Burn Backcountry Ski Hut
General Information
LAYOUT
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
Water is obtained by melting snow. Hut users are responsible for treating water with iodine, pump & filter or UV scanner.
LOCATION
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' |
DATES AND PRICES
Burn hut is available for winter use from November 25th through June 1st. It costs $30/person/night (maximum of 8 people).
Activities
ACTIVITIES
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.
ACCESS
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.
SKIING
ACCESSING THE BURN HUT, 4-6 HOURS, INTERMEDIATE
This tour traverses west along the Sneffels Range for 5.7 miles through meadows and forests.
MOONSHINE PARK, 2-4 HOURS, MODERATE
This is a gladed area for fun turns at a moderate level that lies northeast of the hut.
THE BURN, 1-2 HOURS, MODERATE
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.
WHAT COLORADO HUT TO HUT, BY BRIAN LITZ HAS TO SAY ABOUT SKIING AT THE BURN HUT:
“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.”
