Eiseman Hut from Red Sandstone Trailhead

Total Mileage

8.1

Trailhead Elevation

8,620'

Cumulative Elevation Gain

2,666'

Route

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Route Description

Snowmobile Restrictions: The White River National Forest Travel Management Plan includes snowmobile restrictions on the Red Sandstone Creek Road, commonly used to get to the Eiseman Hut. Please review the restrictions (that may include substantial fines) in that area prior to your trip by viewing a USFS Winter Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) online or at the Holy Cross Forest Service Ranger District, 24747 US Highway 24, Minturn CO 81645, 970-827-5715. The non-motorized boundary now starts about 5 miles from the hut, where you will be able to turn your snowmobile around and park, before skiing or snowshoeing to the hut. There may or may not currently be a sign at this location, but restrictions apply regardless of the absence or presence of signs. Please pack accordingly and thanks in advance for your compliance.

A long and relatively low-angled tour up snow covered and often snowmobile-packed roads, this is a good trip for light skis and narrow,short skins or nordic kick wax. Start at the Red Sandstone Creek Trailhead. Ski up the well defined Red Sandstone Road (parallels Red Sandstone Creek). At about 3 miles (depending on exact parking) you’ll encounter your first major intersection (9,325 feet). Continue N here rather than heading left. Another 1 1/3 mile of obvious snow-covered road leads you to another intersection (9,704 feet). Take the right fork here, and ski a road that takes you ½ mile N, then swings E and follows a long traverse through a logging area, eventually delivering you to the head of a timbered valley (10,520 feet) just under the Eiseman Hut.

With the hut 660 vertical feet above you, a quick way there is to slap on your wider and longer climbing skins, climb 1/4 mile SE to a saddle, then swing E from the saddle and climb a short distance to the hut. This direct route is not marked with blue diamonds.  If you prefer to continue the more gradual climb, continue up the road N from the 10,520 foot elevation, and take several low angled switch backs to the hut. This latter option is the marked route. The hut is not visible from below.

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

 

Trailhead Directions

Drive Interstate Highway 70 to the Vail Resort. Take the main Vail exit (#176) and at the north roundabout turn west onto the frontage road. Drive the frontage road 1 mile west, then turn right on to Red Sandstone Road. Head up Red Sandstone Road .7 miles on plowed pavement, continue straight on to Red Sandstone Road (FS Road 700). Continue .6 miles on the plowed dirt road. Parking is available on the side of the road before the snowplow turnaround area.

Parking

Parking is available on the side of the road before the snowplow turnaround area. Please carpool and park sensibly as space is limited.

Additional overnight parking and a free frontage road shuttle is available from the Vail Village parking structure. There is also overnight parking at the Lionshead parking structure (no frontage road shuttles). Call 970-479-2178 or visit the Town of Vail’s Transportation and Parking website for details.