgway Hut, this is one of the huts we most often recommend to folks looking for big mountains and big lines.
This tour traverses eastward along the Sneffles Range for 5.7 miles through meadows and forests.
A 5.5mile ski a short ski up to the top of Wilson Creek Summit/Pass leads you to a long swithcback descent to the creek bottom. From here it is a gentle descent to The Blue Lakes Hut. When traversing over Wilson Creek Summit between Blue Lakes Hut and Ridgway Hut traverse NW out the ridge for 1 to 2 minutes to one of the top 3 views in Colorado!
These Chutes, some of them well-known, provide some of the highest quality advanced skiing of all of our huts. All are north facing and usually have excellent snow quality conditions. Decents are 1,000 to 2,000 vertical feet each.
Intermediate tree skiing is found above and west of the hut across the timbered slope that leads to the Wilson Creek Pass.
The ridge above the hut leads to a south face scramble to the summit of Reconnoiter Peak and commanding views of the entire Sneffels Range.
“Ridgway Hut was the second hut erected in the San Juan Hut System. To this day, this premier ski hut remains popular. The route to the hut follows one of the most beautiful and scenic trails in the state, touring past rustic wooden fences and tall aspens up into the forest below Mount Ridgway.
Backcountry skiing around the Ridgway Hut is like tree skiing at a downhill area – minus the lifts, crowds, and draft beer. The skiing above the huts is best suited to intermediate and expert skiers. To fully enjoy the skiing above the hut, you must have at least intermediate downhill skills, as well as a solid understanding of backcountry safety and avalanche procedures. Be cautious of several large avalanche gullies south of the hut, and bear in mind that you will encounter serious wilderness skiing around this hut – so come prepared with the proper safety equipment and the proper mindset.
The telemark skiing above the hut is absolutely incredible. Climb directly south from the hut into thicker forest to the ridge. The skiing off this timbered ridge is superb and safe with telemark runs of up to 1,400 vertical feet. With a full day you can make several runs through this area, exploring the great snow. Expert skiers can continue up the ridge, past a high, rocky outcrop and up the wind-scoured ramp that gives access to the highest, above-tree-line ridge. This west-facing massive rock buttress that tops out at Elevation Point 11,786’ on the topo maps. In addition to the great telemark skiing, those willing to climb to the ridge will be treated to intimate views of Blaine Basin and the north faces of Mount Sneffels and Cirque Mountain. Skiers can explore above the hut to the south as far as tree line and spend hours, if not days, telemark skiing. Extreme skiing is available in the avalanche gullies, chutes, and basins above the hut near treeline.”
