The Huts > 10th Mountain Division Hut Association > 10th Mountain Division Hut
10th Mountain Division Hut
Nestled at timberline below the majestic peaks of the Colorado Continental Divide, 10th Mountain Division Hut forms a perfect destination for a single hut trip or ski-through using other nearby huts. Completed during the summer of 1989, the hut was built in honor of the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, using funds donated by 10th Mountain Division Veterans Bill Boddington, Col. Pete Peterson, Maury Kuper, and Bill Bowerman.
Hut Information
Owned By
10th Mountain Division Hut Association
Open
Summer / Winter
Winter Mileage*
4.4
Closest Town
Leadville
Hut Elevation
11,370 '
Cumulative Elevation Gain *
1,366'
Layout
Upstairs: 1 bedroom with 6 beds, 1 bedroom with 4 beds, and a communal sleeping area with 6 single mattresses.
*from Crane Park Trailhead
Amenities
Heat
Wood
Oven
Wood
Refrigeration
No
Water
Cistern, Stream*, Snow Melt**
Toilet
Outhouse
Ada Accessible
No
Sauna
No
Fire Ring
Yes*
Grill
No
Dogs
No
Charging
None
Gear Cart
Yes*
* Summer only
** Winter only
Details
- Firewood, starter paper, matches, axes
- Propane for kitchen burners
- Cupboard or closet for cold food storage
- Snow collection buckets and large pot for melting snow on wood-burning heat stove (suggested use of snowmelt water is for drinking and cooking)
- Hand pump in kitchen dispenses water from cistern filled with roof-catchment system (suggested use of cistern water is for cleaning only)
- Pots, pans, potholders, dishware, cooking and eating utensils, percolator, salt & pepper
- Paper towels, dish soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, trash bags, toilet paper
- Solar powered lights
- Mattresses, pillows
Book This Hut
Visit our Online Booking Platform to search for availability and book this hut.
Location
Official 10th Mountain Division Map
CalTopo
Winter Map : Continental Divide E/W + Betty Bear Map
View / PrintNational Geographic
Map : Holy Cross/Ruedi Reservoir, Eagles Nest/Holy Cross
USFS
Map : Pike/San Isabel National Forest
Trailheads/Routes
The most common route into the 10th Mountain Division Hut is from Crane Park. The ski in from Tennessee Pass is more scenic but longer. Route finding on both routes can be a bit tricky due to numerous other trails and snow-covered roads in the area. Whichever route you choose, be sure to watch for the intermittent plastic blue diamonds.
Routes
10th Mountain Hut from Crane Park Trailhead/Standard Winter Route
Total Mileage
4.4
Trailhead Elevation
10,137'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,366'
10th Mountain Hut from Tennessee Pass Trailhead
Total Mileage
5.7
Trailhead Elevation
10,424'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,150'
Hut to Hut/10th Mountain Hut to Continental Divide & Point Breeze Cabins
Total Mileage
5.0
Trailhead Elevation
11,370'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
381'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
1,251'
Hut to Hut/10th Mountain Hut to Uncle Bud's Hut
Total Mileage
7.1
Trailhead Elevation
11,370'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,436'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
1,432'
There is no established summer hiking trail to the hut, but hiking or biking up Slide Lake Road is a great way to access the hut and is far more enjoyable (for most people) than driving Slide Lake Road which is an extreme 4WD road. Motorized vehicles that do drive to the hut must park at the summer closure approximately 1/4 mile from the hut. Vehicle access is never guaranteed to any hut at any time.
From the hut there is a short hike on Slide Lake Road and trail up to Slide Lake, or groups experienced with off-trail hiking may want to summit Homestake Peak. Guests can also access the Colorado Trail by hiking back out the Slide Lake Road about 2.5 miles to where it intersects the trail. From there you can hike southwest towards Uncle Bud’s Hut or northeast towards Continental Divide and Point Breeze Cabins, or Tennessee Pass.
Summer Water Source Information
Summer Hut Information PDF
Routes
Hike on Trail/Dirt Road Combo to 10th Mountain Division Hut from Tennessee Pass Trailhead via Colorado Trail & FS Rd 145 (aka Slide Lake Rd)
Total Mileage
6
Trailhead Elevation
10,424'
Hike on Rugged Dirt Road to 10th Mountain Division Hut via FS Rd 145 (aka Slide Lake Rd)
Extreme 4WD High Clearance to 10th Mountain Division Hut via FS Rd 145 (aka Slide Lake Rd)
Hut-Specific Weather
Overnight : Mostly clear, with a low around 32. West wind around 10 mph.
Saturday : Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. West wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night : Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. West southwest wind around 10 mph.
Sunday : Partly sunny, with a high near 54. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night : A slight chance of rain and snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Columbus Day : A slight chance of rain showers between noon and 3pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday Night : A slight chance of thunderstorms and a slight chance of rain and snow showers before midnight. Mostly clear, with a low around 32. West southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday : A slight chance of rain showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night : Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday : A slight chance of snow showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. South southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night : Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Thursday : A slight chance of snow showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind around 15 mph.
Thursday Night : A chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Friday : A chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Southwest wind around 15 mph. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.
Notices
Avalanche Hazard Information
Colorado is known for its avalanche prone snowpack. A number of the suggested routes to 10th Mountain Division Huts pass through or are next to terrain that may be prone to avalanches. Accordingly, pick the suggested route that most suits your group and its abilities, carry appropriate equipment, and always exercise prudent backcountry travel techniques when passing through avalanche prone terrain. Remember, avalanches can occur in forested areas and can run into forested areas from open slopes. Moreover, a number of huts booked are situated in the midst of extreme avalanche terrain. Many other huts, while located in more modest terrain, still have access routes that cross avalanche paths.
We strongly suggest that someone in every group be experienced in evaluating avalanche and snow stability hazards and practicing prudent backcountry and winter mountain travel techniques. For up-to-date avalanche information for all of Colorado, visit the website for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Another excellent resource is the Forest Service National Avalanche Center website. While this site doesn’t have local forecasts, it does have a wealth of information on backcountry travel in avalanche terrain and snow science, as well as tutorials on some basic skills and snow science.
We recommend that you start checking the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) website regularly before your trip to see how conditions are evolving. Study your maps to see what type of terrain you will be traveling through to see if there are alternative routes that might be feasible if snow stability conditions deteriorate. During most of the winter, travel to the huts, other than those in the Braun Hut System and the Friends’ Hut, is possible with a relatively minor degree of risk. However, if your trip falls within a period or cycle of high or extreme instability, you must make the decision of whether or not to go. The huts are not closed for avalanche hazard reasons.