Imagine trekking through stunning mountain landscapes all day, carrying only a light pack, and arriving each evening at a cozy shelter tucked away in the wilderness. No tent to pitch, no heavy stove and sleeping bag weighing you down – just the promise of a bunk, camaraderie with fellow hikers, and maybe even a warm meal. This delightful style of multi-day trekking is known as hut to hut hiking, and while famously popular in Europe, it offers incredible (though less common) adventures right here in the United States.
Are you an avid hiker looking to extend your trips without the full weight of a backpacking setup? Are you intrigued by the idea of remote wilderness stays combined with a touch of rustic comfort? Exploring hut to hut hiking could be your perfect next step. It blends the challenge and beauty of backcountry travel with the convenience and social aspect of shared lodging. This guide will delve into what hut to hut hiking entails, its unique benefits and challenges, how it compares to traditional backpacking, and highlight some of the premier hut systems available for exploration in the U.S.
What Exactly is Hut to Hut Hiking?
At its core, hut to hut hiking is a multi-day trek where you hike from one backcountry hut or shelter to the next along a designated route, staying overnight at each hut. The defining characteristic is that you don’t need to carry your own tent, and often, you can leave behind heavier cooking gear and sometimes even your sleeping bag, depending on the specific hut system.
These “huts” can range widely:
- Rustic Shelters: Basic structures with bunks, offering only shelter from the elements.
- Self-Service Huts: Equipped with bunks, mattresses, wood stoves for heat, and basic cooking facilities (pots, pans, utensils), but you bring and cook your own food.
- Full-Service Huts: Offer staffed lodging, often providing meals (breakfast and dinner) and bunks with pillows and blankets, requiring you to carry very little gear.
The experience varies significantly based on the hut system, location, and season.
The Perks: Why Choose Hut to Hut Hiking?
Why opt for hut to hut hiking over traditional backpacking? The advantages are compelling:
- Lighter Pack Weight: This is the biggest draw! Leaving the tent, sleeping pad (sometimes), stove, fuel, and pot set at home significantly lightens your load, making hiking more enjoyable and potentially allowing you to cover more distance or tackle more challenging terrain.
- Increased Comfort: A guaranteed roof over your head, a bunk (often with a mattress), and protection from severe weather offer a higher level of comfort than tent camping, especially in inclement conditions.
- Social Atmosphere: Huts often foster a wonderful sense of community. Sharing stories, tips, and meals with fellow hikers from diverse backgrounds is a unique and enjoyable aspect of the experience.
- Easier Logistics (Sometimes): While booking is required, not having to find a suitable tent site each night simplifies that part of the daily routine. Full-service huts eliminate meal planning and cooking altogether.
- Extended Hiking Season: Hut systems can make shoulder season or even winter hiking more accessible and safer than tent camping in harsh conditions.
- Great Introduction to Multi-Day Hikes: For those new to overnight trips, hut hiking can be a less intimidating way to experience the backcountry without investing in or carrying a full backpacking setup.
Considerations & Potential Drawbacks
While appealing, hut to hut hiking isn’t without its challenges:
- Booking & Reservations Required: Unlike dispersed camping, you can’t just show up. Hut spaces are limited and often need to be booked months, sometimes even a year, in advance, requiring rigid itineraries. Popular systems use lottery systems.
- Cost: Staying in huts typically costs more per night than camping permits. Full-service huts with meals represent a significant expense compared to DIY backpacking food.
- Less Solitude & Flexibility: You’ll be sharing common spaces (bunk rooms, kitchens, dining areas) with other hikers. Your route and schedule are dictated by the hut locations and your reservations.
- Shared Sleeping Quarters: Expect communal bunk rooms, potential snorers, and less privacy than you’d have in your own tent. Earplugs are highly recommended!
- Hut Etiquette: There are specific rules and expectations for behavior in huts regarding noise levels, cleanliness, shared resources, and respecting staff (if present).
- Limited Geographic Availability (US): While growing, established hut-to-hut systems are concentrated in specific regions of the U.S., unlike the widespread availability of backpacking opportunities.
Hut Hiking vs. Backpacking: Key Differences
| Feature | Hut to Hut Hiking | Traditional Backpacking |
| Shelter | Provided Hut/Cabin/Yurt | You Carry Tent/Tarp/Bivy |
| Pack Weight | Lighter (no tent, less kitchen gear) | Heavier |
| Comfort | Higher (bunk, roof, often heat) | Lower (sleeping pad on ground) |
| Cost | Generally Higher (hut fees/meals) | Generally Lower (permits only) |
| Flexibility | Lower (fixed route, reservations) | Higher (choose own route/sites) |
| Solitude | Lower (shared spaces) | Higher (potential for isolation) |
| Social Aspect | Higher (communal living) | Lower (usually smaller groups) |
| Booking | Required, often far in advance | Often permits needed, walk-ups sometimes possible |
| Availability | Limited to specific systems/regions | Widespread across public lands |
Premier Hut to Hut Hiking Systems in the U.S.
While Europe has an extensive network, the U.S. offers several fantastic, established systems for hut to hut hiking:
1. Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Huts, White Mountains, NH
The Classic East Coast Experience.
- Overview: Perhaps the most famous and oldest hut system in the U.S., the AMC operates eight huts along the Appalachian Trail in the rugged White Mountains of New Hampshire. These are primarily above treeline, offering stunning (and challenging) alpine hiking.
- Style: Full-service during the summer/fall season (typically June-Sept/Oct). Staff (“croo”) pack in supplies, prepare dinner and breakfast, and provide information and evening programs. Bunks have mattresses and pillows/blankets. Self-service options may exist in the shoulder seasons.
- Terrain: Steep, rocky, exposed alpine terrain with notoriously unpredictable and severe weather. Hiking between huts often involves significant elevation gain and loss.
- Booking: Extremely popular. Reservations open early (often the previous year for members) and fill quickly. A lottery system may be used for peak dates. Visit the Appalachian Mountain Club website for details.
- Typical Trip: Hikes range from connecting just two huts to traversing the entire chain over several days.
- Good For: Hikers comfortable with challenging mountain terrain, variable weather, and who appreciate the history and communal atmosphere of these iconic huts.
2. 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, Colorado
High Altitude Adventure in the Rockies.
- Overview: An extensive network of over 30 huts spread across the Colorado Rocky Mountains, primarily between Vail, Leadville, and Aspen. Originally established to honor the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division.
- Style: Mostly self-service. Huts are typically equipped with padded bunks, wood-burning stoves for heat, propane burners for cooking, basic cookware, utensils, and outhouses. Users melt snow or use nearby streams for water (treatment required) and pack in all their own food and sleeping bags. Some huts are privately owned but booked through the association.
- Terrain: Varies widely from forested valleys to high alpine basins. Accessible via hiking trails in summer and ski/snowshoe routes in winter (winter travel requires avalanche awareness and skills). Elevation is high (often 9,000-11,000+ feet).
- Booking: Reservations are required and open at specific times for winter and summer seasons. Very popular, especially for winter weekends. Book well in advance via the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association website.
- Typical Trip: Can range from overnight trips to longer multi-hut traverses lasting several days. Routes often follow forest roads or trails.
- Good For: Experienced hikers and backcountry skiers/snowshoers comfortable with self-sufficiency, high altitude, navigation, and potentially challenging winter conditions.
3. San Juan Huts, Colorado & Utah
Mountain Biking and Hiking Between Yurts.
- Overview: This system primarily caters to mountain bikers in the summer (with routes from Telluride/Durango to Moab) but also offers hiking options, particularly on the Sneffels Traverse route in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. They also have some winter ski routes.
- Style: Self-service huts (often yurts or cabins) equipped with bunks/pads, wood stoves, propane cooking stoves, basic cookware, and outhouses. Users bring their own food and sleeping bags. Water sources vary (creeks, tanks – treatment needed).
- Terrain: Rugged mountain terrain in the San Juans for hiking/skiing; high desert and canyon country for the biking routes. Hiking routes involve significant elevation and potentially challenging navigation.
- Booking: Reservations required via the San Juan Huts website. Booking procedures vary slightly between summer biking, hiking, and winter ski routes.
- Typical Trip: Hiking routes are typically multi-day traverses. The Sneffels Traverse is a popular high-alpine hiking route.
- Good For: Strong hikers looking for a rugged, self-supported hut to hut hiking experience in a spectacular mountain setting. Also unique for its mountain bike options.
Other Potential “Hut” Experiences
While not classic linear hut-to-hut systems like the above, consider these related options:
- State Park Yurts/Cabins: Many state park systems (e.g., Oregon, Minnesota) offer rentable yurts or simple cabins, some accessible only by trail, allowing for multi-day trips staying in fixed structures. Requires individual bookings for each night.
- National Park Lodges/Chalets: Some National Parks (like Glacier NP’s Granite Park Chalet and Sperry Chalet – check current status) have historic backcountry lodges accessible by trail, offering a more comfortable, catered experience. Book way in advance.
- Appalachian Trail Shelters: While very basic (often three-sided lean-tos) and not bookable (first-come, first-served), the AT shelter system provides a form of hut-to-hut hiking, albeit much more rustic and requiring a full backpacking setup.
Read more: Amazing Hiking in Puerto Rico: Explore the Trails!
Planning Your Hut to Hut Hiking Adventure
Ready to hit the trail? Here’s how to plan:
- Research Extensively: Deeply research the specific hut system you’re interested in. Understand the terrain, difficulty, hut amenities, water sources, mileage between huts, and booking process. Read trip reports.
- Assess Your Fitness & Skills: Be honest about your hiking ability, navigation skills, and comfort level with the expected conditions (altitude, weather, remoteness). Choose a route appropriate for your experience.
- Book EARLY: As mentioned, popular huts fill up incredibly fast. Know the reservation opening dates and be ready to book immediately. Have alternative dates and routes in mind.
- Plan Your Route & Pace: Map out your daily mileage and elevation gain/loss. Ensure it’s realistic for your fitness level and allows time for enjoyment and potential delays.
- Understand Hut Etiquette: Learn the rules of the specific hut system. Common etiquette includes: keeping noise down during quiet hours, cleaning up after yourself (pack-it-in, pack-it-out), conserving fuel/wood, being considerate in shared spaces, and following staff instructions (if applicable).
- Check Conditions Before You Go: Check trail conditions and weather forecasts again right before your trip. Be prepared to alter plans if necessary.
What to Pack for Hut to Hut Hiking (Lighter is Better!)
Your pack will be lighter than for backpacking, but you still need essentials. Tailor your list based on whether the huts are full-service or self-service.
- Navigation: Map, compass, GPS/phone app (with power bank).
- Sun Protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat.
- Insulation: Extra layers (puffy jacket, fleece – adjust for season).
- Illumination: Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries.
- First-Aid Supplies: Comprehensive kit.
- Repair Kit: Multi-tool, duct tape, safety pins.
- Nutrition: Enough food for lunches and snacks between huts. For self-service huts, pack all your breakfasts, dinners, and hot drinks.
- Hydration: Water bottles or hydration reservoir, water treatment method (filter, tablets, or plan to boil).
- Shelter (Minimal): Emergency bivy or blanket (even with huts, good backup).
- Sleeping Gear:
- Self-Service: Sleeping bag appropriate for potential indoor hut temperatures (often still cool). Consider an inflatable pillow.
- Full-Service: Usually only need a sleeping bag liner or sleep sack. Check specific hut policy.
- Clothing: Hiking clothes (non-cotton), rain gear (jacket & pants), extra socks, camp clothes (something dry & comfy for the hut), hut footwear (slippers, Crocs – optional but nice).
- Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, medications, small towel (optional).
- Other Essentials: Trekking poles (highly recommended), earplugs, small backpack for day hikes from the hut (optional), cash (for incidentals if applicable), ID.
- Items to Likely Leave Behind: Tent, sleeping pad (check hut amenities!), stove/fuel/cookware (check hut amenities!), large camp chair.
Hut to hut hiking offers a fantastic way to experience multi-day journeys in the backcountry with a lighter pack and added comfort. While options in the U.S. are more limited than abroad, the systems available provide access to some of the country’s most spectacular mountain landscapes. Plan carefully, pack smart, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
FAQ: Hut to Hut Hiking in the US
Q1: Is hut to hut hiking easier than backpacking?
A: Physically, carrying a lighter pack often makes the hiking itself easier or allows for greater daily mileage. However, hut hiking requires more logistical planning (reservations), can be less flexible, and still often involves challenging terrain and weather. It’s different, not necessarily “easier” overall.
Q2: Do I need a sleeping bag for hut hiking?
A: It depends entirely on the hut system.
* Self-Service Huts (like 10th Mtn Division, San Juan Huts): YES, absolutely. You need your own sleeping bag rated appropriately.
* Full-Service Huts (like AMC summer huts): Typically NO. They usually provide mattresses, pillows, and blankets. A sleeping bag liner is often recommended or required for hygiene. Always confirm the specific policy when booking.
Q3: Can families do hut to hut hiking?
A: Yes, many families enjoy hut hiking! It can be a great way to introduce kids to multi-day trips without overwhelming them with heavy packs. Choose routes with shorter daily distances and less elevation gain. Some huts (like some AMC locations) are more family-friendly than others. Check age restrictions or recommendations for specific huts.
Q4: How far in advance do I really need to book US huts?
A: For popular systems like the AMC huts or prime winter weekends at 10th Mountain Division huts, booking 6 months to a year (or even more for AMC members) in advance is often necessary. Reservations typically open on specific dates and fill within hours or even minutes for high-demand spots. Check the specific hut association’s website for exact booking windows.
Q5: Are there hut to hut hiking options on the West Coast besides Colorado/Utah?
A: Dedicated linear hut-to-hut systems like those in CO or NH are less common on the immediate West Coast. However, options exist like the Sierra Club lodges in California (requires booking individual lodges), some rentable Forest Service cabins or lookouts in Washington and Oregon accessible by trail, or piecing together trips using National Park lodges like Sperry Chalet in Glacier NP (when operational). It often requires more research and booking individual components rather than a single system traverse.