Betty Bear Hut

Betty Bear Hut winter

Betty Bear Hut is a terrific destination for intermediate backcountry skiers, although the steep section from Road 505 to the hut can be challenging for skiers with less than strong intermediate skiing skills on the ascent and descent. It's located near the Continental Divide, surrounded by a variety of terrain, and accessed via a long, snow-covered road that's a beautiful run on light touring equipment (albeit with the aforementioned short, steeper climb as the final test before reaching the hut).

Layout and capacity: Betty Bear Hut is a two-level hut with four distinct sleeping areas. 3 private rooms with double beds (one has a curtain instead of a door), 1 single bunk (up and down), and 8 beds in a communal sleeping area downstairs. Main Level: seating cushions adjacent to heat stove can accommodate up to four people. Capacity 16. The Betty Bear Hut is handicap accessible during the summer season, please call for more details.

Hut Location: Betty Bear Hut is located in central Colorado, between the cities of Leadville and Aspen, on the western slope of the Continental Divide near Hagerman Pass at 11,100. [locator map]

  • More Info
  • Winter Routes & Trailheads
  • Summer Routes & Trailheads

Maps:

Dates Open: Summer: 1 July through 30 September. Winter: Thanksgiving through 30 April

Owned By: 10th Mountain Division Hut Association Oven: woodburning Sauna: No

The main winter route into the Betty Bear Hut follows FS 505 almost to its end then climbs steeply up a marked ski trail to the hut. This last section is quite steep and descending it can be quite challenging later in the season when the trail has become packed out and crusted over.

Winter Trail Access

  • Trailhead: Road 505, Elevation: 9,120' Route: Via FS 505 and 10th Mountain marked ski trail. Full Route Description Spring Snow Plowing of U.S. Forest Service Road 505: Each spring, the Bureau of Reclamation plows roads in the Upper Fryingpan River Drainage to facilitate work on the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water diversion facilities prior to spring snowmelt. Plowing occurs annually during the months of March or April, depending upon snowpack and work requirements. Hut users accessing Betty Bear via the Road 505 trailhead during this time may be affected. The suggested parking for this route is at the designated Road 505 trailhead, regardless of plowing status. For detailed information, including an up-to-date plowing schedule, please contact the U.S. Forest Service Sopris Ranger District at 970-963-2266. Total Mileage: 6.9
  • Trailhead: Skinner Hut, Elevation: 11,620' Route: 10th Mountain marked ski trail, Full Route Description Total Mileage: 4.4

During the summer the Betty Bear Hut can reached by either driving in along the Hagerman Pass Road (FS 105) to its intersection with FS 527 then following that road around Ivanhoe Lake to the summer parking area approx. 1/4 mile from the hut, or by hiking, biking or driving in on FS 505 to it's end and then hiking or biking up an old abandoned road (trail 1907) to the hut. There are no other established hiking trails to the Betty Bear Hut. Vehicle access is never guaranteed to any hut at any time.

Hiking up to Hagerman Pass from the hut makes for a nice day trip or you can go fishing in Ivanhoe Lake. For longer treks you can hike back down trail 1907 to the end of Road 505 and then pick up trails leading up to Fryingpan Lakes or Marten Creek.

Click here for summer water source information

Summer Trail Access

  • Trailhead: FS 105, Elevation: 9,140' Route: Via FS 105 and FS 527, Total Mileage: 17.3
  • Trailhead: Road 505, Elevation: 9,120' Route: F.S. 505 and trail 1907Total Mileage: 6.5
  • Trailhead: Skinner Hut, Elevation: 11,620' Route: Via FS 105, FS 527 Total Mileage: 10.9