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TRAILHEAD DIRECTIONS AND DETAILS
Take special care with trailhead location. Allow extra time the morning of your trip in case the trailhead is not plowed or otherwise difficult to find or use. Check "New & News" on this website for critical trailhead changes. As parking at trailheads is often limited, please carpool or use a shuttle service whenever possible. Click here for GPS information. ATTENTION HUT USERS: Due to recent break-in's at a few of our trailheads we stongly urge all hut users not to leave anything of value in your car. If you must leave something in your car make sure it is either locked in your trunk or well out of sight. Aspen Area Trailheads Hunter Creek
Trailhead To reach the Hunter Creek Trailhead, start in the town of Aspen. Follow Main Street in Aspen to Mill Street (the stoplight near the center of town, next to the Hotel Jerome). Turn N on Mill and drive a short distance down a hill, then across a bridge over the Roaring Fork River (.25 miles). Bear left after the bridge and follow the Red Mountain Road 1.2 miles to its second switchback. Just before the switchback, turn right and downhill on the Hunter Creek Road. Drive approximately .5 miles on Hunter Creek Road, then take a hard left on an unpaved driveway that leads up past a water tank 300 feet to a parking area. The actual trailhead is farther up the mountain, but this is the only parking. You have several choices for foot travel to the actual trailhead. The simplest method is to walk back down the driveway to the Hunter Creek Road, turn left through two stone gate posts marked "Private," and follow the paved Hunter Creek Road 1/3 mile around a hairpin switchback to the well-signed Hunter Creek Trailhead on the right side of the road. Your other choice for foot travel is to follow a foot trail that traverses up the mountain from the parking area to the trailhead.
New Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead ELEVATION: 8,400 feet For the New Upper Hunter Creek Parking Area follow Hunter Creek Road up Red Mountain and go NE through the stone pillars continuing up Red Mountain Road for approximately 6/10th of a mile to a 3-way intersection. Take a very hard tight turn, and continue E 1/10th of a mile through two sharp swithbacks. You are now on private property. Please respect the homeowners and use the linked map to find the parking area. Do not enter private, marked driveways and do not cross the bridge. Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead Map PLEASE NOTE THESE IMPORTANT RULES FOR THE NEW PARKING AREA: This is inteded primarily as a skier drop-off area. Be prepared to drop your gear here and return your car to the Hunter Creek Parking area. There are a total of four (4) parking spaces in the skier drop-off area. Two are designated parking spots for 10th Mountain Hut users. One is for senior citizens and the last is for handicap parking. The parking spots are on a first come-first served basis. If you are using it for overnight parking you must leave a copy of your confirmation sheet on the dashboard of your car showing the designated night(s) you will be at the hut. Your car will be towed if you a) do not leave proof of hut use or b) are illegitimately parked in the senior or handicapped parking spot. Four-wheel drive is recommended.
From Glenwood Springs/I-70, travel east on Hwy 82 approximately 32 miles to Smith Way. (From Aspen, this intersection is approximately 8 miles west of Aspen). Note that this intersection is located .8 mile west of the turn-off to Snowmass Village/Snowmass Ski Area. Travel north on Smith Way for .5 mile, cross the Roaring Fork River, and continue to a 3-way intersection. Turn left (north) at Upper River Road, (CR 17) and travel North for 1.5 miles to the sharp right turn (east) onto the Woody Creek Road CR 18. Proceed approximately 8.4 miles through Lenado to the marked 10th Mountain winter hut parking area on your right. A sign, and a chain with a lock, marks the parking area. The combination for the lock on the chain is the same as the hut combination.
Fryingpan River Drainage Trailheads
From the 4-way stop sign in Basalt
at Two Rivers Road and the Frying Pan River Road, follow the
Fryingpan Road 24.8 miles to the Eagle-Thomasville Road #400.
Parking is available just east of the turn off to Road #400.
Do not attempt this road when it is wet, even with 4-wheel
drive. This road IS impassible when wet! Montgomery Flats From the 4-way stop sign in Basalt at Two Rivers Road and the Frying Pan River Road, follow the Fryingpan Road 25.8 miles to a marked driveway on the North side of the road (the street number is 26501). Please park in the plowed designated area for hut users and do not block the driveway. From the parking area, follow the driveway Northeast for 0.1 miles, then pick up the marked, new trail detour. Please follow this marked trail and respect private property. Diamond J Trailhead
Parking for the Harry Gates Hut was changed in 2002. The new parking is 0.3 miles west (down valley) from the Diamond J Ranch. Please see Montgomery Flats Trailhead for more information. Burnt Mountain
Road Trailhead From the 4-way stop sign in Basalt
at Two Rivers Road and the Frying Pan River Road, follow the
Fryingpan Road 26.1 miles to a Y fork in the road known as
the Biglow (on USFS map). A sign indicates Elk
Wallow Campground. Take the left fork (North Fork Road #501)
and drive 2.6 miles to where the well-signed Burnt Mountain
Road #506 turns off to the left (north). Norrie Trailhead From the 4-way stop sign in Basalt at Two Rivers Road and the Frying Pan River Road, follow the Fryingpan Road 27.2 miles to the sign that says Norrie Colony. Turn right (west) and travel across the bridge, and then up a short hill. At the top of the short hill there should be a plowed area. Park in the plowed area - DO NOT block the private driveway. The road to Twin Meadows leaves this area southwest of the short hill.
The Granite Lakes Trailhead is located at the privately owned Fryingpan River Ranch. Be aware that the name of this ranch can change. To reach the Granite Lakes Trailhead from Basalt, drive the Fryingpan Road 26.5 miles to the Biglow Fork. Take the right fork and continue up the main paved road approxiamately 5 miles to a well-signed right turnoff. You maysee signs here for Fryingpan River Ranch and for Nast Lake/Granite Lakes Trailhead. After the turnoff, a winding dirt road leads 1.1 miles to the obvious buildings of the ranch. This road has several steep switchbacks, so 4-wheel drive is recommended during snow season. The Granite Lakes Trailhead is just after the bridge. For the trail to Twin Meadows and Margy's Hut: follow the marked trail around Nast lake the and begin climbing S.W.
Road 505 Trailhead Road 505 is a dirt spur off the paved Fryingpan
Road. It was built for maintenance on the Fryingpan/Arkansas water
diversion project. In winter it remains snow-covered and is shared
by skiers and snowmobilers. Early in spring (usually mid-May)
the road is plowed 5.8 miles into the Upper Fryingpan drainage,
after which it's gated on occasion, but is usually open.
The Hagerman Pass Road Trailhead is at the start of the Hagerman Pass Road, which connects Leadville and the Fryingpan valley. From the 4-way stop sign in Basalt at Two Rivers Road and the Frying Pan River Road, follow the Fryingpan Road 32 miles to the end of the pavement, then follow Hagerman Pass Road around the sweeping bend to the left.
Trailheads reached from Interstate Highway 70 West Lake
Creek Trailhead Drive W from Edwards on Highway 6, 0.7 miles to Lake Creek Road. Turn S (left) and drive 1.8 miles to West Lake Creek Road junction. Turn right and continue 1.6 miles to the end of the pavement and another 1.1 miles to the parking area at switchback. (8220')
From the Eagle Exit #147 on I-70, go south 0.25 miles to the roundabout and go west on Hwy #6 for 1.0 mile to the next roundabout. Take Sylvan Lake Road south 1.6 miles to Brush Creek Road. Turn right (south) onto Brush Creek Road and travel 8.8 miles to the end of the pavement. Take the right fork (West Brush Creek Road) and drive 4.6 miles to Sylvan Lake. Sylvan Lake is a small state park where you'll find good car camping, small cabins for rent and bathrooms.
From the Eagle Exit #147 on I-70, go south 0.25 miles to the roundabout and go west on Hwy #6 for 1.0 mile to the next roundabout. Take Sylvan Lake Road south 1.6 miles to Brush Creek Road. Turn right (south) onto Brush Creek Road and travel 8.8 miles to the end of the pavement. Turn left onto East Brush Creek Road and travel 6.0 miles to Yeoman Park Trailhead.
The Vail Trailhead for the Commando Run is not signed, but it's fairly easy to find. Follow I-70 to the main Vail Exit (Exit 176) at Vail Resort. Take the exit, then turn immediately right (S) into a traffic circle. Turn east out of the traffic circle on the frontage road and drive .4 miles E to an intersection marked with an oversized stop sign. Turn right (S) here and follow Vail Valley Drive .4 miles to parking at the Golden Peak Children's Skiing Center at the base of lifts 6 and 12. In the winter parking is highly regulated, so check the parking rules when you get there. At any rate, you can skin up the ski area from here to start the Commando Run in Mill Creek. This is a grueling start for such a nice tour, so consider accessing the Commando Run from the Vail ski lifts. There has been talk for years of a one-ride ticket for just that purpose, so check for this option. To reach the Commando Run from the lifts you can get into Mill Creek from the top of lift 6; or take a more roundabout route, finally using the Orient Express Lift to reach the west ridge of Siberia Peak. In the summer you can ride the Vail Gondola most of the way up the mountain, then hike the ridge to Siberia Peak. Cyclists can take their bike up the Gondola and ride across the ski area to the Mill Creek Road. Vail Pass
Trailhead To reach the Vail Pass Trailhead, drive I-70 14.3 miles east from Vail or 5 miles west from Copper Mountain Resort. Take Exit 190 and park at the indicated overnight parking area. The Shrine Pass Road leaves from the parking area. It has good signage and is well used. Please note: For winter trips hut-users must use the non-motorized winter-use trail to access the huts. Use of the motorized winter-use trail (Shrine Pass Road) may result in a $100 fine.
Parking: Summit Huts Association appreciates
the generosity of Copper Mountain Resort in allowing our hut guests
to park at Copper Mountain. Park in the Alpine Lot (formerly known
as East Lot), just off Highway 91. Directions: turn into the main
Copper Mountain Resort entrance and make your first left into
the north end of the Alpine Lot. Park in the area near the Transportation
Center, which is designated for Janet's Cabin. Post your parking
permit on the dash and make extra copies if your group requires
more than one vehicle. DO NOT PARK AT UNION CREEK. Red
Sandstone Creek Trailhead Drive Interstate Highway 70 to the Vail Resort. Take the main Vail exit (#176). After exiting, turn north and drive a short distance to the frontage road (rather than heading into Vail). Drive the frontage road 1 mile west, then take a right on the Red Sandstone Creek Road. For the most reliable parking, head up Red Sandstone Creek Road .35 miles to a parking area on the left, at a major switchback. If you park here, you'll need to walk plowed pavement up around another switchback to the start of the true Red Sandstone Creek Road, which leaves the paved road at a well signed gate .3 miles from the aforementioned parking. To avoid walking the road, it's worth exploring parking options farther up the road, especially in spring or during years with less snowfall. To do so, it's prudent to use a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.
Drive Interstate Highway 70 to the Vail Resort. Take the main Vail exit (#176. Immediately after exiting (90 on the north side of the highway), turn E on a secondary road with a sign for "Spraddle Creek Road." You'll immediately see a Forest Service overflow parking area on your left(note this and use later if needed). Continue up the steep paved road .7 miles to the Spraddle Creek Estates entrance gate. Leave the pavement here by taking a hard right on the well signed Spraddle Creek dirt road, and continue .1 mile to the Spraddle Creek Ranch parking area. Be advised there is no parking at the Spraddle Creek Estates entrance gate. Parking at the Lower Spraddle Creek parking area can be difficult because of the popularity of this parking area. Please carpool and use the Upper Spraddle parking area if possible. Free overnight parking can be found at Red Sandstone Park, located 1 mile west of the main Vail exit (#176) at the intersection of Red Sandstone Creek Road and the frontage road. Free bus service (970-479-2178) is available along the frontage road Vail Parking.
Trailheads from Highway 24 & Leadville
From the junction of I-70 and Hwy 24, at the Minturn Exit #171 on I-70 (5.1 miles west of Vail), drive 10.3 miles south on Hwy 24 to a poorly signed left turnoff that leads a short distance down into a canyon, then into Red Cliff. The Shrine Pass Road leaves from the northeast corner of Red Cliff. It is also poorly signed, but fairly obvious. If in doubt, ask any local where it is, and the USGS map shows it clearly as the only road up Turkey Creek. Once you find the Shrine Pass Road, the best place to park is in Red Cliff on any side street or in the lot by the Marshal's office. You can also drive just over a mile up the Shrine Pass Road to the water tank Pando Trailhead 10TH MTN MAP: Chicago Ridge
Drive I-70 5 miles W from Vail Resort or 55 miles E from Glenwood Springs and turn off at the Minturn Exit (Exit 171) onto Highway 24. At 16 miles from the exit you will broach the huge flat area of Camp Hale. Look for a railroad siding to your right (the Pando siding) and at 16.7 miles turn into a distinct parking area to your left with a sign reading Resolution Road. This is the Pando Trailhead. To reach the Camp Hale Trailhead, continue from the Pando Trailhead 1.6 miles S on Highway 24. Look to your left for two stone gate posts and a plaque. Again, parking is straightforward.There is no bridge across the Eagle River from the Camp Hale Trailhead; you might find a snow bridge, but don't count on it. For reliability, you may want to forgo using this trailhead and use the Pando Trailhead. For the South Camp Hale Trailhead, continue S on Highway 24 for .7 miles past the Camp Hale Trailhead. Look to your left for another distinct parking area. Again, you won't find a bridge over the river, but due to the distance this trailhead can save you, it might be worth looking for a snow bridge. Such bridges are more likely in mid winter. Boggy ground exists in this area as well, and needs a thick mid-winter snowpack for coverage. Please note: vandalism to vehicles was reported at this trailhead in March of 2005. To reach these trailheads from the south (Leadville) drive highway 24 over Tennessee Pass to Camp Hale. The South Camp Hale Trailhead is 5 miles north of Tennessee Pass on Highway 24. Use the connection mileages above to find the other two trailheads. Tennessee Pass
Trailhead To reach the Tennessee Pass Trailhead from the north (I-70), start from the junction of I-70 and Hwy 24, at the Minturn Exit #171 on I-70 (5.4 miles west of Vail). Follow Hwy 24 for 24.1 miles to the well-signed Tennessee Pass. Parking is obvious on the west side of the road (opposite the turnoff to Ski Cooper). If you're coming from the south in Leadville, from the junction of Hwy 24 and 91 at the north end of Leadville, follow Hwy 24 north 8.7 miles to Tennessee Pass. Please note: use the South Colorado Trail trailhead immediately on your left when entering the parking area. Do not use the trailhead at the back of the parking area past the outhouse. Ski Cooper Trailhead To reach the Ski Cooper Trailhead from
the north (I-70), start from the junction of I-70 and Hwy 24,
at the Minturn Exit (#171 on I-70, 5.4 miles west of Vail).
Follow Hwy 24 for 24.1 miles to the well-signed Tennessee
Pass. The road to Ski Cooper is obvious as you drive
.5 miles from the highway to the Ski Cooper parking area. Trailhead
parking for Vance's is on the left across from the cross-country
center. If you're coming from the south (Leadville), from
the junction of Hwy 24 and 91 at the north end of Leadville,
follow Hwy 24 north 8.7 miles to Tennessee Pass. Note: If you're
headed for Vance's Cabin, there is NO parking at Forest Service
Road #731. Note:
You may encounter Ski Cooper snowmobiles and/or snowcats on the first ¾ mile of the suggested route to Vance’s from the Ski Cooper Trailhead. Please expect and respect all users. Crane Park Trailhead Crane Park Trailhead :
From the top of Tennessee Pass go south on Hwy 24 1.6 miles and
turn right (west) off the highway onto a dirt road. There is a
sign mounted on an antique road-grader for Webster's Sand and
Gravel. The most reliable and secure parking is in an obvious
area within sight of the main road. To reach the Crane Park Trailhead
from Leadville, follow the directions for Tennessee Pass Trailhead
from Leadville via Hwy 24. About 7.1 miles from the junction of
Hwy 24 and 91 at the north end of Leadville take a left onto the
aforementioned road with the sign for Webster's Sand and Gravel.
Turquoise Lake
Trailhead From Hwy 24 and Mountain View Drive on the north end of Leadville, drive 2.8 miles west on Mtn. View Drive to a "T" intersection. Turn north (right) and cross the East Fork of the Arkansas River. Continue N 0.5 miles, park in the large parking area.
Trailhead from Highway 91 & Leadville Buckeye
Gulch Trailhead (for Sangree M. Froelicher Hut) The bulk of the information above was compiled by guidebook author Louis Dawson. Check out his backcountry skiing website. 10th Mountain Division and
Summit Huts Associations, Alfred A. Braun Hut System, and
Friends Hut operate under special use permits from the US
Forest Service, and are equal opportunity service providers.
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