Route Description

JANET’S CABIN FROM UNION CREEK TRAILHEAD VIA K & L LIFTS

Guller Creek drainage is the standard winter route to Janet’s Cabin. Begin at the Union Creek Trailhead at Copper Mountain Ski Area, where you have two choices. The popular option (described here) begins by riding K and L lifts to the top of West Tenmile ski run OR begin by skinning or snowshoeing up Roundabout and West Tenmile ski runs (see Roundabout & West Tenmile Ski Run route description).

Important Lift Access Details: For lift operation times, contact Copper Mountain at 970-968-2882. If utilizing the lifts, you can get a complimentary one-ride lift ticket for the K & L lifts by presenting your 10th Mountain confirmation email at the Union Creek ticket window. The RFID card, onto which the lift ticket is loaded, incurs a $5 fee. However, if you have a Copper card, reloading is complimentary, and the card can be reused for future journeys at no additional cost. Please note: Guests using snowshoes or who are pulling sleds are not permitted on the lifts and should access Janet’s via the Roundabout/West Tenmile option.

RIDE THE K & L LIFTS OPTION 3.7 miles (mileage is from the top of the L lift)

After riding K and L lifts (aka Kokomo and Lumberjack), ski about 1/4 mile down the extreme west (skier’s left) side of the West Tenmile ski run to a backcountry gate in the ski resort boundary at 10, 640′ (an altimeter eliminates guesswork here).

Once you get to the backcountry gate, leave the ski area by following the blue diamond marked route west, through the gate and into the forest. Continue on an an obvious trail-cut (take your skins off) as it traverses then drops west into the Guller Creek drainage to cross Jacque Creek and Guller Creek in an open area at 10,460′. From the crossing, the trail stays on the north side of the creek for 2 miles to approximately 11,120′. Here the valley widens and becomes very low angled. Switch to the south side of the creek here, and continue up the drainage another mile to where the valley steepens and narrows. If you haven’t done so already, put your skins on here. Continue up to Janet’s Cabin.

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. Learn more about avalanche hazards here.

• 1.78 miles from trailhead on skier’s right. D2.

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

 

Trailhead Directions

Parking

PARKING AT THE ALPINE LOT & SHUTTLE INFORMATION:

Park along the perimeter of the North side of the ALPINE LOT by the Transportation Center. If ALPINE LOT is full, go across the street to the FAR EAST LOT and park along the perimeter of the parking lot.

Post your parking permit on the dash and make extra copies if your group requires more than one vehicle.

Next, take the free shuttle from the Transportation Center to West Village/Union Creek.

DO NOT PARK AT THE WEST VILLAGE/UNION CREEK.

Transportation