Hut(s) of the Month: Polar Star Inn and Seipel Hut
10th Mountain Huts
January 31, 2026
As we continue with our Hut of the Month series, we’re excited to highlight two great huts this month: Polar Star Inn and Seipel Hut.
Situated outside of Eagle, high in the timbers above 11,000 feet, the Polar Star Inn and Seipel Hut are two private backcountry cabins offering expansive views looking west over the Colorado Plateau, excellent skiing and hiking on New York Mountain and the surrounding Holy Cross Wilderness, and a stand-out hut trip experience for visitors in all seasons.
Two Cabins in One Special Place
Built in 1987 – as just the fourth cabin established in the 10th Mountain Huts system – the Polar Star Inn is a unique, tall-standing structure with a large wrap-around deck that takes sunset viewing to a whole new level. The hut contains six private bedrooms, with bed space for 19 total people. (Find the full hut layout here.) Polar Star Inn is booked by the space, so it can be booked by multiple parties. The rate is $60/person per night (with a 50% discount available for children age 12 and under).
The Seipel Hut – built in 1993, and originally called Carl’s Cabin – sits just next door. It accommodates six people, with one large bedroom on its main level and two private bedrooms upstairs. The Seipel Hut is booked separately from the Polar Star Inn, but often used in conjunction with Polar Star for larger parties needing additional capacity. Unlike Polar Star, the Seipel Hut is limited to a single-party booking, meaning the reservation-holder must book all six spaces in the cabin. The rate for the hut is $495/night.
With a total capacity of 25 people across these two huts, the property creates a little slice of backcountry paradise for large groups or multiple parties alike.
Key features of the Polar Star and Seipel Huts include a spring-fed cistern for running water [note, depending on natural flow rates, running water is limited and cannot be guaranteed]; a shared, year-round woodfire sauna in a separate building between the huts; and a shared fire ring open during summer months, perfect for summer stargazing.
Next-level stargazing from Polar Star Inn! Photo by Kaitlin Caesar
Year-Round Opportunity for Adventure
The Polar Star Inn and Seipel Huts are open year-round, serving up beautiful views and opportunities for adventure in every season. In winter, the main route to the hut is a 5.7-mile trek from the Yeomen Park trailhead outside of Eagle, which climbs roughly 2,300 feet. For the extra adventurous – and ultra-prepared! – these huts can also be linked to/from the Peter Estin Hut for a challenging hut-to-hut itinerary, via the Ironedge Trail or Hat Creek Road routes. There’s plenty of skiing to be had on and around New York Mountain, with a broad variety of terrain both above and below treeline, and a mix of open slopes and glades.
In summer, the area boasts numerous hiking trails – some well-traveled, and others more rugged. Two of the most popular options include hiking to the top of New York Peak, and picking up the Nolan Lakes Trail, for a beautiful hike to a high alpine basin. For cyclists, the ride up and down Fulford Road to the hut is equally challenging and rewarding. Hutgoers can generally drive to these huts in summer, with high-clearance 4WD vehicles and careful navigation. But, it’s important to note that in May and June, conditions are highly variable and the road may not be driveable all the way to the huts. (See the Trailhead/Routes section of each hut page for more information.)
Book Your Trip Today!
Curious to check out Polar Star Inn and/or Seipel Hut for yourself? You can view current hut availability – including for the upcoming summer season! – here, and make your reservation through our online booking platform here. For next winter, bookings will first be allocated through our member’s-only lottery process. You can find more information on the Winter Lottery process here.
Up Next: A Look Back
Beyond the experience they offer today, these huts are steeped in history, with many great stories rooted between their walls – and a new chapter currently being written.
Stay tuned for ‘Part 2’ of our deep-dive into the Polar Star and Seipel Huts, where we explore the history behind these huts, and the people who’ve helped bring them to life.