The best part of a hut trip happens after the skiing or snowshoeing. Boots steaming by the wood stove. Soup on the propane burner. A sky so full of stars it looks fake. Then you wake up, step outside, and the un-tracked snow starts at the front door.
Leadville and Twin Lakes sit in the middle of some of the best hut and touring country in Colorado. The Sawatch Range rises to the west, the Mosquito Range to the east, and the town itself sits above 10,000 feet. That means long seasons, dry snow, and room to find your own line. Whether you want a guided powder day, a first avalanche course, or a night in a cabin with the whole family, here is where to start.
Backcountry Huts And Yurts
The Rose Hut
The newest name on our list, The Rose Hut sits at 11,707 feet at the base of Mount Sheridan, outside Leadville. It sleeps up to 12 guests across a loft, bunk beds and futons. Inside, you get a fully equipped kitchen with a four burner propane cooktop, a mini fridge, cookware, and a coffee setup with a pour over kettle and French press. Propane furnaces and a wood stove keep it warm.
In winter, guests ski, snowshoe or split board in, about 3.75 miles with 1,100 feet of elevation gain along county roads. In summer, you can hike or bike in. Bring your own food, and your own coffee beans. Book through The Rose Hut website.
10th Mountain Division Huts
The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association runs a network of backcountry huts linked by about 350 miles of suggested routes. Twelve of them sit near Leadville, including the 10th Mountain Division Hut, Uncle Bud’s Hut, Skinner Hut, Jackal Hut, Janet’s Cabin, Vance’s Cabin, Sangree’s Hut, Betty Bear Hut, Fowler/Hilliard Hut, the Continental Divide and Point Breeze Cabins, and Emmelyn Hut. Each hut is different in size and amenities, and reservations are required. Plan your route and book at huts.org.
The huts take their name from the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division, who trained on these same slopes at Camp Hale during World War II. Learn more at the Camp Hale National Monument.
Weston Pass Hut
At 11,950 feet on top of Weston Pass, the Weston Pass Hut calls itself Colorado’s highest backcountry hut lodging. It has four private bedrooms and a large communal room, with timber beams harvested and milled nearby and a tundra roof. In winter, guests arrive on skis, snowshoes, snowmobiles or snowcats, and the surrounding terrain runs from beginner slopes to steep bowls. Learn more at westonpasshut.com.
Emma And Marceline Yurts
The two Leadville Backcountry Yurts sit near 12,000 feet above Empire Reservoir, with views of Mount Elbert, Mount Massive and the Collegiate Peaks from the ridge. Each sleeps five and comes with a wood stove, firewood, a propane stove and basic kitchen gear. Winter access is for experienced, fit backcountry skiers only, and snowmobiles are not allowed.
Easier Hut Trips For Families
Hut trips are not only for hardcore skiers. Plenty of families make them a winter tradition. These options make the approach easier on small legs and big packs.
- Tennessee Pass Sleep Yurts: tucked about 1.3 miles into the forest on a groomed trail. Staff haul your luggage up while you ski, snowshoe or hike in, and the Cookhouse serves dinner nearby.
- Carner’s Cabin at Climax Revival: an off grid cabin at 11,700 feet that sleeps 8 to 10. The winter approach is about 2 miles and 1,000 feet, and the hosts offer a snowmobile gear haul.
- Buckeye’s Cabins: the cozy version, with full kitchens, bathrooms, wifi and wood stoves. A good pick for anyone who wants the cabin feeling without the approach.
Go With A Guide
A guide turns a big unknown into a great day. They read the snowpack, pick the terrain, and teach you skills you will use for years. These outfitters guide in the mountains around Leadville and Twin Lakes.
Powder Pro Lab
Based right in Leadville at 115 Elm Street, Powder Pro Lab operates under a U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permit in the San Isabel National Forest. Programs run from beginner Freeride Fundamentals and Avy Savvy classes to Advanced Alpine Travel and private days with a professional freeride guide. They also teach AIARE avalanche courses, including motorized and hybrid access options for snowmobilers. Beacons, shovels and probes are provided for courses, and some course equipment is available for an added fee.
Buena Vista Mountain Adventures
Just down the valley, Buena Vista Mountain Adventures guides backcountry skiing and splitboarding in the Sawatch and Mosquito Ranges, hunting for untracked glades and steep chutes. A snowmobile access option gets you deeper into the terrain faster. BVMA is an AIARE provider and A3 accredited, with AIARE 1, Avalanche Rescue and AIARE 2 courses.
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center runs full day backcountry ski and splitboard tours in the Sawatch Range from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Routes start from Monarch Pass, Independence Pass and Fremont Pass, the last one just north of Leadville, and the guide picks the line based on your ability and the day’s conditions. Gladed pitches suit first timers and intermediates, while alpine bowls suit advanced riders. Skis and splitboards are provided, and you should be comfortable on black diamond runs at a ski area. Tours usually meet in Buena Vista, and other meeting spots can be arranged. RMOC also offers avalanche safety training.
Come Prepared
The backcountry rewards people who show up ready. Before any hut trip or tour:
- Take an avalanche course. An AIARE 1 or similar course is the standard first step for anyone traveling in avalanche terrain.
- Check the forecast every day. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center posts daily avalanche forecasts for the Sawatch and the mountains around Leadville.
- Carry the essentials and know how to use them. Every person needs a beacon, shovel and probe, plus extra layers, food, water, a map and a headlamp.
- Tell someone your plan. Cell service is spotty or absent in most of the backcountry.
- Build skills on the hill first. A day at Ski Cooper on natural snow is good practice for variable backcountry conditions.
Read our backcountry safety guide and Winter Adventures 101 from our local rangers for more, and rent snowshoes and winter gear in town at Bill’s Rentals.
The quiet out here is the reason to come. Book the hut, hire the guide, and earn every turn at the top of the Rockies.
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