About Hinsdale Haute Route

Recent History

The Jon Wilson Yurt and Rambouillet Yurt are currently available. 

Summer Access to Wilson: 

The Sawmill Park Road departs Highway 149 at about Mile Marker 66.7.  The first 0.2 mile is steep however it is doable with most two wheel drive vehicles, though low clearance vehicles will not do well.  If the road is wet it may require four wheel drive.  Parking for the yurt is at a pull out on the right, just before Sawmill Park a little over a mile from the highway.  The yurt is a 200 yard hike to the west. The trial is marked with blue diamonds.

Winter access to Wilson:

The first 2/10 of a mile are steep.  Stay right as our trail merges with the groomed trail joining from the left at the top of that first steep.

Access to the yurt from the groomed trail has two approaches.  The first is just over a mile up the trail on the right with a sign.  Blue diamonds mark the route.  This one is good for snowshoers but is tricky with skis and especially with a sled. The second is from Sawmill Park.  Our trail snowmobile leaves the groomed trail early in the park and enters the trees on your right.  It is better for skiers with sleds.

Summer access to Rambouillet Yurt:

Access to the yurt:  Two routes available, Sawmill Park route past the Jon Wilson Yurt (4 wheel drive or hiking) and the High Route from the Summit of Slumgullion Pass (hiking).

Sawmill Park Route, 4 to 5 miles and 2,000 feet elevation gain.

For hikers parking is at about Mile Marker 66 3/4 on Hwy 149 (this is about a quarter mile above the Lake San Cristobal overlook).  The first 2/10 of a mile are steep.  Stay right as our trail merges with the Penniston Park road from the left at the top of that first steep.

Continue past the Jon Wilson Yurt parking at about a mile and a quarter. The last quarter mile or so before reaching Rambouillet Park is steep like the first section and rocky, 4 wheel drive required.  In Rambouillet Park (at just over 3 miles) our trail for hikers leaves the groomed multiuse trail heading left shortly after it levels out.  Our trail is marked with flagging in the trees and generally follows the ridge.  From Sawmil Park road to the yurt is 9/10 of a mile in that direction. Vehicles should take the first left from the Sawmill Park Road, an unmarked two track.  At about a half mile, take another left after climbing a steep hill. 

High Route, 4 miles and 600-700 feet +- elevation gain, this is a hiking route.

Parking is at Slumgullion Pass Summit across the highway from the old wooden snow measuring post and the Snotel Site. The trail runs past the Snotel Site and up through the trees to the ridge at 12,000 feet. From there follow the ridge SW to the point where it turns left about 90 degrees and descends toward the Rambouillet Yurt which is about a quarter mile below the high point.  The initial climb is about 520 feet on a sporadically marked trail. Beyond that, there is not a maintained trail.  Most of the route is at or near 12,000 feet with several other ascents and descents of 50 to 100 feet.  This is a great high traverse on a blue bird day.  It is challenging and distinctly less fun if it is windy or storming. 

Winter access to Rambouillet Yurt:

Three routes available, Sawmill Park route past the Jon Wilson Yurt, the High Route from the Summit of Slumgullion Pass and the groomed snowmobile trail.

Sawmill Park Route, 4 miles and 2,000 feet elevation gain, no avalanche danger;

Parking is at about Mile Marker 66 3/4 on Hwy 149 (this is about a quarter mile above the Lake San Cristobal overlook).  We recommend parking near the upper end of the parking area to allow room for us to park with our snowmobile trailer when we are doing maintenance.  The best way to park is backing in diagonally facing downhill.  If we get snow while you are parked, CDOT will plow you in when it clears the highway.  That parking arrangement will involve the least shoveling and you will have gravity on your side when pulling out.

The first 2/10 of a mile are steep.  Stay right as our trail merges with the groomed multi use trail joining from the left at the top of that first steep.

Continue past the Jon Wilson Yurt at about a mile and a quarter. The last quarter mile or so before reaching Rambouillet Park is steep like the first section.  In Rambouillet Park (at just over 3 miles) our trail leaves the groomed multiuse trail heading left shortly after it levels out.  Our trail is marked with aspen trail wands in open areas and flagging in the trees.  From groomed trail to the yurt is 9/10 of a mile.

High Route, 4 miles and 600-700 feet +- elevation gain, no avalanche danger;

Parking is at Slumgullion Pass Summit across the highway from the old wooden snow measuring post and the Snotel Site. The trail runs past the Snotel Site and up through the trees to the ridge at 12,000 feet.  From there follow the ridge SW to the point where it turns left about 90 degrees and descends toward the Rambouillet Yurt which is about a quarter mile below the high point.  The initial climb is about 520 feet and the snowshoe/ski trail is sporadically maintained. Beyond that, there is not a maintained trail.  Most of the route is at or near 12,000 feet with several other ascents and descents of 50 to 100 feet.  This is a great high traverse on a blue bird day.  It is challenging and distinctly less fun if it is windy or storming.  In stormy weather the snowmobile trail or the Sawmill Route would be safer.

The Lake City Continental Divide Snowmobile Club trail, 6 miles and 700 -900 feet +- elevation gain, no avalanche danger.  The trail crosses Hwy 149 just below MM60.  Plowed parking should be found on the north side of the hwy just below the crossing.  The trail is groomed and marked.  This is a good option during stormy weather.  Depending on recent snowfall and most recent grooming, breaking trail should not be an issue and the trail wands make it easier to follow in white out conditions.  However, it does not go directly to the Rambouillet Yurt.  A sign will indicate where our trail leaves the snowmobile trail about a half mile from the yurt.

Sherpa Service

Our Sherpa Service provides an option for groups to travel light while we transport heavy and bulky gear with our snowmobile and large sled in winter or OHV in summer. Summer Sherpa Service includes providing water. The service can be reserved when booking a reservation.  It is $50 each way for the Wilson Yurt and $75 each way for the Rambouillet Yurt. It is paid for with cash or check at time of service.  Most groups only use the service for the trip up to the yurt.

Ancient History

Hinsdale Haute Route was incorporated in 1988 as La Garita Haute Route Association and has been developed and maintained entirely by volunteers. The original Special Use Permits with Forest Service and BLM required that the yurts be set up each year, only after enough snow had fallen to haul the yurts and the furnishings in on the snow, and to remove it all each spring before the snow melted.

A prototype yurt was manufactured in 1991 and set up near the current Colorado Trail Friends Yurt site for Forest Service personnel to see. The Jon Wilson Memorial Yurt was constructed with donated memorial funds for materials and volunteer labor; it was initially set up in Cebolla Creek in 1992. The Rambouillet Yurt was constructed with donated funds and volunteer labor; it was initially set up in Rambouillet Park in 1993. The Colorado Trail Friends Yurt was constructed through Colorado Trail Foundation related memorial and friends donations and volunteer labor; it was set up in 1994.

The Colorado Trail Friends Yurt was granted permission to operate year round has been serving Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail hikers since the summer of 2011.

About Hinsdale County

Hinsdale County has been named the most remote county in the lower 49 states by the USGS.  The Continental Divide crosses the county twice, east to west and back again.  North Hinsdale County and South Hinsdale County are on the west slope of Colorado and the middle of Hinsdale County is on the east slope of Colorado. It is 96%+ public land and half of that is designated Wilderness.  1,123 square miles with a population of 774.  

Lake City, the county seat and only incorportated town in the county, has a population of 374.  There are "five" 14,000 foot summits within 15 miles of down town Lake City.  

Lake San Cristobal, Lake City's namesake, is the second largest natural lake in Colorado.  It was formed by the Slumgullion Earth Flow, a massive landslide that ran from timbeline down to the valley floor blocking the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River valley and forming the lake 700 years ago.  The earthflow still moves up to 20 feet per year in some locations.  It is visible from the Sawmill Park Trailhead.