Boreas Pass Section House, Cabin Rental
Open
— Open for winter reservations November through April via Summit Huts Association at summithuts.org. Access by non-motorized travel only; snowmobiles prohibited on Boreas Pass Road during winter season.
About
The Boreas Pass Section House stands at 11,481 feet on the Continental Divide, originally built in 1882 to house railroad workers and their families who maintained the Denver, South Park and Pacific narrow gauge railroad over Boreas Pass. During the mining boom between 1870 and 1920, a town of 150 people existed at this remote location. After the railroad was abandoned in the early 1930s, the building fell into disrepair until the US Forest Service and Colorado Historic Society restored it completely by 1996.
Summit Huts Association began operating the Section House as a winter ski hut in 1997 under special use permit with the Pike National Forest. The cabin sleeps up to 12 people with two sets of single bunks on the main level and two upstairs bedrooms. One bedroom has a double bed and three singles, while the other has a double bed and one single. The fully equipped kitchen includes propane for cooking, utensils, and snow melt capabilities. Heat comes from a wood-burning stove, and the cabin has solar power and composting toilets outside.
Access during winter (November through April) requires a gradual 1,208-foot elevation gain ski or snowshoe up the old railroad grade from the Boreas Pass trailhead. Motorized access including snowmobiles is prohibited on Boreas Pass Road during winter. The exposed above-treeline location means guests should be prepared for harsh weather including high winds and blowing snow. The cabin offers unparalleled access to backcountry skiing terrain and a glimpse into Colorado's mining and railroad history.
Directions
From Fairplay travel north on US Highway 285 to the town of Como. Turn left onto County Road 33 and follow this until you reach Forest Service Road 33, and turn right. Follow this road for about eight miles until you reach the summit of Boreas Pass where the section house is located. Winter access requires skiing or snowshoeing up the Boreas Pass trailhead; motorized vehicles including snowmobiles are prohibited.
Nearby Campgrounds