OPUS Hut

Normally, a backcountry trip into the San Juans involves slogging your food, gear and protesting quads up several thousand feet — only to end your day wrestling a tent by headlamp. OPUS offers a more civilized approach. As a full-service hut with warm bedding and meal service, it’s a rare opportunity to travel lightly and sleep comfortably within a natural amphitheater forged by ancient volcanic activity. 

Rally the whole crew and reserve the entire hut for 20, or snag a spot in a private room or a cozy dorm-style bunk. At its doorstep, backcountry skiers surf soft, dry powder on low-angled glades. In summer, hikers and bikers trek along mining-era mule trails across technicolor scree to turquoise alpine lakes and meadows bursting with columbine, lupine and wild sunflowers. 

What makes it special?

Laughter, shuffling cards and the pluck of a six-string fill the evening air as adjacent peaks catch alpenglow and transition into a soft purple. Forget the camp stove and dishwashing; here, you can enjoy the moment while the OPUS staff takes care of the rest. Afternoons begin with steaming soup, followed by communal dinners and pancake breakfasts the next morning.

The most Colorado thing about this place

OPUS Hut takes work to get to, and that’s the point. Why drive when you can turn the journey into a sufferfest — and impress your Strava followers along the way? 

In summer, hikers arrive from Telluride, Red Mountain Pass, Hope Lake or other nearby routes that range from 3 to 11 miles. For the shortest option, drive up Ophir Pass Road and hike a quarter mile to the hut. Mountain bikers pedal in from Hwy. 550, tackling 1,700 feet of vert before swapping wheels for lounging on the hut’s spacious deck. In winter, ski touring approaches from Silverton (3.5 miles with 1,700 feet of elevation gain) and Ophir (4.3 miles with 2,300 feet of gain) traverse avalanche terrain, requiring a beacon, shovel, probe and the skills to use them. 

For maps and directions, visit the hut’s website. New to the wilderness? Let a local guide show you the ropes. They’ll take the guesswork out of the trail so you can spend your energy framing up those photo ops.

Coolest amenity

OPUS Hut is 100% solar-powered, which means your getaway is fueled by renewable energy — and your own two legs, of course.

Most unexpected amenity

The cedar benches in the sauna are the undisputed best seats in the house. This high-alpine Nordic treat is the perfect cure for tired muscles and busy minds. While you watch spindrift — snow particles blown from mountain peaks — dance across the skyline or stars blink through the window, you’ll be soothed by the satisfying hiss of water from a fresh ladle hitting hot stones.

Our favorite traveler review

“Whether you want to relax and recuperate, beat the crap out of yourself on a scramble hike above 13,000 or 4x4/dirt bike endless backroads […] the options are plentiful. Enough service for texts, but why not check out?” — Will R., Google Reviews
 

Things to see & do nearby

Nearby, the legendary Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray has been dropping jaws for more than a century, with scenery so distracting it prompts a steady stream of “Look!” from the passenger seat. Unwind at the Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings in Ouray, where you can slip into a subterranean vapor cave and let the Earth’s natural heaters work their detoxifying magic. In Silverton, the Wild West–dusted streets are best wandered with a coffee from Elevated Coffee Company. Or, head to Telluride — a former mining town turned alpine playground — for a slice from locals’ favorite Brown Dog Pizza. You’ve earned it.

Photos courtesy of OPUS Hut