14 Backcountry Huts to Rent for a Winter Adventure

With the onset of snow comes the opening of winter backcountry huts all across the US. Whether you want to snowshoe, cross-country ski, or backcountry tour, there are a lot of reasons to plan an epic adventure to a backcountry hut this winter.

From the adventure it takes to get there to untracked snow and incredible mountain scenery, overnighting at a cozy backcountry hut is an awesome way to enjoy all that winter has to offer with friends or family.

Plan your next winter ski or snowshoe adventure with this roundup of the best backcountry huts across the US from Vermont to California.

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1. Clair Tappaan Lodge Huts

If you’ve hiked the Pacific Crest Trail near Tahoe, these 4 year-round huts will sound familiar as they are right off the PCT. The Peter Grubb Hut, Ludlow Hut, Benson Hut, and Bradley Hut are located just a short drive from Truckee and Tahoe City in California. All huts include a sleeping loft, a wood stove, and an outhouse.

Each hut requires only a single day to get to, making them perfect for a one or two-night getaway. In winter, the huts offer easy access to exceptional backcountry skiing routes right out the front door.

You can even loop Benson Hut & Bradley Hut together for a three-day, two-night epic adventure. If you do this, you should be familiar with the area and have winter wilderness survival skills.

2. Bear River Yurts

The Bear River Outdoor Recreation Alliance (BRORA) operates 6 yurts in Uinta County for backcountry skiers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers. BRORA’s mission is to assist in the promotion, development, and maintenance of outdoor recreation and access in Uinta county, an effort you support when you rent one of their yurts.

The yurts are equipped with bunk beds, a propane stove (propane included), kitchen utensils, and plenty of firewood to keep you warm and toasty throughout the night. The yurts also provide easy access to some of Utah’s finest backcountry terrain.

3. Bryant Camp

Located in Mt. Mansfield State Forest, Bryant Camp was originally built in the 1930s and was recently restored for backcountry and overnight use. The Camp is operated by the Green Mountain Club and offers rustic accommodations in the backwoods of Bolton Valley.

Byrant Camp is equipped with a sleeping loft (no beds or mattresses, so bring your sleeping pad and sleeping bag), a wood stove, and plenty of firewood to keep you warm. It’s surrounded by dozens of miles of cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, lift-accessed skiing, and snowshoeing terrain.

The Green Mountain Club also operates the Hadsel-Mares Camp in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

4. Jon Wilson Yurt

The Hinsdale Haute Route Huts currently offers one backcountry yurt option – the Jon Wilson Yurt. There are two additional yurts, the Colorado Trail Friends Yurt and the Rambouillet Yurt, that are in the process of being re-established for winter use as of 2023. If you’ve hiked the Continental Divide Trail or the Colorado Trail, you’ve likely heard of these huts as they are right on the trail.

The Jon Wilson Yurt is perfect for family-friendly outings since it’s located just a short distance off the highway and accessing the hut is pretty straightforward and easy. The yurt is also dog-friendly!

5. Mount Tahoma Trails Huts & Yurts

Experience 360 views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens with the Mount Tahoma Trails Huts & Yurts. It’s pretty hard to beat that when it comes to backcountry winter scenery!

The huts can be visited during the day by the public or rented overnight. A porter service is available to haul your gear up the huts for an additional donation.

6. Mountaineering Club of Alaska Huts

These simple backcountry huts are designed for the more advanced and skilled winter traveler. The Mountaineering Club of Alaska maintains 8 huts that can be found across the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains. Each hut is equipped with cooking stoves, lanterns, and a few other essentials for the mountains.

If you’re new to backcountry hiking and camping, consider visiting these huts in the summer instead.

7. Southwest Nordic Center (NM/CO)

The Southwest Nordic Center (SNC) operates four yurts near the southeastern end of the San Juan Wilderness in Colorado and one yurt in the Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico.

People don’t often associate New Mexico with skiing, but the Taos Ski Valley has world-class terrain and options for all levels. The Bull of the Woods Yurt is just two miles from Taos Ski Valley and offers some of the best alpine views in the state.

You can even reserve “Yurt to Yurt” trips through the SNC or “triple Yurt-to-Yurt-to-Yurt” trips for an exciting long weekend.

8. Sun Valley Yurt System (ID)

Sun Valley Trekking operates 6 different backcountry huts in the Sawtooth, Smoky, and Pioneer Mountains near Sun Valley, Idaho. They have options for all levels and interests, including beginners and families with kids. What makes the Sun Valley Trekking huts unique is some of them have their own saunas and hot tubs – a luxurious way to end a cold day in the snow!

9. Pear Lake Hut (CA)

Sitting alongside Pear Lake in Sequoia National Park at 9,200 feet is Pear Lake Cabin. The cabin is managed by the Sequoia Parks Conservancy and is available for rent from mid-December to April.

Keep in mind that it is a steep 6-mile hike or skin up to the cabin.

10. Idaho City Backcountry Yurts

The Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation operates the Idaho City Backcountry Yurts system which encompasses 6 yurts that are all about 1.5 hours north of Boise, ID in the Boise National Forest. If you aren’t a big fan of snow and winter, all six of the yurts are available year-round.

Most of the yurts are also dog-friendly, with the exception of Banner Ridge and  Elkhorn yurts, which are off-limits to dogs from Dec. 1st to April 15th.

11. Baxter State Park Huts

Baxter State Park is the home to Mount Katahdin and is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The Park operates 7 “bunkhouses” during the winter as well as 4 cabins at Daicey Pond and 4 cabins at Kidney Pond.

Winter campers in Baxter State Park can experience extremely harsh weather, so you must be prepared for all conditions.

12. Yellowstone Expeditions Yurt Camp

If summer crowds are keeping you away from Yellowstone National Park, consider visiting in the winter. Yellowstone Expeditions operate a “Yurt Camp” in the park that includes private heated yurts.

You’ll spend your days trekking across snow-covered meadows, relaxing in hot springs, viewing wildlife, cross-country skiing the rim of Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, or backcountry skiing some of the nearby slopes.

13. San Juan Hut System

The San Juan Hut System includes a collection of well-stocked huts that are open year-round for backpackers, mountain bikers, backcountry skiers, and other outdoor adventurers.

Each hut can sleep up to 8 people and are stocked with firewood, cookware, propane stoves, mattresses, and other necessities.

For winter visitors, the huts are quite remote and difficult to access, so reservations can only be made over the phone to make sure you are prepared and capable. You can ski between the huts to make a multi-day trip, but winter wilderness and route-finding skills are essential.

14. Ostrander Ski Hut

Perched on the shores of Yosemite National Park’s picturesque Ostrander Lake, the Ostrander Ski Hut is an incredible destination for experienced backcountry skiers. The route to the hut awards skiers with great views of Half Dome, Clark Range, and other peaks as well as a true backcountry experience.

The Ostrander Hut is equipped with 12 bunks with mattresses, a cooking area, solar-powered lights, and a wood stove. Since the hike-in is so strenuous, it is highly recommended that you pack the gear needed to be able to spend the night outside on your way in or out if necessary.

I hope this post helps you plan an unforgettable trip to a backcountry hut this season. Whether you’re looking for a cozy weekend getaway or untracked powder, winter huts are a great way to relax, unwind, and disconnect with friends or family.

Have you stayed at a backcountry hut before or do you have any questions? Share your winter hut experiences in the comments below!