Copyright: Don Hillmuth
Photo of the Mcnamara Hut
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The Tenth Mountain Division Huts lie in the mountains between Aspen, Leadville and Vail. The system surrounds the Holy Cross Wilderness area and lies within the Sawatch Mountain range. The huts are privately owned and maintained shelters built on public lands and open to everyone, via a reservation system. The hut system is named for the soldiers that trained in the rugged terrain of this region, stationed at Camp Hale, and fought in World War II.The huts are backcountry cabins of wood construction, with a deck that provides glorious views of the surrounding terrain. Generally they sleep 16 people in three to four bunk rooms. Mattresses, a wood burning stove, propane burners, cooking and eating utensils, firewood and toilet paper are supplied. The huts are open during the winter and summer months for telemarking, Nordic skiing, backpacking and mountain biking trips. It is particularly well known, and wildly popular, to residents and visitors of Colorado, therefore it is important to make reservations early. The cabins are usually booked to capacity and will be shared by a few groups.
Directions from Highway 24: The easternmost huts in the system can be accessed from Highway 24 between Red Cliff and Leadville.
Directions from Edwards: Access to the Polar Star Inn, Carl's Cabin, Peter Estin and Harry Gates Huts can be gained via Colorado Road 25A .
Directions from Eagle: Access to the Polar Star Inn, Carl's Cabin, Peter Estin and Harry Gates Huts can be gained via Forest Roads 400 and 415 south of Eagle.
Directions from Aspen: The McNamara Hut (open only in winter) and Margy's Hut are accessible via Hunter Creek Road north of Aspen or from Ruedi Reservoir Road north of Basalt.
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