The Polar Star Inn

Polar Star Inn
View from the deck of Polar Star (click here for more photos)

Polar Star Inn is a privately owned backcountry lodge, booked by 10th Mountain. Polar Star Inn is a tall-standing structure with a big deck that looks west over the Colorado Plateau: a sunset watcher's paradise. There are six private bedrooms and running water (summer & winter) that makes kitchen work a snap. The Inn was built in 1987. It is located just below timberline at 11,040' on the west side of New York Mountain, in central Colorado. It offers access to excellent skiing on New York Mountain, which rises just above the hut. Right next door is the Seipel Hut, it is booked separately but often used in conjunction with the Polar Star Inn for larger parties needing additional capacity.

Layout and capacity: Downstairs: 1 bedroom with a 2 bunk beds, 1 bedroom with a double bed. Upstairs: 4 single beds in a communal sleeping area, 2 bedrooms that each have a double bed, 1 bedroom with a double bed and a single bed, 1 bedroom with 2 double beds. Capacity 19.

Additional Amenities:The Polar Star Inn has running water from a spring-fed cistern during the summer & winter and a propane grill out on the deck. There is also a large firepit as well.

Hut Location: Polar Star Inn and The Seipel Hut are located near each other, just below timberline at 11,040' on the west side of New York Mountain, in central Colorado. [locator map]

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

Maps:

Dates Open: Summer: June 1st through September 30th. Winter: Thanksgiving through May 31st

Owned By: Privately owned Oven: Woodburning and propane Sauna: Woodburning

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The most common route into the Polar Star Inn follows the Fulford Road from Yeoman Park, and then heads up from Nolan Creek. You can also avoid the snowmobile traffic on the road to the Nolan Creek turnoff, by taking the Newcomer Spring Trail which joins this route at Nolan Creek. Route finding can be tricky on either trail due to old abandoned roads and jeep trails so keep your map and compass handy and watch for the blue diamonds marking the trails.

IMPORTANT HUT TRIP INFORMATION for MAY and JUNE RESERVATIONS: Travel conditions during May and June are highly variable. Suggested routes may be entirely snow covered, partially covered, muddy or dry. Be prepared to hike and carry skis with skins or snowshoes. Get an early start! Travelling early in the day is generally easier and faster because colder temperatures create a firmer surface. As temperatures rise, this surface changes and travel can become challenging and slow. The USFS closure gate at Yeoman Park is closed until May 21 regardless of conditions, and may remain closed after that date depending on conditions. Once open, high clearance 4 wheel drive is suggested. Call 970.925.5775 for the latest field reports.

The other route in to Polar Star leaves from West Lake Creek south of Edwards, and is about an hour less driving to the trailhead for visitors coming from the east. This route is less traveled and passes through a wilderness area so route finding can be more challenging, though significant trail improvements were made in the summer of 2016. This trail is also longer and gains more elevation than the routes from Yeoman Park so it is best attempted by more experienced backcountry travelers.

Winter Trail Access

  • Trailhead: Yeoman Park, Elevation: 9,060' Route: Via Fulford Road, Full Route Description Total Mileage: 6.3
  • Trailhead: Yeoman Park, Elevation: 9,060' Route: Via Newcomer Spring Trail, Full Route Description Total Mileage: 5.8
  • *Trailhead: West Lake Creek, Elevation: 8,220' Total Mileage: 7

    • *Please Note: This trail passes through wilderness areas where we are unable to mark the trail with blue diamonds. This, along with the fact that this route is seldom traveled, can make for very difficult route finding and is not a trail we recommend for inexperienced or first time hut-users. Full Route Description

  • Trailhead: Peter Estin Hut, Elevation: 11,200', Via Ironedge Trail and Newcomer Spring Trail Full Route DescriptionTotal Mileage: 8.2

During the summer the most common acces to Polar Star is driving up the Fulford Road to the summer closure gate approximately 1/4 mile from the hut. If you prefer to hike in then the Newcomer Spring Trail is the most commonly used trail access. Hiking in from West Lake Creek is also possible during the summer and there have been some recent improvements to this trail, but route finding challenges still exist on this lightly traveled route. Vehicle access is never guaranteed to any hut at any time.

For hiking at Polar Star Inn you can head up to the top of New York Peak from the hut or pick up the Nolan Lakes trail for a beautiful hike into a high alpine basin.

During the Summer of 2023 the Forest Service will be replacing a failing culvert located on East Brush Creek Road (NFSR 415.1) at approximately mile marker 3.0. East Brush Creek Road (NSFR 415.1) will be closed to all traffic from MP 2.5 to 4.1 from August 1 to September 1, 2023. The closure will require an alternate route to access the private land of Fulford, other private lands above Fulford, Yeoman and Fulford Campgrounds, the Peter Estin hut, the Polar Star Inn, the Seipel Hut and the surrounding recreational trail accesses in those areas. The recommended alternative route is to use the Eagle Thomasville Road (NSFR 400.1) and Hat Creek Road (NSFR 416.1). You can find more information here, East Brush Creek Road Closure Info.

Click here for summer water source information

Summer Trail Access

  • Trailhead: Yeoman Park, Elevation: 9,060' Route: F.S. road 418 to the hut, Total Mileage: 9.1
  • Trailhead: West Lake Creek Elevation: 8,220' Route: F.S. road 423, F.S. Trail 1876 and then FS 418 to the hut Total Mileage: 6.1
  • Trailhead: Peter Estin Hut, Elevation: 11,200' Route: F.S. roads 416, F.S. road 418 to the hut, Total Mileage: 16.7
  • Trailhead: Peter Estin Hut, Elevation: 11,200' Route: Trail 1873, F.S. road 415, F.S. road 418 to the hut, Total Mileage: 13.5