Backcountry skiing right out the door in the San Juan mountains! While there is an abundance of ski huts in the Red Mountain Pass area, there is one that is truly special: Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge. Situated in Richmond Basin far from the crowds of the Highway 550 corridor, the Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge has some of the best ski terrain in the region with plentiful shaded, cold snow aspects, steep skiing in alpine terrain as well as sheltered, well spaced glades. We prefer the Hayden hut above all others in the area and feel it is still somewhat of a hidden gem. Beyond the amazing terrain, the facilities are top notch, fully stocked and a welcome relief from the several hour approach into the hidden valley high above Ouray.

We recommend a minimum of three days (two nights) to get the most out of this hut based skiing experience. Our itineraries are open-ended and with many available options, conditions will dictate our best plan of action, see example itinerary below. Actual itinerary will vary depending on conditions and preferences.