San Juan Hut Systems
San Juan Hut Systems
4.3
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About
San Juan Hut Systems is a series of backcountry huts that lead you through spectacular Southwestern terrain and provides skiers, bikers, snowshoers, hikers, trail runners, boaters, horse packers and hunters with an experience of a lifetime. The Colorado huts allow for lightweight travel while maintaining a self reliant adventure.Our winter ski hut system offers over 60 miles of nordic trails and access to phenomenal remote backcountry turns. You are unlikely to cross another’s tracks. The San Juan Mountains present tremendous snow quality and first descent possibilities.Our two 215 mile mountain bike routes through Colorado and Utah provide a premium minimalist experience for the do it yourself adventurer. Whether you are looking for technical single track or scenic dirt roads we have an option for you. With the only destination hut-to-hut based system in the US, we take the weight out of bike touring by offering fully stocked huts and minimal route finding challenges.Our destination huts are our newest addition and offer adventures for hikers, bikers, trail runners, boaters, horse packers and hunters and can be used in a variety of ways. These can be excellent options for families and those confined to shorter trips.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.3
81 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
18
Average
1
Poor
9
Terrible
2
AlSue1
Ohio55 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We are an ultralight backpacking couple in our late 60’s and wanted to try a hut to hut experience. We flew into Montrose and took the $4 OurWay shuttle to Ouray so we didn’t need to rent a car that sat at the trailhead five days. There is a city bus in Montrose that takes you from the airport to this shuttle stop in town. We spent a few days acclimating to the altitude before hiking. Pack weights were less than 15 lbs. The hike was beautiful with tons of wildflowers. Since the fourth day hike was only four miles and we start hiking at daybreak we chose to skip the last hut and hike out to the Dallas trailhead. The huts were clean and comfortable. This is not an advanced level backpacking experience but delivers what it promises which is a way to hike a reasonable distance and elevation change daily without needing to carry a tent, etc.
I would go back with grandkids! My only negative interaction was a month prior I scheduled food drops and within a day wanted to cancel. I was told they had a no refund policy. After pushing back that the $125 per drop fee is not listed anywhere nor a cancellation policy I did receive a refund. Otherwise the group was easy to work with and the driver to the trailhead friendly and informative.
I would go back with grandkids! My only negative interaction was a month prior I scheduled food drops and within a day wanted to cancel. I was told they had a no refund policy. After pushing back that the $125 per drop fee is not listed anywhere nor a cancellation policy I did receive a refund. Otherwise the group was easy to work with and the driver to the trailhead friendly and informative.
Written July 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KJ
Durango, CO3 contributions
Sep 2024 • Friends
This was an amazing experience. We were a group of 8 (4 couples) who rode mountain bikes for the Telluride to Moab hut-to-hut adventure. Each day was different and enjoyable. We lucked out with the weather and pulled out our raincoats for maybe 10 minutes. The rest of the time was sunny. We did have a couple days of major wind, but all doable. The huts were well stocked. We appreciated the cookbook and used it each night for our meals. The only downside of our trip was the group ahead of did not follow the clean-up rules and left the huts a bit messy, nor did they restock the cooler. This is not an easy trip, so it is important to have trained a head of time for altitude, uphill climbing, and downhill scree. We left every morning about 8am and finished about 1-2pm. This left us plenty of time to enjoy the day and recover for the next day.
Written October 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana T
3 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
I just completed the San Juan Hut hike/Sneffel's Traverse and would highly recommend this trek! The huts were amazing and extremely well outfitted. They are primitive but exceeded my expectations! Beyond that, the customer service and information provided by the company were immensely helpful. It is good to be aware that this is a strenuous hike, at altitude and that you are in the back country, so it's important to be prepared. Thankfully San Juan Hut Systems provided plenty of detail to ensure an amazing adventure. The traverse takes you to the "best view in the state of Colorado," and I would have to agree. The natural beauty encountered on this trek is unparalleled. Thank you!
Written June 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MGray
North Bend, WA2 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Great trip from Telluride to Moab. Maps and directions were very good and augmented bike GPS. Huts were well stocked, in good condition, and pretty clean. We ran into a few days of rain in Colorado and warmer temperatures as we approach Moab. Roads and trails were in good condition. Resources in provided bible were helpful. But we found the Moab KOA cabins a great place to stay right before and after the trip. We left our vehicles in Moab with Don Hamilton’s Star Point/ K&M yard which is a 24/7 secure, safe, parking at a great price and took a shuttle to Telluride where we stayed for a couple of days to acclimatize. Suggest this ride for any adventurous groups but recommend some hill training if you are coming from sea level or haven’t been logging time in the saddle.
Written October 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan C
3 contributions
Sep 2021
I completed the SanJuan Huts Telluride to Moab ride the first week of September with six friends. It was the experience of a lifetime and did not disappoint: The scenery is indescribably beautiful, from high Alpine meadows, Aspen forests, to red rock splendor.
I trained all summer for the ride and am very glad I did. Due to the training, the ride was challenging but very doable. I can't imagine doing the ride without some fairly serious conditioning first, especially if you are from the low lands as I am. Day 1 and 6 are by far the most challenging, so don't let the length of the ride on day one fool you. It has some serious grades to climb at 10K+ of elevation. By day 6 your in the "mode" but it is 21 miles of pretty serious climbing through a beautiful canyon. I HIGHLY recommend getting up early for day 6 and 7 to avoid climbing in the heat. Once the sun hits the canyon . . . it gets warm.
You can make the rides as technical as you want, from gravel roads fit for the beginner MB rider to advanced-intermediate single track. We had quite a bit of rain the first four days of our ride, so a lot of the single track was simply too saturated to be much fun, though we certainly gave them a go. But the ride was still very enjoyable just cruising the gravel roads and taking in the beauty of the area, which will not disappoint.
The huts are pretty nice. You will definitely not go hungry. PLENTY to eat and drink and a variety to fit everyone's palate. The huts are showing the wear and tear of many years of use and a long summer. They are certainly comfortable, dry and warm. We had problems with the screen doors on several of the huts, as well as the lanterns and storage cabinets. None of these items were deal breakers, but I felt for the cost of the trip, a bit of attention to detail with regard to maintenance would go a long way.
Unfortunately we were following a group that was not the cleanest. Since a new group arrives each night, it's super important to tidy up the huts for the group that will be arriving behind you tired and hungry. The huts are small so ten to fifteen minutes of tidying up the huts per SJH's instructions makes a HUGE difference.
SJH's maps, turn-by-turn instructions and GPX files were spot on and made following the route (or alternate route) very simple. I downloaded the GPX files to an inexpensive Garmin and simply followed the "blue path" each day. Super easy.
If you are considering this ride, it will not disappoint. Be prepared for somewhat challenging rides from a cardio perspective, all the different weather the mountains and desert can throw at you, and breathtaking scenery.
I trained all summer for the ride and am very glad I did. Due to the training, the ride was challenging but very doable. I can't imagine doing the ride without some fairly serious conditioning first, especially if you are from the low lands as I am. Day 1 and 6 are by far the most challenging, so don't let the length of the ride on day one fool you. It has some serious grades to climb at 10K+ of elevation. By day 6 your in the "mode" but it is 21 miles of pretty serious climbing through a beautiful canyon. I HIGHLY recommend getting up early for day 6 and 7 to avoid climbing in the heat. Once the sun hits the canyon . . . it gets warm.
You can make the rides as technical as you want, from gravel roads fit for the beginner MB rider to advanced-intermediate single track. We had quite a bit of rain the first four days of our ride, so a lot of the single track was simply too saturated to be much fun, though we certainly gave them a go. But the ride was still very enjoyable just cruising the gravel roads and taking in the beauty of the area, which will not disappoint.
The huts are pretty nice. You will definitely not go hungry. PLENTY to eat and drink and a variety to fit everyone's palate. The huts are showing the wear and tear of many years of use and a long summer. They are certainly comfortable, dry and warm. We had problems with the screen doors on several of the huts, as well as the lanterns and storage cabinets. None of these items were deal breakers, but I felt for the cost of the trip, a bit of attention to detail with regard to maintenance would go a long way.
Unfortunately we were following a group that was not the cleanest. Since a new group arrives each night, it's super important to tidy up the huts for the group that will be arriving behind you tired and hungry. The huts are small so ten to fifteen minutes of tidying up the huts per SJH's instructions makes a HUGE difference.
SJH's maps, turn-by-turn instructions and GPX files were spot on and made following the route (or alternate route) very simple. I downloaded the GPX files to an inexpensive Garmin and simply followed the "blue path" each day. Super easy.
If you are considering this ride, it will not disappoint. Be prepared for somewhat challenging rides from a cardio perspective, all the different weather the mountains and desert can throw at you, and breathtaking scenery.
Written November 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cleat W
Nevada City, CA1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
An amazing trip. Day one was an eye opener, but we kept pedaling and I cannot recommend it enough. Certainly, you need to be in good shape, and missing rain is a big plus (we got a little on day 4, and it just locked up our bikes). We lucked up with the weather, and had an amazing time. This is the best biking experience I have ever had. 11 out of 10.
Written August 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
irinagrit
aurora, CO14 contributions
Jul 2020
Unbelievable adventure with the family! This was a perfect vacation during COVID 19 to spend with the family away from others and still get tons of memories in our wonderful Colorado. We are a family of 5 with kids 10, 12 and 16. They did great. It was challenging first two days walking 7 hours each day but the evenings were rewarding with the sunset, hot meals and crackling of the fire in the stove. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for off beaten path adventure.
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good job getting those youngsters outside! Anyone with young children remember to let us know at the time of booking if your kids are 12 and under because they are free until they are 13 :)
Written August 31, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
200sidneyh
Irvine, CA2 contributions
Aug 2021
Just completed the hut to hut trip from Durango to Paradox. 4 night, and 5 days.
While we had dreadful weather, 36 hours of pouring rain and hail storms, which caused us to get a ride from one hut to another, the scenery was beautiful, and the ride was an epic adventure.
I do have one problem with SJH.
While 3 of our huts were fairly well stocked, the last hut - Wedding Bell Hut was in disarray. NO drinks after a long hard day of riding. Some foods had runout. No clean towels (for cleaning up), no coffee filters (no morning coffee for us). No paper plates, Trash cans overflowing, Nothing to wash the dirty dishes with (you're given strict instructions from SJH how to clean up for the next group). It appears this hut had not been serviced in some time.
I informed SJH about this issue, and instead of taking a little responsibility - the owner John's response was "our huts are not for everyone". I guess this means, it's okay not to clean up, or have a cold drink after your day of riding!
I suggest if you're planning a trip with SJH, look at their calendar for hut maintenance and make sure you're not last in line before maintenance. If so, chances are you won't get all the great stuff they tell you are in the huts.
Not sure I will ever do business with these people again. Kelly and Susie were very sweet, but I find John extremely arrogant. They get fully booked up every year, so I guess he doesn't give a hoot!
While we had dreadful weather, 36 hours of pouring rain and hail storms, which caused us to get a ride from one hut to another, the scenery was beautiful, and the ride was an epic adventure.
I do have one problem with SJH.
While 3 of our huts were fairly well stocked, the last hut - Wedding Bell Hut was in disarray. NO drinks after a long hard day of riding. Some foods had runout. No clean towels (for cleaning up), no coffee filters (no morning coffee for us). No paper plates, Trash cans overflowing, Nothing to wash the dirty dishes with (you're given strict instructions from SJH how to clean up for the next group). It appears this hut had not been serviced in some time.
I informed SJH about this issue, and instead of taking a little responsibility - the owner John's response was "our huts are not for everyone". I guess this means, it's okay not to clean up, or have a cold drink after your day of riding!
I suggest if you're planning a trip with SJH, look at their calendar for hut maintenance and make sure you're not last in line before maintenance. If so, chances are you won't get all the great stuff they tell you are in the huts.
Not sure I will ever do business with these people again. Kelly and Susie were very sweet, but I find John extremely arrogant. They get fully booked up every year, so I guess he doesn't give a hoot!
Written August 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
markmess
Boulder, CO7 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
We hiked Telluride to Ouray late summer as a family, then biked Telluride to Gateway early Fall with just my 14 year old son. Both wonderful family adventures. The SJHS team were informative and helpful. Huts are simple but clean and just right for a family backcountry adventure. Can’t recommend the experience highly enough!
Written October 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for coming out and spending some time with us in the mountains! Can't wait to have you all back! :)
Written October 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RJONES
Santa Barbara, CA2 contributions
Oct 2020
I just finished the Telluride to Moab SJ huts tour with 3 friends. The adventure was incredible, beyond expectation, challenging, rewarding, epic…. The huts are great and the route with options was incredible. We found some of the best single track mixed with beautiful roads through diverse terrain. The weather and changing trees made the tour a trip of a lifetime. The location, accommodation, and food/drink stocking in each hut was awesome. The SJ Huts team is great; answered all our questions. I am so thankful to do a trip like this; good for the soul.
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PisgahTime
Mills River, North Carolina
I'm surprised nobody has asked this yet, but what did y'all do about the chamois situation? Did y'all bring 6 separate pairs, or did you have the ability to wash any of them along the way? Same goes for clothing. I'm expecting to bring just two dri-fit jerseys and use river-passes to "wash" them off.
Any other recommendations for clothing to take besides a rain jacket?
Written November 10, 2020
Hi- We all just brought 2-kits. Found rivers and ways to wash. We packed pretty light, which was good because there is a lot of climbing most days. Enjoy.
Written November 10, 2020
has anyone done the 4 day option? is it worth it or do you need full week to get it?
Written February 1, 2016
What's the best winter excursion and how much did it cost per night?
Written December 4, 2018
We would like to hike/backpack in the area . What loop or series of huts would you recommend for a 3-5 day adventure ?
Written June 13, 2015
SanJuanHuts
Ridgway, Colorado
I would recommend the Sneffels Traverse. It is a 4 night 5 day hiking trip along the north side of the Sneffels Range. It starts at Last Dollar Pass above Telluride and ends in Ouray. Great views of rugged mountains and beautiful flowers. Give us a call at 970.626.3033 if you have any questions.
Written July 2, 2015
Do the huts have a bathroom with running water and what is the shower situation
Written March 14, 2015
I heard there are 15 huts. I stayed in 6, Telluride to Moab.
We had 1 shower at Hut 4 which was awesome and each hut has composting toilets which work great. TP is supplied.
For those of us in the backcountry often, this set up is more than enough convenience. We brought wipes for
The non shower days.
Written August 16, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.