Hut of the Month: Margy’s Hut

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A Long History, and Broad Appeal

Located above the small town of Lenado outside of Aspen, Margy’s Hut sits at 11,300 feet, overlooking the Elk Range and surrounded by pine forest. Built in 1982, Margy’s is one of the original two huts in the 10th Mountain system (along with the McNamara Hut). Construction of the hut was funded by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and friends, in memorial to Robert’s wife Margy, for whom the hut is named. 

This longstanding hut boasts stunning scenery and serenity, both up at the hut and en route, and truly offers something for everyone. Whether skinning or snowshoeing into the hut in winter, or driving, biking or hiking during summer, Margy’s hutgoers are in for a real treat on their journey to the hut. There are multiple route options in both seasons – so even for those who’ve already visited, a whole new adventure awaits if you try a different route on your next trip in!

 

Traveling In & Activities – Summer

In summer, visitors can choose to hike in from either the Woody Creek/Spruce Creek or Johnson Creek Trail routesabove Lenado, or via the Aspen-Norrie Trail from Twin Meadows up above the Fryingpan River Valley. The hut is also accessible by car (4WD high clearance vehicles recommended), by driving up Forest Service Road 103 above Woody Creek and Lenado, to the parking area just 1/4 mile from the door. This route also makes for a challenging but fantastic bike ride for those who want to pedal to the hut, passing through huge groves of Aspen trees along the way up. Be sure to have your camera ready!

Whichever way you go, it’s sure to be both beautiful and memorable, and the variety of options makes Margy’s a great choice for a wide range of hut guests during summer, from those seeking maximum accessibility to those looking for a bigger challenge and backcountry adventure. There’s also plenty of trails and Forest Service roads surrounding the hut, making for great day hikes or bike rides. Of note, hiking to nearby Mt. Yeckel offers panoramic views of the Fryingpan River Valley to the north and the Elk Mountains to the south. Margy’s also has a horse corral onsite, for folks who may be riding into/out of the hut, or bringing in horses to take day rides from the hut. 

Traveling In & Activities – Winter

There are several ways to get to the hut in winter, too. The most popular, “standard” winter route starts above Lenado and follows the steep-but-beautiful Johnson Creek trail to the upper Forest Service road, for a 5.8-mile skin with 2,600 feet of elevation gain. Alternatively, hut travelers can use the Woody Creek/Spruce Creek trails for a more secluded route, though this requires strong navigation skills and trailbreaking abilities. Coming in from the Norrie side offers a slightly longer route that takes skiers 7.3 miles and 3,100 feet up, serving up stellar views along the way. To note, while this option is more remote, the drive to the trailhead is generally much easier, and it also offers more dependable parking.

For the extra adventurous, you can find even more routes, including several hut-to-hut options – and complete details for all route options – on our Margy’s Hut page. 

Touring opportunities from the hut are plentiful, thanks to the extensive network of Forest Service roads near the area. 

Booking Your Trip

Margy’s Hut is open for summer bookings from July 1st through September 30th, and for winter bookings from Thanksgiving through the end of April. Summer 2026 bookings are now open through our online booking platform at huts.org. Check out the availability calendar and book your trip today!