Betty Bear Hut

Route Description

Park at the Road 505 Trailhead on the Fryingpan Road. Ski Road 505 as it gradually climbs southeast along the side of the Fryingpan drainage for 3 1/2 miles to the road’s high point at the obvious concrete structure of the Granite Adit (9,990 feet). Enjoy the superb view of Mount Massive looming on the northeast side of the upper drainage. Continue on level road (with a few slight ups and downs) another mile to cross over Lily Pad Creek. This creek is inconspicuous as it has little flow and passes under the road through a culvert. The stub of the culvert is visible if you look over the downhill side of the road. Another good way to identify Lily Pad Creek is by paying attention to the two rock “gates” you pass through on Road 505. These “gates” are places where road-blasting left remnants of rock outcrops on the downhill side of the road. Lily Pad Creek is located about 100 feet past the second rock “gate.”

Ski the road past Lily Pad Creek for several hundred feet. At this point the trail to Betty Bear Hut leaves the road and climbs northeast up the side of the valley. With a lack of natural landmarks and your altimeter of little use because of the level road, this intersection of road and trail is a place where the blue diamond trail markers (and possibly GPS use) are essential. Using climbing skins, climb the marked trail as it makes several switchbacks up the valleyside, then parallels and gradually nears Lily Pad Creek. After the steep switchbacks, the marked trail leaves the Lily Pad Creek drainage by heading south for 4/10ths of a mile up through timber and clearings to Betty Bear Hut (11,100 feet). The hut sits at the edge of timber overlooking a southwest-facing clearing. Keep your eye on your altimeter and GPS. It is essential to not drop too low. (By no means try to make it down to the road from below the hut as the terrain is quite steep and rough.)

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Trailhead Directions

Route Description

HUT TO HUT distances are usually longer than from trailhead to hut. Use winter specific topographic maps. Routes between huts are not often used so may not be tracked; navigation and breaking trail may be particularly challenging.

From Betty Bear Hut ski for 1/8 mile through timber E to Lily Pad Lake. Ski SE then E around the lake to intersect a snow-covered road which leads through timber and an open area E to an open saddle at 11,400 feet.

Ski E from the saddle on a snow-covered road which traverses SE then E around the head of the Ivanhoe drainage about 1 mile to the Hagerman Tunnel portal (11,520 feet). The road ends at the portal. Take a climbing traverse NE from the portal for 3/8 mile to intersect the Hagerman Pass Road at 11,800 feet. The Hagerman Pass Road can be obscured by snow, but is sometimes marked by bamboo poles. This route also may be marked with blue diamonds, but they are infrequent. Climb the Hagerman Pass Road for 3/8 mile NE to Hagerman Pass (11,925 feet). Then follow the Hagerman Pass road down to the Skinner Hut.

Much of this route is at or above timberline. Be ready for limited visibility due to storm and wind.

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

*Please Note: This route description assumes you’ll spend a layover night at the Beyul Retreat, a historic guest ranch nestled deep in the Fryingpan River Valley, between the Margy’s Hut and Harry Gates Hut. Beyul offers a warm and cozy break on what would otherwise be a long 16-mile trek between huts. The retreat provides both cabins with kitchenettes and rooms in their lodge, where guests have access to a communal kitchen.

Beyul has long been a favorite stopover on this route, offering a comfortable place to rest and recharge. To make winter reservations, you’ll need to call them directly at (970) 927-4188, as bookings during this season are phone-only. For more information and photos, you can visit their website at beyulretreat.com.

Start at Betty Bear Hut (11,100 feet), which is located at the edge of the timber overlooking a southwest-facing clearing. From the hut, head north for 4/10ths of a mile through timber and clearings. The trail will gradually descend towards Lily Pad Creek, leaving the steeper terrain behind. As you approach the creek, the trail makes several switchbacks down the valleyside, paralleling and nearing the creek as you go.

Pay close attention to the blue diamond trail markers to ensure you stay on the correct path, as there are few natural landmarks in this section. Continue descending until the trail intersects with Road 505, several hundred feet past Lily Pad Creek.

Once back on the road, ski northwest along Road 505 for one mile until you reach the Granite Adit, an obvious concrete structure at the road’s high point (9,990 feet). From here, enjoy the view of Mount Massive looming to the northeast over the upper Fryingpan drainage.

Continue skiing northwest along Road 505 as it gradually descends for 3 1/2 miles, following the Fryingpan drainage. You will eventually return to the Road 505 Trailhead on Fryingpan Road.

From the 505 Trailhead, you have two options:

1. Arrange for a shuttle to pick you up and take you down to the Beyul Retreat.
2. Walk 0.8 miles down Fryingpan River Road to the signed turnoff for Granite Lakes Trailhead (TH) and Horseshoe Bend Ranch. Turn left at the sign, then follow the driveway for 1 mile to reach the Granite Lakes Trailhead. From the Granite Lakes Trailhead, you can follow our marked route to Twin Meadows and down to the Norrie Trailhead and then to The Beyul Retreat. The route description is provided below.

Begin at the Granite Lakes Trailhead with skins and follow the marked trail that leads around the lake. Ski the trail SW another 500 feet to a foot bridge over a small creek (8,800 feet). Cross the creek, then swing W and climb 1/4 mile up a steep gulch to a flat area (9,010 feet). The South Fork of the Fryingpan River will be directly in front of you at the bottom of a shallow gulch. Turn left (S then SW) and follow a trail-cut that parallels the South Fork for just under 1/4 mile to cross the South Fork (no bridge) at 9,050 feet.

After crossing the South Fork, the trail winds W then SW for several hundred yards to a vague Y split. Here one trail continues up the South Fork of the Fryingpan, while the one you want climbs to the right (W) up a small hill, then winds 1/3 mile (light uphill) through conifer and aspen to a major road (9,150 feet). If you lose the trail here, just continue W and you’ll intersect the road. Once you’re on the road (road number 504.1), you simply follow snow-covered roads W for 3 1/4 miles to intersect the standard Norrie/Aspen trail at Twin Meadows.

Once at Twin meadows continue N for 2 1/4 miles, descending through a series of switchbacks. Continue on the well-defined road as it winds down through aspen forests, leading you back to the snow closure at the Norrie Trailhead. From the Norrie Trailhead continue down FS Road #504 approximately 150 yards to a private road named Elliott Way. Take a left and head NW on Elliott for .5 miles until the road swings N towards the last cabins. Leave the road and continue NW through a large meadow for approximately .5 miles before entering the woods on a well-defined trail for the last .3 miles to the Beyul Retreat.

After restful nights sleep at the Beyul Retreat, strap on your skins and retrace your route back to the Norrie trailhead.

From snow closure at the Norrie Trailhead ski up through aspen forests on the well-defined cut of the South Fork Road (FS road # 504). Stay on the road as it makes two switchbacks, then a 2 1/4 mile climbing traverse to intersect with an obvious spur that turns right (W) and leads 1/4 mile through conifer forest to Twin Meadows, a reclaimed gravel pit with two small lakes. Take the spur to Twin Meadows.

Stay to the north end of Twin Meadows, and ski around the north side of the north lake. Follow the west shore of the north lake, then enter the forest on the obscure summer trailcut for the Aspen/Norrie trail. There is a sign here but it may be covered by snow. Follow the Aspen/Norrie trail as it leads out of Twin Meadows on the north side of Deeds Creek, then crosses Deeds Creek and climbs into Foster Gulch. The trail parallels Foster Creek for 1/2 mile, then begins to turn W away from Foster Creek at 9,920 feet, and climbs W to 10,240 feet. From here you swing S then W to meadows at 10,400 feet. From the meadows a steep climb leads over a divide (11,057 feet) and into Sawmill Park. Enjoy the view of the Elk Mountains from Sawmill Park and ski down to the lower (west) end of the park. At the lower end of Sawmill Park (11,000 feet) find the Margy’s Hut trail which leaves from the north side of the park. It is easy to miss this fork. If you have trouble here, the trick is to identify Sawmill Park with adroit map reading, then stay on the north side of the park and ski to the west end where you search out the 10th Mountain junction markers on a couple of medium-sized evergreens. Your altimeter can really help here, and a GPS is highly recommended if you don’t know the trail.

Once you find the junction, leave Sawmill Park and follow the Margy’s Hut Trail W then SW as it makes a long 1 3/4-mile climbing traverse up to the hut. Margy’s Hut is usually visible several hundred yards before you reach it, but it may be hidden by snow on heavy snow years, with just the upper front windows visible.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: Avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route at locations indicated below. Elevations indicate approximate elevation where the slides crossed the trail, not the starting zones.

• Approx. 1.5 miles from Norrie along the road to Twin Meadows, steep hillside on skier’s right (8,760′). D2-3.
• Approx. 2.5 miles up from the Granite Lakes trailhead along the Chapman Road, gully on skier’s left, (9,360′). D2-3.

Avalanche size/destructive force is scaled according to the American Avalanche Association as follows:

• D1 – Relatively harmless to people
• D2 – Could bury or injure a person
• D3 – Could bury a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees
• D4 – Could destroy a railroad car, large truck, several buildings, or a substantial amount of forest
• D5 – Could gouge the landscape, largest snow avalanches known

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

During the summer the Betty Bear Hut can reached by hiking, biking or driving in on FS Road 505 to its end at the Fryingpan Lakes Trailhead and then hiking or biking up an old abandoned road (Trail 1907) to the hut.

From the parking, pick up FS Trail 1907 (aka Lily Pad Lake Trail). Pay attention at the start as the main trail goes to Fryingpan Lakes. The Lily Pad Lake Trail is a short 1.7 miles, topping out on to FS Road 527 which leads to the Betty Bear Hut.

There are no other established hiking trails to the Betty Bear Hut.

Trailhead Directions

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

4WD High Clearance Access/BETTY BEAR HUT FROM BASALT:

Starting from the intersection of Two Rivers Road and Midland Avenue in Basalt, the drive to the Betty Bear Hut is approximately 48.8 miles via Frying Pan Road (CR 4), Hagerman Pass Road (FS Road 105), and FS Road 527.

Begin by heading northeast on Midland Avenue towards Basalt Center Circle for about 0.3 miles. The road will then continue onto Frying Pan Road (CR 4). Follow Frying Pan Road (CR 4) for approximately 32 miles, at which point the road takes a large turn and the Frying Pan Road becomes the Hagerman Pass Road (FS Road 105). The surface switches from pavement to dirt. Continue on the now dirt Hagerman Pass Road for about 10 more miles until you reach the junction of Hagerman Pass Road (FS Road 105) and Ivanhoe Lake Road (FS Road 527). Continue straight onto FS Road 527 and continue for another 3 miles or so to the eastern end of Ivanhoe Lake, then turn left up a steep and short section of road which brings you to the upper road (the old railway platform) that climbs very gently for another 3 miles to an intersection.  Turn right and descend to a large open meadow and continue descending to the Betty Bear Hut parking.

The walk from the parking and closure gate to the hut is about 200 yards, gear carts are available. Return after use unless you have booked the whole hut.

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

Extreme 4WD High Clearance Access/BETTY BEAR HUT FROM LEADVILLE (South Side of Turquoise Lake):

From downtown Leadville, turn off of Harrison Avenue, heading W on West 6th St for .8 miles. Turn right onto County Road 4 (McWethy Drive) and drive 2.6 miles. Take a slight right to stay on County Road 4 for another 4.3 miles to the intersection of County Road 4 and the Hagerman Pass Road (FS Road 105). Take a left onto Hagerman Pass Road (FS Road 105). Continue on the Hagerman Pass Road for 11.7 miles to the intersection of the Hagerman Pass Road and the Ivanhoe Lake Road. Take a sharp left onto the Ivanhoe Lake Road (FS Road 527) and continue for another 6.5 miles to the Betty Bear Hut parking.

The walk from the parking and closure gate to the hut is about 200 yards, gear carts are available. Return after use unless you have booked the whole hut.

Transportation