The Huts > Summit Huts Association > Janet’s Cabin
Janet’s Cabin
Located at timberline in the Guller Creek Drainage next to the Copper Mountain Ski Resort, Janet’s Cabin is a fine hut that attracts hikers and mountain bikers in summer, and intermediate to expert skiers in winter. The hut was completed in 1990 by the Summit Huts Association. The lovingly crafted 3,000 square foot cabin is built with 10″ Montana pine logs. Four bedrooms sleep a maximum of 20 guests in winter, and 14 in summer. If you like mountain lounging, you’ll feel at home on the large front deck.
Janet’s Cabin is dedicated to the memory of Janet Boyd Tyler, a Vail resident and avid skier who passed away in 1988. According to her eulogy, “Janet was renowned for her quick smile and readiness to constantly re-discover the joy of life. She discovered her life-long passion for skiing while attending school in New Hampshire. Early on, Janet met the challenges of the slopes, including (if the legends are true) Tuckerman Ravine in the White Mountains. She dug into all her pursuits with the same enthusiasm she gave to skiing, and she often viewed life’s challenges from a skier’s perspective. Mountain views, fresh clear air, the beckoning of trees beside the trails, but most of all a good powder morning – these were all perceptions she carried every day.” Janet’s lifetime ski pass is now buried in the foundation of Janet’s Cabin.
Hut Information
Owned By
Summit Huts Association
Open
Summer / Winter
Winter Mileage*
4.0
Closest Town
Copper Mountain
Hut Elevation
11,610 '
Cumulative Elevation Gain *
1,162'
Layout
Beds are all upstairs, bunk-style in 4 different rooms (1 room with 1 single bunk and 2 single beds, 2 rooms with a double bunk and 2 single beds, and 1 room with 1 double bunk, no double beds).
Capacity: 20 in Winter, 14 in Summer
Hutmasters and Volunteers: SHA realizes that groups that reserve the entire cabin are seeking privacy. However, SHA does not prevent hutmasters or volunteers from staying in the downstairs Hutmasters’ Quarters, even when one group has booked the cabin. All hutmasters and volunteers are expected to respect the privacy of cabin guests while carrying out their maintenance duties. Maintenance staff is at the cabin once a week and guests should not be surprised to encounter hutmasters or volunteers during their visit.
*from Union Creek Trailhead (Winter)
Amenities
Heat
Wood
Oven
No
Refrigeration
No
Water
Stream*, Snow Melt**
Toilet
Composting Toilet
Ada Accessible
No
Sauna
Yes
Fire Ring
No
Grill
No
Dogs
No
Charging
None
Gear Cart
No
* Summer only
** Winter only
Details
- Firewood, starter paper, matches, axes
- Propane for kitchen burners
- Plastic bins for food storage
- Snow collection buckets and large pot for melting snow on wood-burning heat stove in winter, collection buckets for stream water in summer (bring your own filter)
- Indoor composting toilet, toilet paper
- Wood-fired sauna available year-round
- Pots, pans, potholders, dishware, cooking and eating utensils, percolator or French press, salt & pepper
- Paper towels, dish soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, trash bags
- Solar powered lights
- Mattresses, pillows
Book This Hut
Visit our Online Booking Platform to search for availability and book this hut.
Location
Official 10th Mountain Division Map
CalTopo
Winter Map : Camp Hale N/S Map
View / PrintNational Geographic
Map : Breckenridge/Tennessee Pass; Eagles Nest/Holy Cross
USFS
Map : White River National Forest
Trailheads/Routes
During the winter, Janet’s Cabin is primarily accessed via the Copper Mountain Ski area by either riding the lifts up and exiting out one of the backcountry gates or by skiing or snowshoeing up from the bottom of the ski area and exiting out the backcountry gate. Please see the winter information PDF and route descriptions below for more details. Experienced groups may also consider accessing the cabin from the Vail Pass Trailhead, but because this trail is less traveled it may require more difficult route-finding and trail-breaking. The routes to Janet’s are suggested 10th Mountain routes and are marked with customary blue diamonds. There is no snowmobile access to this hut in the winter.
NO MOTORIZED ACCESS: During the winter season (November to May), motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles, are prohibited near Janet’s Cabin within the 60-acre envelope designated by the US Forest Service. Violations are punishable by law. Please plan to access Janet’s Cabin under your own power, carrying your own gear.
Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area Fee: This hut is located in the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area. Use of this hut during most of the winter requires payment of additional fees to the US Forest Service that will be charged at the time you make your reservation. This is not a parking fee; it applies regardless of which trailhead is used. The $10.00 per person per night fee is in effect from Thanksgiving through the end of April, children 15 and under are free.
Janet’s Cabin Winter Information & Parking Permit PDF
Routes
Janet's Cabin from Union Creek Trailhead via K & L Lifts/Standard Winter Route
Total Mileage
4.0
Trailhead Elevation
9,820'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,162'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
371'
Janet's Cabin from Union Creek Trailhead via Roundabout & West Tenmile Ski Runs
Total Mileage
4.9
Trailhead Elevation
9,820'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,989'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
201'
Janet's Cabin from Vail Pass Trailhead
Total Mileage
5.7
Trailhead Elevation
10,580'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,703'
The Colorado Trail passes right by Janet’s Cabin and provides access to the hut from Copper Mountain. For a longer, more adventurous hike in you can start on the Colorado Trail from South Camp Hale and hike over Kokomo and Searle Passes to the hut. This section of the Colorado Trail is open to mountain biking as well and the route from Copper Mountain to South Camp Hale is a popular ride in the summer with some incredible high-country views. There is no vehicle access to Janet’s Cabin in the summer.
Summer Water Source Information
Janet’s Cabin Summer Information & Parking Permit PDF
Routes
Hike on Trail to Janet's Cabin from Union Creek Trailhead via Copper Mountain & the Colorado Trail
Total Mileage
6.8
Trailhead Elevation
9,820'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,170'
Hut-Specific Weather
Overnight : Mostly clear. Low around 12, with temperatures rising to around 16 overnight. Wind chill values as low as -1. West wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Thursday : Sunny. High near 35, with temperatures falling to around 25 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
Thursday Night : Partly cloudy. Low around 17, with temperatures rising to around 19 overnight. West southwest wind around 7 mph.
Friday : Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. West wind around 7 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Friday Night : Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. West wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday : Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.
Saturday Night : A chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday : Snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Sunday Night : Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 18. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Monday : A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Monday Night : Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. New snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches possible.
Tuesday : Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tuesday Night : Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Wednesday : Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.
Contents
Notices
Avalanche Hazard Information
Colorado is known for its avalanche prone snowpack. A number of the suggested routes to 10th Mountain Division Huts pass through or are next to terrain that may be prone to avalanches. Accordingly, pick the suggested route that most suits your group and its abilities, carry appropriate equipment, and always exercise prudent backcountry travel techniques when passing through avalanche prone terrain. Remember, avalanches can occur in forested areas and can run into forested areas from open slopes. Moreover, a number of huts booked are situated in the midst of extreme avalanche terrain. Many other huts, while located in more modest terrain, still have access routes that cross avalanche paths.
We strongly suggest that someone in every group be experienced in evaluating avalanche and snow stability hazards and practicing prudent backcountry and winter mountain travel techniques. For up-to-date avalanche information for all of Colorado, visit the website for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Another excellent resource is the Forest Service National Avalanche Center website. While this site doesn’t have local forecasts, it does have a wealth of information on backcountry travel in avalanche terrain and snow science, as well as tutorials on some basic skills and snow science.
We recommend that you start checking the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) website regularly before your trip to see how conditions are evolving. Study your maps to see what type of terrain you will be traveling through to see if there are alternative routes that might be feasible if snow stability conditions deteriorate. During most of the winter, travel to the huts, other than those in the Braun Hut System and the Friends’ Hut, is possible with a relatively minor degree of risk. However, if your trip falls within a period or cycle of high or extreme instability, you must make the decision of whether or not to go. The huts are not closed for avalanche hazard reasons.