What are the timelines and key dates for the lottery process? And how long does the whole process take?

From start to finish, the full winter reservation lottery process takes several months to complete, between the submission period and hut assignment process. Below is an overview of the key dates in the lottery process, and what takes place across these timeframes. 

• • Early January – Mid-February: Lottery submission window is open. 
    • Remember: These submissions apply to reservations for the following winter. So, right now in January and February of 2026, hut users are submitting lottery forms for hut trips they want to take next winter season (which runs from late Nov. 2026 through April 2027). 
    • You can renew or purchase a new membership through the submission process, but you must be a current TMDHA member to take part in the lottery!
    • You can access the updated lottery form and complete instructions for submission here. 
    • Members fill out these forms by listing an unlimited number of trips they would potentially like to take during the next winter. Every member is welcome to submit one entry to receive up to one trip itinerary (though this can be for a multiple-night trip, to multiple huts within the same itinerary (e.g. hut-to-hut), and/or for multiple people). You can also submit an entry as part of a group. See the “Group Entries” section of this FAQ for more details. 

• The final date that submissions can be accepted is February 13, 2026! All submissions must be completed and turned into TMDHA by midnight on that day!

• March 2nd – 27th: Trip Assignment Process

• • • During this window, the 10th Mountain Huts team draws each and every lottery form based on its randomized order assignment and reads through each member’s list of choices, working in order of their preference listed, to try and book a trip. If one of the member’s choices are available, we book that trip, charge their credit card for the trip cost, and email the hut trip confirmation letter. If none of the trips listed are available, the lottery entrant will receive a “sorry” notification via email, letting them know we were not able to book one of their requested trips. 

• April 1st: Early booking period for members opens

• • • After the lottery has been completed, members have the option to book additional trips (or retry to book a trip, if they didn’t get one through the lottery), during an early booking period that opens at 8am MT on April 1st. The best way to book at this time is to visit our website and book through the online booking platform. You can also call our reservation line at 970-925-5775 – but booking online gives you the best chance to secure a specific itinerary, due to the high volume of calls we receive during each booking opening. 
      • To note, once all lottery trips have been assigned, you will be able to review remaining availability for the coming winter season online here, roughly one week ahead of this opening date.
    • Regular 10th Mountain Huts members can book up to two additional winter trips during this time, on top of a lottery trip (so, three trips total for the season), while Leader and Lifetime members can book an unlimited amount of additional trips. 

• June 1st: Open booking begins

• • At 8am MT on June 1st, the open booking period opens. At this time, non-members can begin booking trips from the remaining availability of winter hut spaces. As recommended above, we encourage hut users to book online at this time for the best chance of securing their desired trip