The Huts > Summit Huts Association > Ken’s Cabin & Section House > Ken’s Cabin
Ken’s Cabin & Section House Ken’s Cabin
Ken’s Cabin is an intimate hut experience for two or three people. Also known as the historic Wagon Cabin, Ken’s was built in the 1860’s when Boreas Pass Road was a mere wagon trail over the Continental Divide. Sitting adjacent to Ken’s Cabin is the Section House which was built in 1882 to house the railroad men and their families who took care of a section of the Denver South Park & Pacific narrow gauge railway that ran from Denver to Leadville over Boreas Pass. These historic buildings, listed with the National Register of Historic Places, were carefully restored from 1992-97 with funding and assistance provided by the U.S. Forest Service, Park County, Texas A&M University, Colorado Department of Transportation, and Harris Construction. Summit Huts Association completed the upgrades to the Section House and Ken’s Cabin and has a special use permit to operate the buildings as winter ski huts. Ken’s Cabin is named in memory of Ken Graff who died in an avalanche near Breckenridge in 1995 at age 34.
Hut Information
Owned By
Summit Huts Association
Open
Winter
Winter Mileage*
6.5
Closest Town
Breckenridge
Hut Elevation
11,481 '
Cumulative Elevation Gain *
1,208'
Layout
One small room with a double bed and a single day bed.
*from Boreas Pass Trailhead
Amenities
Heat
Wood
Oven
No
Refrigeration
No
Water
Snow Melt**
Toilet
Outhouse
Ada Accessible
No
Sauna
No
Fire Ring
No
Grill
No
Dogs
No
Charging
None
Gear Cart
No
** 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 (bring your own filter)
- Outhouse is shared by Ken's Cabin and Section House guests, toilet paper
- 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
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Location
Official 10th Mountain Division Map
CalTopo
Winter Map : Boreas Pass Map
View / PrintNational Geographic
Map : Breckenridge/Tennessee Pass
USFS
Map : Pike National Forest
Trailheads/Routes
Most hut users access Ken’s Cabin from the Boreas Pass trailhead. This is a gradual ski/snowshoe up an old railroad grade. There are access routes from the south that begin outside Como, but they aren’t used as often so some trail-breaking and navigation may be required.
NO MOTORIZED ACCESS: During the winter season (November to May), motorized access, including snowmobiles, is strictly prohibited on the Boreas Pass Road leading to Ken’s Cabin and/or the Section House. The winter gate at the Boreas Pass Trailhead is closed to all motorized vehicles during the winter months per the US Forest Service.
Ken’s Cabin Winter Information & Parking Permit PDF
Routes
Ken's Cabin from Boreas Pass Trailhead/Standard Winter Route
Total Mileage
6.5
Trailhead Elevation
10,350'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,208'
Ken's Cabin from Gold Dust Drop-Off/No Parking
Total Mileage
4.7
Trailhead Elevation
10,330'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,263'
Ken's Cabin from Peabody Trailhead
Total Mileage
7
Trailhead Elevation
10,096'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,451'
Hut-Specific Weather
Today : A slight chance of snow showers before noon, then snow showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 42, with temperatures falling to around 38 in the afternoon. West wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight : Snow likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy. Low around 26, with temperatures rising to around 28 overnight. South southwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Saturday : Snow likely before noon, then snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 42, with temperatures falling to around 39 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 9 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Saturday Night : A slight chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. West northwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday : A slight chance of snow showers after noon. Sunny, with a high near 47. West northwest wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday Night : Mostly clear, with a low around 29.
Monday : A chance of snow showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night : Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.
Tuesday : A chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.
Tuesday Night : A chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Wednesday : A chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Wednesday Night : A slight chance of snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.
Thursday : A chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
Thursday Night : A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.
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.