Blue Lakes Backcountry Ski Hut
General Information
Layout
The Blue Lakes Hut accommodates eight people via padded bunk-style beds. The hut includes a propane stove, propane lamp, wood stove, firewood, cookware, and utensils.
Water
Water is obtained by melting snow. Hut users are responsible for treating water with iodine, pump & filter or UV scanner.
Location
The Blue Lakes Hut (9,380′) sits 1/4 mile up hill and west of the summer trailhead for Blue Lakes and Mount Sneffels. The hut sits at the base of an old logging cut and the summit of Mount Sneffels towers above. It is frequently used in conjunction with the North Pole and Ridgway huts for multi-day adventures.
| ROUTE | MILES | ASCENT | DESCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Trailhead to Blue Lakes Hut | 5.1 | 1,260' | 60' |
| North Pole Hut to Blue Lakes Hut | 7.3 | 1,170' | 1,700' |
| Blue Lakes Hut to Ridgway Hut | 5.0 | 1,640' | 1,090' |
DATES AND PRICES
The Blue Lakes hut is available for winter use from November 25th through June 1st. It costs $30/person/night (maximum of 8 people). View the winter availability calendar.
Activities
ACTIVITIES
Information provided on this page is intended to give our guests ideas on potential activities at The Blue Lakes 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.
APPROACH, 3-4 HOURS, MODERATE
Park about 5 miles up CR 7 depending on road conditions. The ski-in is a gentle 5.5 mile tour up a summer dirt road.
SKIING
The Blue Lakes Hut has great cross country trails leading off in 3 directions. It is the best hut in the system for cross country trail skiing and beginner skiers and families. There is also intermediate and advanced skiing above the hut in the alpine zone above tree line.
FAMILY FUN
This hut is the best hut for families as it is appropriate for young skiers and pulling kids in toboggans. Once at the hut, there is great opportunity for kids to slide around on skis or sleds.
ACCESS THE NORTH POLE HUT, 4.5-7 HOURS, INTERMEDIATE
7.3 miles of classic cross country trails with spectacular views of the north slopes of the Sneffels Range.
ACCESS THE RIDGWAY HUT, 5-7 HOURS, INTERMEDIATE
A 5.5mile ski with an overall elevation gain of about 2,040 feet leads you to the top of Wilson Creek Summit/Pass. A treed 1.5 mile decent with excellent snow quality brings you to Ridgway Hut.
NORDIC TRAILS, ANY LENGTH OF TIME IS WORTHWHILE, MODERATE
The Blue Lakes Hut has great cross country trails leading off in three directions.
THE ‘LITTLE MATTERHORN’ (12,000′), 4-6 HOURS, INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED
Tremendous views from the summit and options to ski all three sides.
SKI MOUNTAINEERING
DOGLEG CHUTE FROM THE SUMMIT OF SNEFFELS (14,150′), 7-10 HOURS, EXPERT
Start from the Camp Bird Mine near Ouray, climb the south side of Sneffels, ski down the renowned Dog Leg Couloir and finish at the Blue Lakes Hut to make your day a little shorter.
SNOW/FAT BIKING
The gentle grade makes this a great fat bike destination. Check out this video of our first fat bike trip to Blue Lakes Hut.
WHAT COLORADO HUT TO HUT, BY BRIAN LITZ HAS TO SAY ABOUT SKIING RIDGWAY HUT:
“Blue Lakes Hut lies below Mount Sneffels on a small bench above East Dallas Creek. One of the simplest of the San Juan huts to reach, Blue Lakes Hut is a good hut for beginners, intermediate and advance skiers. Nice skiing is available close to the hut; the surrounding hillsides are great for telemarking; and Cocan Flats and the East Fork of Dallas Creek make fine touring areas.
Skiing from Blue Lakes Hut to the North Pole Hut or the Ridgway Hut requires much more experience and stamina than is required to reach this hut from the trail head. The large, convoluted slopes and log cuts to the southwest of the hut are loaded with all levels and types of skiing. Many of these runs push up to near tree line. Feel free to explore.”
