And we’re not talking about some rinky-dink shacks here. These cozy sanctuaries range from rustic to refined, letting you spend a night in the wild but with all the creature comforts you need to stay safe, warm and dry. Most huts come with beds, equipped kitchens, wood stoves and bathrooms or outhouses (let’s think of them as wilderness restrooms).
You can ski or snowshoe from hut to hut in the European tradition or set up camp in a single location for a more relaxing getaway. After a day of play, grab a drink, prepare a feast and relive the day’s exploits while relaxing by the fire (indoors, no less). But don’t just take our word for it — use our roundup of some of the most popular huts to plan your own trip. Be sure to book early, as these places tend to fill up fast!
San Juan Huts
For a quintessential hut experience, you can’t beat these five backcountry San Juan Huts connecting Telluride, Ridgway and Ouray in southwest Colorado. Trek hut to hut — or access any of them individually — along 60 miles of Nordic trails in the jagged Sneffels Range. An abundance of terrain nearby offers additional opportunities for intermediate, advanced and extreme powder hounds. Each hut sleeps eight, with treks between trailheads and huts ranging from 3 to 9 mile.
OPUS Hut
Just picture this: a sunny, cozy lodge on the south slopes of 13,661-foot Lookout Peak near Ophir (south of Telluride) in the northern San Juan Mountains. Two wood stoves, in-floor solar thermal heating and indoor plumbing. A large common area with dining space for 16, a reading/snuggle nook and a small reclining area by the fire. Sound nice? It gets better. Three meals are prepared for you daily using quality natural and locally grown products, and beer, wine and spirits are available for purchase. The OPUS Hut is a full-service, European-style backcountry hut for those not quite into roughing it.
10th Mountain Division
Named to honor the U.S. Army men who trained at Camp Hale in central Colorado during World War II, the 10th Mountain Division network of 38 multi-size backcountry huts between Aspen, Leadville and Vail are connected by a whopping 350 miles of trails. Routes between each average 6 to 7 miles and from 9,700 to 11,700 feet in elevation, making them ideal for high-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Edwards-based Paragon Guides also offers custom guided expeditions along this network. Most of the huts sleep 16 people, but the size ranges from capacities of three to 20. Bonus: Because you’re only paying for your bed at each location, a hut-to-hut adventure through this system can also be a gloriously inexpensive affair.
Summit Huts
Combining spectacular natural settings with a commitment to community, charitable and educational pursuits, Summit Huts operate under a special-use permit from the USDA Forest Service in the White River and Pike-San Isabel national forests, giving you exclusive access to some pretty stellar spots. There are currently five easily accessible huts in the system — sleeping anywhere from three to 20 near Breckenridge and Copper Mountain — with more in the works. All feature solar-powered lights, stocked kitchens and wood-burning stoves; two feature saunas. All four huts are open for winter use from November through May, with two locations open July through September for summer adventurers.
Hinsdale Haute Route
Situated along the Continental Divide near Lake City at over 12,000 feet, the Hinsdale Haute Route is our highest altitude hut system. It offers one year-round yurt — one great for novice backcountry hut users and families with kids and another suited for intermediate and expert Nordic skiers. The Jon Wilson Yurt is a short 1.25 miles from Hwy. 149 south of Lake City, making for an easy journey for folks without a 4X4 vehicle. It offers great views of Lake San Cristobal and the Lake Fork Valley, 14,006-foot Sunshine Peak and the other alpine peaks across the valley.
The Colorado Trail Friends Yurt offers superb long-distance views of the San Juan Mountains (for up to eight folks) hardy enough to get to it along various routes — one from a steep ascent off the valley floor. But if you need some help, guide and Sherpa services are also available.
Pass Creek Yurt
Sitting along the Continental Divide near Pagosa Springs in southwest Colorado, Pass Creek Yurt offers a cozy base for doing it all — or nothing at all — in the surrounding Wolf Creek backcountry. After a day of surveying the surrounding snow-cloaked wilderness, prepare a great meal and gather around the fire for a relaxing evening of games and competitive storytelling. All you need to bring is food, sleeping bags and a desire to be enchanted by the mountains.