The nitty gritty
Ski in, ski out
The Rendezvous Trail system is groomed and maintained by Methow Trails, a local non-profit. Plan on purchasing required trail passes online or in-person before heading out to the trailhead. The master groomers keep our trails and hut access ship-shape all winter long!
The ski in to the huts varies in difficulty, but for the novice-intermediate skier, expect to spend anywhere from 2 - 4+ hours skiing into your hut. The general terrain is up, up, up on your way in, and a much quicker downhill ski on your way out.
Skiing to your hut is part of the experience! In the event of an unexpected injury before your trip, we may be able to provide a ride for 1 rider, if a freight-haul is scheduled. An extra fee will be charged, as adding a rider can cause shifts to the freight schedule.
Begin at Cub Creek Trailhead:
-Easiest trailhead to access most huts
-Approx. 8 miles from downtown Winthrop
-(New for 2022-23) Plan to carpool as parking is now limited
-Gear haul drop is ONLY at Cub Creek Trailhead at 10am
Begin at Gunn Ranch Trailhead:
-Approx. 12 miles from Cub Creek Trailhead, 6 miles from Winthrop
-Only 1 car per party as parking is extremely limited
-Must drop gear at Cub Creek if freight haul is scheduled
Fatbiking and Snowshoeing:
-Fatbikes allowed from Gunn Ranch to Grizzly Hut.
-Snowshoes (no foot traffic) allowed from Cub Creek to Heifer Hut.
-Check the maps to be sure you don’t venture onto ski-only trails
Dogs:
-The Rendezvous Trail system, for the most part, is dog friendly! Wag, wag, wag.
-No dogs, however, are allowed at Gardner and Cassal Huts, as the access trails to those huts do not permit dogs.
-Your dog must have a ski pass, be on a leash or under voice control.
Check out the Rendezvous Trail System map for more info on distances and allowed activities!
Day-use
Traditionally, the Rendezvous Huts has supported a community of day-users in addition to overnight guests. This fosters a sense of community among skiers—locals and visitors alike. We encourage friendly interactions and welcoming spaces.
Ultimately, it is up to the reservation holders to decide if they want to invite day-users into the hut. Covid and an increase in both overnight and day skiers in the Rendezvous can make what might feel to some harmless chit-chat into an overwhelming situation.
Please ask permission from the hut guests before entering a hut you have not reserved.
Check in, check out
All huts are self check-in, self check-out.
Check-in:
-12pm arrival or later at the hut. 10am at the trailhead if you have a freight haul (see below for more info).
-No need to announce your arrival to anyone but the crisp, mountain air.
- Speaking of hut rules, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SKIS IN THE TRAIL OUTSIDE THE HUT. The amazing groomers of Methow Trails groom at night, in the dark, right up to the front door of your hut. If your skis are left in the trail, they may not be seen and will get crunched. Make sure your skis and any other gear is well off the trail and out of the way of the groomer.
Speaking of groomers, leaving a midnight snack or treat is a great way to make our valley night owls very happy.
Check-out:
-11am check out.
-Please remember to wash your dishes! Leaving dirty dishes means your freight haul, or the freight haul for another group of guests, may be significantly delayed in arriving at the trailhead. A fee will be charged if dishes are left unwashed.
At the hut
Everything you need to know about your stay.
Sleeping
-All huts have 5 double mattresses and can accommodate up to 10 people, just depends on how cozy you want to be with those friends of yours. Typically, groups max out at 8 folks.
-In each hut, there is a bunk bed downstairs and 3 mattresses in the loft
-Plan to bring your own sleeping bag/bedding/pillows
Eating
-All huts have a stove with oven (propane provided)
-All pots, pans, dishes, knives and utensils provided
-Clean dishtowels, paper towels, matches, soap, sponges and trash bags provided
-There are three tubs for washing dishes & a large pot for snowmelt. If it’s a low snow year, bring extra water for washing up.
-Bring your own meals! Do you enjoy cooking while you rough it, planning ahead and popping that pre-made casserole in the oven or just boiling water for freeze-dried food? The hut kitchens can accommodate any style of cooking in the woods.
Hut life
-Huts are heated with a cozy wood stove. Firewood is provided, along with an axe to chop up that kindling. Outdoor fires are fine, but please find your own firewood for those!
-All huts have both propane lighting and solar lighting systems. Bring a headlamp for when the lights are out.
-Each hut has a selection of board games, puzzles and cards.
When nature calls…
…hit up the outhouse. Toilet paper is provided. Bring that headlamp!
Freight Haul Service
Adding a freight haul to your reservation just makes hut life more fun.
Freight Haul details:
-$95 each way gets all your gear, food, water and extra skis in and out of your hut. A 7 gallon jug of water is provided with your haul.
-Strict 10am drop-off time at Cub Creek Trailhead ONLY. Sorry, we don’t have snow mobile access to Gunn Ranch.
-If you are late, a fee will be added to cover extra employee/gas cost. If you know in advance you cannot make it by 10am, please email us directly to set up a late haul. If you are running late the day of, text: 509-429-3644.
-On your way out, gear must be ready for pick-up at the hut no later than 10:30am. The ski down is quick, sometimes quicker than we can get your gear down, so feel free to stay at the hut until checkout at 11am.
-We aim to have your gear at Cub Creek by noon at the latest, though conditions and unforeseen issues can cause delays. Keep this in mind if you are planning a tight timeline to return home.
-How much stuff to bring? A typical 4 person group might have 1 cooler, 1 tote of dry goods, extra water, 1 duffle per person. Double that for a group of 8. We can accommodate extra skis and sleds.
-No cardboard boxes or paper bags for food, they dissolve in snow. Bags and totes should have a zipper or a lid. Waterproof bags are a bonus! We try hard to keep your gear dry, but ice melts, clouds rain, snow sprays off the back of the snowmobile…be prepared for a little dampness.
Need Rentals?
Multiple rental options are available from Winthrop to Mazama. Just be sure you allow enough time to pick up rentals before your 10am freight haul.
Winthrop:
Winthrop Mountain Sports
Methow Cycle & Sport
Cascades Outdoor Store
Mazama
Pricing
2023-2024 Season Pricing
All Huts are exclusive use & sleep up to 10 guests
Sun-Thurs Rate: $195/night
Fri-Sat Rate: $220/night
Holidays: $250/night *Please note: Holidays include the weekend and/or weeks surrounding the holiday. Please see available dates on our reservations page for specific pricing.
