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Biking Huts

The original hut to hut biking at its best. enjoy open country & beautiful single-track., mountain bike hut trips.

Why this trip is awesome

• Your bike will be properly tuned with new tires, brake pads, etc., before your trip.
• You will have a variety of excellent navigational ‘tools’ (Maps, GPS tracks, turn by turn Route Descriptions).

You will be in great condition with all the training you are doing to get in shape for your trip!

You can go light because you don’t need to bring the kitchen sink. We even have one guy, the ultimate minimalist, who has ridden the routes about nine times and goes out with a whopping total of five pounds of gear, no joke!

• The western landscapes you ride through are nothing less than stunning.

You will come home with memories and stories of a lifetime.

• Who knows what kind of epic weather the Weather Gods will throw at you that will make for a great story; perfect sunny days, driving rain, blowing snow, pounding sleet, man eating mud holes, blistering sun, wind driven dust storms, or bugs that can carry you away. Luckily, at both ends of the day, you and your buddies can relax in a comfortable hut protected from the elements! ‘No crawling into a leaky tent and sleeping on a pile of rocks for you’!!!
• You will be well rested for your next day’s ride after sleeping on comfortable 4’’ vinyl covered sleeping pads and eating all the tasty grub and beer you can get down your gullet.
• Awesome single track trails and backcountry dirt roads to ride on.

2022 Pricing Update

Please note, for trips scheduled for 2022, the following pricing will apply:

• Telluride to Moab $995
• Durango to Moab $995
• Telluride to Gateway $895
• Durango to Paradox $895
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Mountain Bike Routes

6 night / 7 day.

$995.00 per person

or Group Discount: 8/7 - Eight riders for the price of seven - $6,965 total or $870.63 per person. Only available with the initial booking.

4 Night / 5 Day

Our 5 day / 4 night bike rides follow the same route, starting in either Telluride or Durango, but finish before descending into the Utah sections. The shorter Telluride route ends in Gateway and the shorter Durango route ends in Paradox. Although you miss out on two great days, these shorter routes are perfect for those who must fit their adventures into a standard week-long vacation.

Durango to Paradox and Telluride to Gateway... your entire trip in less than a week!

$895.00 per person

or Group Discount: 8/7 - Eight riders for the price of seven - $6,265 total or $783.13 per person. Only available with the initial booking.

What You Get

• Comfortable Huts to Stay in
• Crazy Creek Chairs
• Wood Stoves
• Custom Maps
• Custom GPS Tracks
• Turn by Turn Directions
• Backup Support
• An Adventure of a Lifetime

Accommodations

Biking FAQs

• What equipment will I need?
• Do I bring my bike or rent one?
• What are the huts like and what about food and water?
• Will my cell phone work at the huts or along The Route?
• Are Support Vehicles available?

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Top 10 Hut-to-Hut MTB Trips

Sweating your way to a rustic lodge isn’t just a wintertime activity

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The Top 10 Hut-to-Hut Mountain Biking Trips

Sometimes, the best relationships come from unlikely pairings. Backcountry huts (long the winter purview of gaitered old guys on skinny skis) and cross-country mountain biking (sufferfests for gearheads) hooked up in southern Colorado in the late eighties, but they’ve been keeping their romance quiet until recently.

In the past two years in particular, hut-to-hut biking trips have been gaining traction in the United States. Existing winter hut systems like San Juans have been opening their doors year-round, and new huts like the Maine Huts are grading their trails for bikers. The international community is embracing the phenomenon as well; New Zealand is in the midst of a three-year trial to see how bikers take to some of their world-renowned treks.

So why are they becoming more popular? “I think that people just want real journeys, from point A to point B, “says Joe Ryan, who started the San Juan Hut System . “There’s an appeal to crossing terrain.”

10) Montana’s Thompson Guard Station

Best for: groups.

The Thompson Guard Station, which was reportedly built in the ‘50s by the Civilian Conservation Corp is one of a handful of cabins that the forest service rents out in the Helena National Forest . The cabin bunks eight and has a wood stove for cooking. You can get within a half a mile of the cabin by car—making a warm-up mandatory. The riding extends out from the hut to a series of small lakes at the four-mile mark. The riding is mellow, mainly double track and horse trails, but there are plenty of options to appease a group with a wide range of abilities. We recommend the 17-mile ride down a relaxed gravel road to White Sulphur Springs, where there are indeed hot springs.

When to go: Early July before things get too hot and dusty. Cost: $30/person: fs.fed.us

9) Colorado’s Never Summer Yurts

Best for: the agoraphobic.

Colorado’s Never Summer Mountains , to the northeast of Rocky Mountain National Park , don’t get nearly as much attention as their southerly counterparts. That’s an oversight that can play in your favor when you ride between the Never Summer Yurts. The Yurts feature beds, woodstoves, and cooking setups—and the trails feature no crowds, and miles of riding on a mix of single track and forest service roads in the Colorado State Forest State Park . Yes, that’s really what it’s called.

For a multi-day yurt trip, loop together the Ruby Jewel, Dancing Moose , and Montgomery Pass yurts, or venture a little further to the North Fork Canadian Yurt. The 26-mile trip can be done in four days, and will go by fast, in more ways than one. It’s downhill all the way from Ruby Jewel to North Fork Canadian.

When to go: The snow melts late in the Never Summer—hence the name—so hold off until August. Cost: $60-75/night; neversummernordic.com

8) Sun Valley’s Coyote Yurt

Best for: the high-end, hard-core set.

Sun Valley screams upscale with its ballet company, the Sun Valley Ballet School , and it’s penchant for wine festivals, but Ketchum is serious about all things two-wheeled, with bike-focused companies Scott and Smith using the surrounding world-class riding to draw in passionate employees.

Reserve the Coyote Yurt , which is actually two yurts built at 8,700 feet. The trip isn’t hut-to-hut, per se, but staying in the yurt gets you out-the-door access to Sawtooth single track, with rides like Fox Peak and Curley’s, knowing for their fast, flowing descents.

Sun Valley Trekking, which operates the yurt, will bring you multiple course meals that range from local trout to Thanksgiving dinner and guide you. Or, you can brave it alone and bring in your own stock of Guinness and grillables.

When to go: Wildflower season, between early July and mid August. Cost: $25/person/night for the Yurt. If you want full service, including a guide, yurt rental, food, and transport, it’s $230/person; www.svtrek.com

7) Methow Valley’s Rendezvous Huts

Best for: dog-lovers with intermediate skills.

Eastern Washington’s Methow Valley , whose bottom is filled with trails and nordorks, has been a Mecca for cross-country ski hut-to-hut trips since the mid eighties. The valley is prime for riding, too.

Last year, the owner of the Rendezvous Huts decided to open two of the shelters to bikers in the shoulder season. You can book the wood frame Rendezvous and Gardner huts , which both sleep eight and have full kitchens, from April to July and September to October.  There are trails out the door of both huts, and you can easily link them for a multi-day trip.

The classic ride in the area is the 13-mile Buck Mountain loop, which starts off at route 20 near Winthrop and climbs 1,300 feet through forest and sagebrush. If you can’t stand to be separated from your four-legged companion, don’t worry, the Rendezvous hut allows dogs.

When to go: The huts are only open to bikers in the spring and fall. May is prime for wildflowers. Cost: $100 / person; rendezvoushuts.com

6) Colorado’s Backcountry Biker’s Huts

Best for: desert rats.

The slickrock canyons of eastern Colorado and western Utah holds some of the best biking in the country. Backcountry Biker, based out of Fruita, Colorado, runs two different supported hut trips through the Colorado National Monument —the four-day Tabaguache trip and the three-day Dominguez route. Both rides drop from Fruita through the Uncomphagre plateau to Gateway, on the Dolores River.

You’ll have full backup on either ride. Backcountry Biker—which is run by a highly eager fellow named Kevin who calls himself The Hut Guy—will schlep your gear and drop food and beer at the huts. The huts sleep six comfortably and eight cozily, each one has a full bike maintenance setup inside.

The trips end at the riverside Gateway Canyons Resort , which features a spa and access to the Dolores river. If you’re feeling really swanky, or just worn out, add an extra night there onto your trip and put some meat back on your bones by grubbing on the buffalo meatloaf with red onions at the Paradox Grill .

When to go: Fall, when the canyons start to cool off. Cost: $575/person for the Tabaguache; $425 for the Dominguez; backcountrybiker.com

5) New Zealand’s Heaphy Track

Best for: people who have the money for international airfare.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation is currently in the middle of a three-year feasibility study to see if turning some of the countries classic “great walks” into “great rides” is a good idea. The 80-kilometer Heaphy Track is their testing ground, so for the next two years you can ride through the Kahurangi National Park , located in the northwest corner of the South Island.

There are five huts on the track, so riders can stretch it out to six lazy days, but it’s easy to do it in less. You’ll ride in a variety of ecosystems, from forests and tussock fields to beaches. Keep in mind that weather on the Kiwi coast, especially in the winter, can change quickly and that the area is prone to storms and flooding.

When to go: The track is open to bikers from May to September. Cost: $20/night, heaphytrack.com

4) The Maine Huts

Best for: families.

The three Maine huts have been open to hikers and cross-country skiers for the past four years. Maine Huts and Trails, the non-profit that oversees the huts, has been working with the local NORBA chapter to makes the trails that connect them bikeable. Once you get to the huts, there’s hiking, swimming, and fishing to keep youngsters, and you, entertained.

Currently, the best riding for families is on the southern side of the trail network. Start at Tufulios, near the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, and link up the Poplar Stream Hut and the Flagstaff Lake Hut for a three-day, two-hut ride. The entire trip is less than ten miles, and the riding is relatively mellow—some of it is on dirt service roads—so it’s ideal for less-skilled and younger bikers. There are also alternative routes, so kids who are less comfortable on technical trails can still come.

A fourth hut, the Stratton Brook, is in the works. It’s slated to be constructed on an existing section of bike trail in the Carabassett Valley, so if things go according to plan you’ll have more riding, and staying, options by the end of the summer.

When to go: September and October, when the leaves are prime and the black flies are not . Cost: $79/adult, $42/child on weekdays; $99/adult, $54/child on Friday-Sunday; mainehuts.org

3) Colorado’s 10th Mountain Huts

Best for: bargain hunters.

A winter trip to one the 10 th Mountain Huts is a Colorado right of passage. It’s not uncommon to see grandparents or babies holed up in the huts on January nights. Summer in the high country is just as good, and staying at the huts gives you access to mountains of alpine singletrack, including some sections of the Colorado Trail .

You’re only paying for your bed, which keeps the cost down, but that doesn’t mean that the huts are sparse. At a bare minimum, each is outfitted with a kitchen, and many have extras like saunas.

Our advice: Head to the Leadville area, home to the notorious Leadville Trail 100, and link up Betty Bear , Skinner , and Uncle Bud’s huts. When you get back to town, take yourself out for a $9 steak at Quincy’s , the best, and cheapest, post-ride dinner imaginable.

When to go: Because of the elevation, the riding season can be short. By mid-July most of the snow is usually gone and your chances of thunderstorms are lower than they are later in the season. Cost: $30/night; huts.org

2) Oregon’s Cascade Huts

Best for: instagrammers.

The four-day Mt. Hood loop , which circumnavigates the volcano and includes a stay in the eight-person, 256-square-foot Cascade Huts, offers picture-perfect views of the Columbia River Gorge and Oregon’s highest, and most likely to erupt, peak.

Every day of the 137-mile ride has options. You can stick to service roads, or you can dip into more technical terrain, including some extra climbs for the masochistic. This summer, the Forest Service has given the Cascade Huts Organization permission to add two new huts, which will allow for a beginner trip that lasts three days and covers less technical terrain.

When to Go: August has the most consistent good weather (read: no rain), but September brings fewer crowds. Cost: $300/person; cascadehuts.com

1) Colorado’s San Juan Huts

Best for: traditionalists.

The original hut-to-hut bike trip, riding from Telluride to Moab via the San Juan Huts, has been around since 1988. “We cobbled it together with a number of different structures, including a sheepherder’s camp.” says Joe Ryan, the founder.

Now, things are a lot less piecemeal. The organization runs 12 huts, and sends bikers out on two 215-mile-long routes: a seven-day, technical, singletrack-packed ride from Durango to Moab , and the original weeklong trip from Telluride to Moab, which is more remote.

Ryan, who built the hut system after spending time at huts in Canada, says he wanted to give riders a way to explore new terrain every day. “People want to see new mile after new mile,” he says.

This year, the huts are also hosting a 200-mile cross-country race . If you’re there the last week of June expect a crowd. And, most likely, to get passed.

When to Go: June 10 to July 15 to avoid early season snow and late season thunderstorms. Cost: $850; sanjuanhuts.com

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Hut Trips | Holy Cross 100 | Half Day Tours | Full Day Tours | Popular Trails and Roads  | FAQ

Travel to a 10th Mountain Division hut or take on the challenge of a hut to hut tour via mountain bike. We’ll create an itinerary with daily guided routes for riders of all abilities. Routes follow single­track and dirt roads. There are many opportunities during the trip for hiking, peak climbs, and even some fly fishing.

• All trips are accompanied by a support vehicle so the weight of gear, bike tools, and food will not hinder your ride in the high country.
• Uncle Bud’s to Skinner Hut
• Peter Estin Hut to Harry Gates Hut

Holy Cross 100

This classic backcountry mountain bike adventure can cover up to 100 miles as it winds it’s way along the edge of the Holy Cross Wilderness Area from the small town of Eagle to the historic mining town of Leadville, crossing the Continental Divide at 12000′. Three to five day options are available. Lodging is in the 10th Mountain Hut System and may include the Diamond “J” Guest Ranch

• The main route uses Forest Service roads ranging from smooth gravel to 4­wheel drive. We do travel on pavement for about 10 miles.
• Elevations range from 8,200′ to 12,000′
• Difficulty: Basic riding skills are adequate for the main route and a moderate level of fitness is required. Varying degrees of pace can be accommodated, and the shuttle vehicle is always available to get you over the “hump”.
• Dates and Pricing: TBD
•  Contact us for pricing, available dates, and more information

Colorado Trail to Camp Hale Descend single­track from Tennesse Pass and the Continental Divide to Camp Hale, the historic WWII training site for the 10th Mountain ski troops. Enjoy moderate trails and roads. Half and Full day options.

Vail Pass to Red Cliff Climb on a graded and gently inclining Forest Service road to the top of Shrine Pass. From there, it’s a gorgeous 8­mile descent through aspen and spruce­fir forests and along Turkey Creek to the former mining town of Red Cliff. Perfect for half­day tours.

Colorado River Road This full­day sight­seeing ride is an opportunity to bike through classic Colorado ranch country while following the Colorado River. The road is paved with a short section of well maintained gravel road so choose a road or mountain bike. Guided and self­guided tours include a shuttle vehicle. Round trip driving time is approximately one and a half hours from Vail.

Red Sandstone area The Red Sandstone road accesses a variety of roads and single track trails. Lost Lake road, Middle Creek, son­of­Middle Creek, Bueffer Creek trails, and the North Trail offer a variety of single track and road options for riders of all abilities.

Mountain Bike FAQ

Where are your mountain bike tours located?

We offer guided mountain biking outings on most single track trails and Forest Service roads located in the White River National Forest surrounding the Vail Valley, but not on Vail Mountain. Multi­day trips that access the 10th Mountain Division hut system mostly travel on Forest Service roads with limited single track. Some huts are located close to designated Wilderness Areas where bicycle travel is not allowed. The Colorado Trail offers some of the best single track options on our mountain bike hut trips.

What kind of bicycles do you provide? We rent bicycles from local bike shop partners that maintain a fleet of full suspension mountain bikes. Flat pedals are standard issue. Bring your own bike shoes and pedals if you have them.

Why should I ride with a guide? Maximize your time in the Vail Valley by going with a guide that knows the terrain, trails, and roads that will best match your abilities. There’s no need to waste time choosing from unknown options, getting lost, or getting in over your head. Plus, mechanicals and accidents happen. Our guides will offer instructional tips, keep your bike in motion, and keep a smile on your face. How much experience do I need? You need basic bicycle handling skills and a moderate level of fitness. You should know how to get on and off a bicycle, know how to control your speed with brakes, and be comfortable climbing and descending. If you’re looking to improve your riding, our guides are happy to offer instructional tips.

Do you offer shuttles for point­to­point rides?   Yes. Please read more about our shuttle services. 

Tags : Outdoors , Vail Mountain Biking

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210 Edwards Village Blvd B107, Edwards, CO 81632 Mailing Address: PO Box 130 Vail, CO 81658

CBB is your biking destination in Fruita, Colorado!

It is where you go before you ride, after you ride, and even when you just want to talk about riding. We offer multi-day, self-guided backcountry hut trips on the Uncompahgre Plateau as well as a highly regarded, full-service bike shop with the most respected mechanics in the Grand Valley. We have everything you need to make every ride a great ride. Our number one goal is seeing you on your bike, comfortable, smiling, and having the most fun possible!

We have been offering our top-ranked mountain bike hut trips through the pristine Colorado backcountry since 2008. Each trip gives you the option of spending the last night at the luxurious Gateway Spa and Resort. Incorporating America’s best backcountry mountain biking trails with our individual support of your group is what sets our trips apart from other hut trips. Need a bike for your trip? We  rent  Devinci and Orbea road, gravel, and full-suspension mountain bikes.

Our Amazing Crew

Kevin Godar

Favorite Bike: Devinci Django Favorite Trail: Corral Forks Uncompahgre Plateau Favorite Food: Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes Favorite Beer: Coors Favorite Team: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Dan Soller aka Danimal

Favorite Bike: I was too good on 2 wheels, so I got upgraded to 3! Favorite Trail: Anything Rowdy!! Favorite Food: Beer Favorite Drink: Cold Beer Favorite Team: Springfield Isotopes

Keith Benedetto

Favorite bike: The bike I’m riding Favorite trail: Moore Fun Favorite food: Guinness

Favorite Bike: Devinci Troy Favorite Trail: Claremont Wilderness Park, California Favorite Food: Ethnic: Veggie Korma, Moussaka, Egg Rolls, Saag Paneer, and more Favorite Drink: Boba Teas Favorite Team: I prefer individual athletes: Alex Honnold, Lachlan Morton, Ian Boswell, Steve Vanderhoek, Yolanda Neff, etc.

Favorite Bike: My trusty singlespeed! Favorite Trail: PBR Favorite Food: Sushi Favorite Drink: PBR Favorite Team: Go AVALANCHE

Alex McDonald

Favorite Bike: Karate Monkey Favorite Trail: Doctor Park Favorite Food: Tacos Favorite Drink: Beer Favorite Team: Cobra Kai

Kasey Clark

Favorite Bike: Orbea Terra Favorite Trail: The Back 40 Loop, Bentonville, Arkansas Favorite Food: Lasagna Favorite Drink: Ginger beer Favorite Team: Team USA Women’s Cycling (Road & Mountain)

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Dominguez Trip Overview

3 days/2 nights | $545/person.

This epic mountain bike trip includes food and drinks , 3 days riding and two nights in our cozy huts. We even move your bag from hut to hut for you!!  You just have to carry what you’ll need while riding each day.

You’ll meet “The Hut Guy” at 8 a.m. at the CBB Bike Shop in Fruita for a pre-trip orientation. After reviewing the maps and explaining some of the ins and outs of backcountry adventure travel you will be shuttled about an hour to the drop point on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Soon thereafter, you will find yourself on the Smith Point Trail, a single track gem which winds through the Dominguez Canyon. You’ll navigate pristine single track through a pinion and juniper desert before climbing into a huge forest of ponderosa pines and aspens leading you to your first destination — a backcountry cowboy camp where you’ll spend the first night of your mountain biking adventure.

After a good nights rest and a big breakfast you will have a chance to chart your course on day 2. The direct route to the hut is a scenic ten-mile ride, which includes some smooth single track through a thick aspen grove. For those who can’t get enough you will be provided with directions for an alternate loop that will take you north on the Uncompahgre Plateau and onto some more technical trails with some gripping down and breathtaking up hills. Choose this route, and you can expect 28 miles and to be in the saddle for around six hours. Pack a lunch! There will be plenty lunch options to choose from at the hut including plastic bags to pack it in.

The final day of the Dominguez Trip will take you over the high flying woop de doos of The Mailbox Trail before dropping you on some technical sections of the Ute Creek Trail. For those who prefer a more mellow ride, an alternative route is provided. It is comprised of ATV and jeep trails that offer huge views of the Blue Creek Canyon from Leonard’s Ridge. Either way it’s a great day of riding with huge views of the La Sal Mountains and a 3000 foot plunge into Gateway Canyon. You’ll cruise the final miles to the secluded Gateway Canyons Resort.

” The huts were clean and comfy. The ride was hard and long with non stop scenic views. Our group was 3 women from San Diego who have varied experience. I will definitely be back for round 2! Julie T. Cardiff, California

Fantastic Finish

Finish your trip in style by reserving a room at the exclusive Gateway Canyons Resort. You will roll right into the resort and the friendly folks of Gateway will be expecting you. Your gear will be in your room and your car will be parked in the lot if you arranged to have it delivered by CBB. After a gourmet meal and a recuperative night, spend a lazy day around the resort’s pool, tube down the Dolores River or try your hand at fly fishing. We encourage you to visit the resort’s website to check availability and reserve your room.  www.gatewaycanyons.com

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150 S. Park Square Fruita, CO 81521

T: 970.858.3917 E:  [email protected]

Hut-to-Hut Bikepacking from Durango To Moab

An ambitious bikepacking journey through the san juan mountains to the desert.

Brian McCurdy Photography

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Family & Kids Trips

Hut trip ideas for your family or educational non-profit group.

Taking kids on a hut trip can be an amazing adventure – full of experiential learning opportunities and great times for all. The reward is undeniable – hut trips are an affordable* outdoor Colorado experience, to be remembered and cherished for years to come. Like our state’s 14ers, there’s a long list of huts that can be checked off – so let’s get planning!

While it is impossible for us to evaluate your family or group’s skill-level, outdoor experience or level of fitness, the huts listed below have shorter approaches and area hikes that lend themselves to groups with kids. We have divided our hut-specific information for kids’ trips into summer and winter sections that link to our website’s hut description pages. Keep in mind that unless you are a seasoned hut-tripper, taking kids on a summer trip is a perfect place to start – the whole family can experience the outdoors while enjoying the comforts and amenities of one of our huts.

*When booking your family or group trip, don’t forget to mention that you have children – kids 12 and under at the time of the trip pay half price at most huts, and our  Backcountry Exploration Program  offers significant discounts to non-profit educational groups using the huts mid-week.

Summer Hut Trips With Kids

Just exploring in the vicinity around a hut is an adventure in itself, but here are a few favorite summer trips that include a kid friendly hike either from the hut or to get to the hut. Also keep in mind that while we strongly encourage non-motorized travel to the huts, almost all of the huts are accessible by 4-wheel drive roads in the summer.

If you want to drive to the hut and hike with children in the vicinity around the hut…

• Drive in to Shrine Mountain Inn (includes Jay’s , Chuck’s and Walter’s Cabins). Use the spur trail from the huts to link up to the Forest Service trail up to Shrine Mountain. There are neat rock formations that you will eventually reach on the summit, and USGS Land Survey Markers (metal disks stamped with the mountain’s elevation). The views are amazing!
• From the  Peter Estin Hut , families can hike to the summit of Charles Peak. On the way, there are old cabins to explore and USGS Land Survey Markers (metal disks stamped with the mountain’s elevation) on the summit – not to mention fantastic views. This hike is steep in the beginning but gets easier!
• Drive to  Polar Star Inn / Seipel Hut  and hike the nearby New York Mountain Trail*. Located in the scenic Holy Cross Wilderness, the trail climbs New York Mountain – hike as high as your group wants, and then head back to the hut for a sauna! For older and stronger kids, the trail continues to Nolan Lake (6 miles round-trip from the hut).  *There are many old roads and trails in the area around Polar Star Inn/Seipel Hut, and little if any signage making navigation challenging. These hikes are only recommended for experienced groups using topographic maps.

If you want to hike with children in order to get to the hut…

• Continental Divide Cabin  and/or  Point Breeze Cabin  are both just a .8 mile hike heading West from Tennessee Pass along the Colorado Trail (Note: The Colorado Trail also heads East out of the same parking lot – be sure to start in the correct direction.). Although short, this can be a great hike in to the cabins, especially for very young children. Each hut is equipped with 2 Pack N’ Plays for infants and each hut has a small solar refrigerator for storing groceries. Outhouses are attached on a covered walkway so are easily accessible. There is even a nearby tipi and a fort that customers can visit! For a longer approach, you could access these cabins from Crane Park Trailhead, increasing the mileage from .8 to roughly 2.5 miles.
• The Broome Hut , located near Berthoud Pass, is a 1 mile hike with an elevation gain of approximately 800 feet. While there are a few steep sections on this route, the distance to the hut is relatively short, so families and groups with children can take their time and still make it to the hut. Alpine tundra and fantastic views await!
• Drive approximately 1.6 miles up FS Road 100 from Crane Park, then park near the cabin before hiking about 2.8 miles up FS Road 145 (Slide Lake Road) to the  10th Mountain Division Hut . The whole family will enjoy the hike up this jeep road (extremely rough road, 10th Mountain does not suggest driving to this hut) – and during your stay, don’t miss the hike from the hut up to Slide Lake!
• Hike or mountain bike 2.5 miles to  High Lonesome Hut  from the Meadow Creek Trailhead. The rolling terrain is gentle and suitable for all ages – plus there’s running/potable water at the hut.
• Older kids can hike or mountain bike while younger siblings take a 4-wheel drive ride – 3.5 miles to the Emmelyn Hut from the East Tennessee Summer Trailhead.
• Hike in 4 miles to  Uncle Bud’s Hut  along the Colorado Trail from the West Turquoise Lake (also called the Timberline Lake) Trailhead. If kids are very young have one adult drop off the hikers at the trailhead and then drive up to the hut with the gear (they can then hike down the trail to meet up with the hikers) – hikers are then able to carry a light daypack (with sufficient gear for a dayhike). Once kids are older, this can be a great route as an introduction to backpacking and groups can carry all of their gear to the hut. Kids also enjoy Bear Lake which isn’t far from the hut.
• The 3.1 mile hike in to  Sangree M. Froelicher Hut starts along a road from the Buckeye Gulch Trailhead, but the last 2+ miles are along a trail. Although shorter in distance than the 4 mile hike to Uncle Bud’s Hut, this route is a bit steep, but is short enough for families or groups with kids who enjoy hiking.

Kids’ first summer hut to hut hiking trip…

Here’s a  Kid Tested and Kid Approved  itinerary for a fun first time hut-to-hut hiking trip with kids. You’ll need good maps as there are many converging roads and trails in the area, particularly where FS Road 100 (Wurtz Ditch Road) and FS Road 145 (Slide Lake Road) meet. Remember to pack light!

• Day 1:  By driving a shuttle from Tennessee Pass, or by dropping it on your way, leave one of your cars just below the closure gate on FS Road 145 (Slide Lake Road) with a cooler full of food for your night(s) at the  10th Mountain Division Hut , plus a jug of water. Then drive back to Tennessee Pass to start your trip, carrying one days’ worth of food. Hike in .8 miles heading West on the Colorado Trail to  Continental Divide Cabin  and/or  Point Breeze Cabin  (Note: The Colorado Trail also heads East out of the same parking lot – be sure to start in the correct direction.) While at these cabins, there is a nearby tipi and a fort that customers are welcome to visit.
• Day 2:  Hike the Colorado Trail for roughly 2.5 miles to your parked car. Re-fill water, drop trash, and pick up meals for the remainder of your trip. Continue hiking about 2.8 miles up FS Road 145 (Slide Lake Road) to the  10th Mountain Division Hut . Families can easily enjoy a 2 night stay at the hut, exploring this beautiful area – don’t miss a hike up to Slide Lake.
• Day 3 or 4:  Hike back down to your car(s) at the closure gate on FS Road 145 – younger kids can catch a ride around to pick up the other car(s) at Tennessee Pass. Older kids can hike out the full distance.

Winter Hut Trips With Kids

Trips with children in the winter are challenging and should only be undertaken by experienced hut groups. If you have backcountry winter experience, and now have kids, here are a few options.

• Continental Divide Cabin  and/or  Point Breeze Cabin  are both .8 miles heading West from Tennessee Pass (Note: The Colorado Trail also heads East out of the same parking lot – be sure to start in the correct direction.) Each hut is equipped with 2 Pack ‘N Plays for infants and each hut has a small solar refrigerator for storing groceries. Outhouses are attached on a covered walkway so are easily accessible. There is even a nearby Tipi and a fort that customers can visit! For a longer approach, you could access these cabins from Crane Park Trailhead, increasing the mileage from .8 to roughly 2.5 miles. These cabins have un-groomed Nordic trails right out the front door and a detailed map is provided at the huts.
• The Broome Hut , located near Berthoud Pass, is a 1 mile ski or snowshoe with an elevation gain of approximately 800 feet. While there are a few steep sections on this route, the distance to the hut is relatively short, so families can take their time and still make it to the hut!
• There is a 2.2 mile route to  Francie’s Cabin  from the Spruce Creek Trailhead (go up Spruce Creek Road and then continue on the Aquaduct Road) that makes this hut accessible to families with young children. As the route follows roads, pulling sleds, pulks or chariots is an option. Please note that the 1.8 mile option from Spruce Creek Trailhead that goes up Crystal Creek Road is very steep and not recommended for children.
• High Lonesome Hut’s  2.5 mile route from the Meadow Creek Trailhead is family friendly – there’s running/potable water, and even a shower for those that worked up a sweat using the provided snow tubes!
• Shrine Mountain Inn includes Jay’s , Chuck’s and Walter’s Cabins (2.7 miles). These huts are often used by families because the elevation gain on the route is relatively low, and once at the huts there is potable, running water and indoor plumbing.
• The route to  Vance’s Cabin  is 2.8 miles from the Ski Cooper Trailhead – hang out on the amazing deck after exploring up on Taylor Hill.
• Once your children are older and stronger, give these winter routes a try:  Emmelyn Hut (3.4 miles from East Tennessee Winter Trailhead), Sisters Cabin  (3.7 miles from the French Gulch Trailhead),  10th Mountain Division Hut  (4.4 miles from Crane Park Trailhead),  Sangree M. Froelicher  (3.1 miles from Buckeye Gulch Trailhead – listed last as this route is shorter than some, but pretty steep!).

Going on a hut trip with your family can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. You really don’t need to bring too much with you in terms of games – the beauty of a hut trip is that they are simple and kids naturally find joy in exploring the hut and the surrounding environment. That said, if you’d like to have a few specific activities planned, there are literally thousands of websites and blogs that can give you ideas. Here are a few for all ages and varied interests:

• http://www.acornnaturalists.com  (online library of outdoor education resources)
• http://www.apples4theteacher.com  (season-specific poems, short stories and other activities)

Several books containing information and activities appropriate for the hut environment, suggested by educators, are listed below.

• Hands-On Nature: Information and Activities for Exploring the Environment With Children  (Jenepher Lingelbach (Editor), Lisa Purcell (Editor), Susan Sawyer (Illustrator))
• Sharing Nature With Children  (Joseph Cornell)
• The Keepers Series  (Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac)
• Ranger Rick’s NatureScope Series  (National Wildlife Federation)
• Rocky Mountain Bugs ,  Rocky Mountain Birds ,  Rocky Mountain Plants  and  Rocky Mountain Mammals  as well as  The Night Sky  (Garrick Pfaffman)

Be on the same page with your group about use of electronics while at a hut. Although cell phone coverage is not guaranteed at any of the huts, adults may choose to have cell phones for safety purposes – but please leave those and other electronics packed away unless needed. Your family should also consider leaving your children’s electronic devices at home (or at least in the car) –  an out of sight out of mind  approach will help everybody focus on their family, friends, and amazing surroundings.

Bob from the Find My Campground website says it best when blogging about camping with children, which is also appropriate for hut trips:

“Most important: Be with your kids. Be present. Leave behind your cell phone and computer. Immerse yourself in the moment and in their excitement. Be enthusiastic. Make the memories for you and your kids. This is that time you are going to look back on and smile!”

Table of Contents

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* Based on most popular route ** Summer only *** Winter only † Applies to the hut structure, not to route considerations

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Get Wild: Backcountry safety during a hut trip

News News | May 9, 2024

I released my shoulders from the burdensome pack carrying 9 pounds of pork and four bottles of wine, determined that none of it would be making the return trip, and pushed in the heavy pine door of Janet’s Cabin. Janet’s, as it is commonly known, sits in the Guller Creek drainage southwest of Copper Mountain near the border of Summit and Eagle counties. My wife, Kristen, and I were hut trip first-timers and lucky guests of a fellow member of the Summit County Rescue Group (SCRG) for the New Year’s holiday. 

Joining us was a crew that does not simply enjoy the snow, but live in it and rely on it for a living, including a Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecaster, a ski patrol supervisor, an American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education course instructor, several medical professionals at the local hospital, new search and rescue teammates, and others who had skied or split-boarded the world over. Throughout the weekend we shared fundamental safety practices with one another that can be applied to any tour.

The next morning after breakfast, we organically split into smaller touring groups and set out to explore the terrain. My wife and I paired with my sister and brother-in-law, also Summit County locals, and designated a team leader, navigator, photographer, and a communications manager that maintained radio contact with the hut in case of emergency.

Fundamental: Clearly designating roles prior to your tour can help ease the burden of managing travel decisions and tasks. Designate leadership, navigation, communications, or even a snack czar, so each member of the team is focused on seeing the day through a particular lens and communicating their role back to the group.  

Together, we broke trail south to Serle Pass, a granite notch folded between ridge lines of vibrant Arkose siltstone. After admiring the views, we continued west across northern aspects, talking through our travel plan as we crossed small pockets of steep terrain. After a scrumptious lunch on a sunny terrain bench, we elected to approach the bowl’s ridge from the north, noting several rocks and grassy patches in the skin track. This descent would require careful navigation to avoid the worst of the talus beneath. Enjoying smooth turns, we descended methodically back into the basin.

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Fundamental: We often read the avalanche forecast and make judgments about what is skiable based upon aspects and elevations that pose avalanche hazards. But where the snow is thin, don’t forget about the sharks lurking just below the surface. Rocks, stumps, logs, willows and grassy knolls obscured by a few inches of snow can send you tumbling before you even know what happened. Spend time thinking about where the wind has carried the snow and ski conservatively in a shallower snowpack.

Next, we discussed several route options and our planning finally coalesced around an interest in building our mental map of the terrain to the northeast. This was part exploration, part preparation, knowing the area could be the site of a future search and rescue mission.

Fundamental: Don’t get sucked into the mindset that Plan B must be a lesser alternative to Plan A. Try to make Plan B just as good as Plan A when organizing your travel, providing an option that you wouldn’t feel let down by. 

We contoured across mouse, rabbit and fox tracks near treeline, as topographical features began to appear with greater clarity. We paused on a knoll overlooking the scene where Kristen shared her apprehension about the terrain. Someone on the team uttered wise words: “My goals do not trump anyone’s comfort.”  This instantly broke the tension. We crafted a flexible plan to reach the next ridgeline and carried it out with much discussion along the way, setting the skin track to avoid micro-features of steep terrain. 

Fundamental: It’s important to go out with partners that respect your boundaries, and it’s also necessary to speak up when you feel uncomfortable. Understanding teammate’s skills and limitations, along with having honest and humble discussions, often leads to better outcomes.

That evening, after a golden sunset, we shared the pork and wine with our friends in a delicious New Year’s supper. Many of us called the ball drop in New York “good enough” and headed to bed before the stroke of midnight.

After breakfast the next morning, Kristen and I saddled our packs filled with garbage for the descent back to civilization. A hut experience steeped in friendship, forests and firelight had come to an end with everyone safe and sound.

Kyle Griffin is a volunteer member of the Summit County Rescue Group, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations and grants for its operations and never charges a fee for search and rescue. When he isn’t on a mission, he splits his time as a public servant with the Town of Breckenridge and as an outdoor educator with Colorado Mountain College.

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