Snowshoe or Ski to Lower Montgomery Pass Yurt

The Lower Montgomery Pass Yurt is a part of the Never Summer Nordic yurt system and can be reserved through their website here. In the summer it can be accessed via a 4WD road but in the winter the road closes and you can either ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile the 2.8 miles to the yurt. 

The trek begins at the Montgomery Pass winter parking lot which is located on the right side of Jackson County Road 41, 5 miles from the park entrance. In order to park overnight here you will need to pick up a $7 pass for the Colorado State Forest State Park from the Moose Visitor Center on Highway 14. 

Once you are parked and geared up, set out on the trail, which is just a snowed over Bockman Road. The trail is well-traveled by snowmobiles in the winter so following it shouldn't be a problem. There are also signs that point you towards the Montgomery Pass yurts along the way. If you would like to use a GPS to access the yurt the coordinates are: 40 33'18.81"N; 105 57'01.19"W. 

The yurt is very well maintained and stocked. It has a kitchen, cots, wood burning stove, pots for boiling water, plenty of firewood, and an outhouse stocked with toilet paper.  

The yurt can also act as a basecamp for backcountry skiing further up near Montgomery Pass, however there is avalanche risk in that area. 

This spot is great for stargazing so make sure to head to the porch after dark!