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