Hut of the Month: Shrine Mountain Inn

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Your next adventure awaits at 11,200+ feet

 

Located high atop Vail Pass, at 11,200+ feet, the Shrine Mountain Inn stands nestled among pine trees, surrounded by stunning views of the surrounding Gore Range, the Ten Mile Range, and Shrine Peak. This cozy mountain retreat offers a serene and beautiful backcountry setting, with plentiful snow in the winter, and radiant foliage and wildflowers in summer. 

With its unique set up, amenities, and accessibility, Shrine Mountain Inn is a fantastic option for first-time hut trippers, or those looking for a beginner-friendly experience. At the same time, it’s an excellent gateway to bigger adventures in the backcountry, too!

 

A Hut Trip Experience All Its Own

Located on 80 acres of private land surrounded by National Forest, Shrine Mountain Inn consists of three separate log cabins: Jay’s, Chuck’s, and Walter’s. Each cabin features its own unique layout and style, and all three offer modern amenities – some unique to the typical backcountry hut experience! – including potable running water (even hot water for showers or baths!), indoor bathrooms with flush toilets, refrigeration, electricity, full kitchens, and fireplaces. There is also a shared sauna located on the property, and propane grills are provided at each cabin. 

These extra amenities make Shrine Mountain Inn a nice ‘entry point’ hut trip, providing more of the typical comforts of home, while still serving up that distinctly special experience of being immersed in nature. (It’s a bit like being at one of those amazing sleepaway camps you still dream about from childhood!)

 

Built In Memoriam

Each of the cabins at Shrine Mountain Inn honors a different person who made their mark on this property’s rich history. Built in 1987, Jay’s Cabin is named in honor of Jay Utter, who first purchased the land back in 1960. Jay’s good friend, Chuck Anderson, is remembered by Chuck’s Cabin, which was built in 1988 in his memory. Meanwhile, Walter’s cabin – built in 1997 – is named in memory of another long-time Vail local, Walter Kirsch. All three shared a deep love for the surrounding mountains, and Jay and Chuck are buried on the property in the Shrine Mountain Cemetery. The present owners have spent more than 40 years in the Vail Valley, and share long-time friendships there. 

All three cabins were constructed from logs cut near Eagle in the Brush Creek area and the Flattops north of Glenwood Springs.

 

A Great Place to Start, and Convenient Getaway 

In addition to its extra amenities, Shrine Mountain Inn’s convenient location and accessibility also make it an ideal destination for beginner hutgoers.

The property is just 2.7 miles from Vail Pass by trail, and 2.5 miles by dirt road in summer, making it easy to access from the Front Range and Western Slope alike, with winter trailhead parking just off I-70 and summer parking available right on site.

There is no motorized access to the cabins in winter, but visitors can ski or snowshoe on the well-marked winter trail route. In summer, visitors can drive, bike or hike in via Shrine Pass Road (open to vehicles in July, August, September, and most of October). Please note that the Shrine Pass Road is seasonally closed until June 21st each year, regardless of conditions, and vehicle access is never guaranteed to a hut at any time.

On top of these standard routes, there are many alternative routes in and out of the Shrine Mountain Inn, and various day trip options as well, both in summer and winter. Some of these routes are quite long, serving up plenty of challenge for experienced backcountry travellers.  

One especially popular summer outing is to hike the Shrine Ridge Trail, which can be accessed right from the property, and rewards hikers with stunning panoramic views. 

Check out our hut page to learn more about the various routes available to and from the Shrine Mountain Inn. 

 

Book Your Trip Today!

Eager to check it out? The Shrine Mountain Inn is open year-round, and can be reserved through our online booking platform. 

Jay’s Cabin sleeps 12 total, and can be booked by the space, so this cabin may be shared by multiple parties. Both Chuck’s and Walter’s Cabins are divided into separate upstairs and downstairs units, each sleeping 6. These are reserved as single-party bookings, with all 6 spaces booked by a single group. The combined capacity of all three cabins on the property is 36 people. 

For questions or more info about Shrine Mountain Inn, feel free to shoot us a note at huts@huts.org.