North Pole Backcountry Hiking Hut

Layout

The North Pole Hut accommodates eight people via padded bunk-style beds, sleeping bags* 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. 

Water

There is a stream and beaver pond nearby and five-gallon jugs at the hut to haul it in. Hut users are responsible for treating water with Iodine, Pump/Filter, or UV Scanner.

Location

Located on the edge of a meadow, west of beaver ponds and below the North Face of Hayden Peak (12,987′). Great views of North Pole (12,208′), Hayden (12,987′), and S-9/Dark Horse (13,134′).

Route	Miles	Ascent	Descent
Summer Trailhead to North Pole Hut	3.1	970′	260′
Last Dollar Pass to North Pole Hut	8.6	1,548′	2,271′
North Pole Hut to Blue Lakes Hut	7.3	1,166′	1,697′

Dates & Prices

From June 1 through November, we only book the North Pole 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 booking 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.

Please call or email the office with any specific questions!

Access

This is a 2-4 hours intermediate hike. Park at Box Factory Park (4×4 vehicle recommended) about 12 miles from Ridgway on West Dallas Creek/ CR 9 Hike west on the Dallas Trail for 3.1 miles to the North Pole Hut. This is an Intermediate hike with the north faces of the Sneffels Range directly above, all towering over 13,000 feet.

Hayden Basin, 2-5 Hours, Intermediate

Intermediate hiking into the basin below the north face of Dark Horse/S-9 and Hayden peaks is a great day’s hike.

Access The Last Dollar Hut, 4-6 Hours, Intermediate/Advanced

A beautiful 8.2-mile traverse through aspen and spruce with many small streams, parks, and meadows through the Sneffels Wilderness Area.

Access The Blue Lakes Hut, 3.5-5 Hours, Intermediate

A spectacular 7.3 mile walk with phenomenal parks, meadows, and aspen groves.

Many sightings of the resident Big Horn sheep herd are possible in the environs of the connecting ridge lines of the access described by Han Shan (12,311′), Hayden (12,987′), and Dark Horse/S-9 (13,134′) peaks.

Hayden Peak (12,987′), 5-8 Hours, Advanced

Ascend the North Ridge of Hayden Peak to the summit of and views of the Island Ranges of Utah including the La Sals, The Abajos, and the Henrys (190 miles line of sight).

The Hayden Traverse

Traverse from the summit of Hayden (12,987′) to the summit of Dark Horse/S-9 (13,134′) with descent down “The Ramp” into the headwaters basin of West Dallas Creek underneath the towering north face of Mears Peak (13,496′).