The Lindley Hut

Lindley Hut

The Lindley Hut is one of the easiest to reach of all the huts in the Aspen area, but there are significant avalanche hazards along the way. From Ashcroft, the Cooper Creek Road takes skiers south up a gradual climb for three miles to where the hut is nestled in the woods just above Cooper Creek.

The road continues beyond toward the Pitkin Iron Mine on a series of gradual switchbacks where ski touring is pleasant for intermediates. For more advanced skiers, this road can link to the ridgetop beyond the mine for a remarkable high mountain traverse.

The Lindley Hut, formerly known as “The Ice Box” because of its all-concrete construction and lack of insulation, was renovated to include a hot-water solar-heated, radiant floor system with pumps powered by solar electric panels.

Alfred Lindley was a prominent lawyer and sportsman from Minnesota who was a principal of the National Ski Association (forerunner of the United States Ski Association). He died in a plane crash in 1950, and was honored as an enthusiast of alpine ski touring and mountaineering.

Layout and capacity: All Braun huts have propane burners for cooking, photovoltaic lighting, mattresses and pillows, eating and cooking utensils, toilet paper, matches, and cleaning supplies. Hut users melt snow for water. Lindley hut is a one-level structure with loft that sleeps a total of 14 (4 doubles, 6 singles). NO DOGS!

Hut Location:Lindley is located at the foot of Star Peak at 10,480', near the head of the Castle Creek Valley south of the city of Aspen, Colorado. [locator map]

Snowmobiles: Snowmobiles are not allowed near the Braun Huts. Since 1963 the Braun Huts have been operated as a backcountry ski hut system. Many of the routes to the huts pass through avalanche prone terrain, loose unpacked snow, steep sidehills, and areas restricted to snowmobiles. More information about snowmobiles is available HERE and on the "Winter Trails & Info" tab below. PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON A SNOWMOBILE TO GET YOURSELF OR YOUR EQUIPMENT TO A HUT.

Warning: The Alfred A. Braun Huts and Friends Hut are located in areas of known avalanche terrain with recurring avalanche cycles. Routes are not marked or maintained.

  • More Info
  • Winter Trails & Info

Maps:

Dates Open: Winter: Thanksgiving through the end of May

Owned By: Alfred A. Braun Hut System Oven: Woodburning Sauna: No

The Lindley Hut sits just a few hundred yards off the Cooper Creek Road near the base of Star Peak. The route in follows the road and makes for a gradual, low key trip. However the road does pass below various avalanche paths so you must exercise caution during times of elevated avalanche danger.

The Alfred Braun Hut System was designed to be a back-country SKI system. As such the Alfred Braun Hut System strongly discourages the use of snowmobiles for access to the huts. The hut system was created for non-motorized travel. As such, snowmobile use can often detract from this unique experience. Our huts are located on U.S. Forest Service land, and each hut has unique travel management restrictions as governed by Forest Service Travel Management Plans. Around the immediate environs of each Alfred Braun Hut is a USFS developed recreation site envelope with snowmobile restrictions. Access to and from each hut is managed within the Developed Recreation Site Boundary. Snowmobiles should not drive to the front door of any hut. There are no snowmobile play areas within the Developed Recreation Site boundaries. Snowmobiles are not allowed in Wilderness Areas, or on private land without permission. In the winter of 2010-2011, the fines for snowmobiling in the Wilderness Areas were $550 per snowmobile. You must know where you are if you expect to remain legal and safe. PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON A SNOWMOBILE TO GET YOURSELF OR YOUR EQUIPMENT TO A HUT.

Snowmobile Restrictions: Forest Service Special Order Closure to motorized traffic on the Cooper Creek Road (except for administrative uses or adjacent landowners). The route is therefore closed to snowmobiles for the last 2.5 miles to the hut. The Cooper Creek Road begins at the bridge over Castle Creek, where there is a locked (for vehicles) gate.

Winter Trail Access

  • Trailhead: Ashcroft Elevation: 9,498' Route: Cooper Creek Road (also known as Iron Mine Road) Total Mileage: 4

Winter Route Description

A note on Braun and Friends Route Descriptions: These descriptions are overviews and general in nature and intended for trip planning purposes. They generally describe the frequently used routes from the trailhead and not such routes between the huts, which may or may not overlap these routes. These descriptions are no replacement for the use of proper mountain navigation tools and skills, such as maps, GPS devices, compasses and the like. Navigation in poor weath-er or darkness has added challenges. These frequently used routes have been devel-oped over the years by users. Given the mountainous terrain and severe avalanche hazard, all such routes are subject to objective hazards that cannot be avoided. The route selections to access the huts are generally limited by terrain. There can be user choices within such routes that may reduce but not eliminate such hazards.

Most Frequent Route Description:

  • Distance: 4.5mi
  • Elevation Gain: 940ft
  • The Lindley hut is most frequently accessed from the Ashcroft trailhead (9,500’). Parking for hut users is in the lower lot on the East side of the road. From the trailhead this route follows the Castle Creek Road South and passes the Pine Creek Cookhouse after 1 1/2 miles. Past the Cookhouse this route is exposed to serious backcountry avalanche terrain. From here the route can ei-ther continue to follow the Castle Creek Road or it can take the Hunley nordic trail on the Eastern side of the valley. These alternative routes merge and the route then follows the Cooper Basin Road across Castle Creek and up Cooper Creek to 10,500’ where the hut access road drops a few hundred yards South to the Hut. Note: The route to the Lindley travels through the Ashcroft Ski Touring nordic center. AST kindly allows hut users to use the Hunley nordic trail if they wish to travel on the East side of the Valley. Please do not use any of the other nordic trails. Routes to and between the huts are not marked or maintained.