Mount Tahoma Trails & Huts | Visit Rainier

Mount Tahoma Trails Association

The Copper Creek Hut is available for reservations.

Update from MTTA 2/4/22

  • Copper Creek Hut is open for overnight use only to members of the same party on limited dates (please carefully review all terms, conditions and restrictions).  Reservations for several available dates are currently open.
  • Trails are open for public use. Trails are groomed and access roads are plowed as needed.
  • Copper Creek Hut is open for overnight use only to members of the same party on limited dates (please carefully review all terms, conditions and restrictions).  Reservations for several available dates are currently open.
  • All South District huts remain closed to public access (applies to both day and overnight use). 
  • Bathrooms remain open. Ski patrol will clean bathrooms weekly 
  • Office closed to public access. 
  • Limited ski patrol may be present on the trails. Please exercise increased caution and carry the 10 Essentials with you at all times. 

 

The Mount Tahoma Trails Association operates and manages the largest no-fee Hut-to-Hut Trail System in North America for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Approximately 50 miles of trails, 20 miles of which are groomed, provide safe and easy access to 3 ski huts and a yurt. Trails vary from novice to expert, are well-signed and are patrolled by an all-volunteer ski patrol. Enjoy the trek for a day or overnight destination in the Ashford area. The trail system is accessed by two Washington State Sno-Parks and although plowed regularly, snow tires and chains may be needed to access the trailheads.

Both North and Southside districts are open each winter for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Combining beginner-friendly hut access with miles of groomed and backcountry trails, explore the expanded North District. Copper Creek Hut is an excellent 4-mile day or overnight destination trip and a popular route for families with young children. From the Copper Creek Hut, nearby trails serve all levels of trekkers; from the short “ridge view” loop to longer trips to Glacier Vista and the Puyallup Lookout Tower. For world-class views of Mt. Rainier, take the Rainier Vista Trail above Copper Hut. To access the North District, turn right off Highway 706, one mile west of Ashford onto Forest Service 92 Road.

The south district offers unmatched views of Mount Rainier, High Rock, Griffin Mountain, and all of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, even though you’re seldom above 4500 feet. Two huts and a yurt are positioned within the South District offering rest and quiet seclusion. Sitting on a picturesque, windswept bluff, visit the well-appointed High Hut for the day or for the night. Another option, find quiet seclusion at the Yurt, located six miles from the same Sno-Park. Snow Bowl Hut sleeps ten and offers expansive views from the deck. Keep in mind, overnight reservations are required.

The huts

Each hut is well-equipped with solar electric lights, propane fireplaces, and full kitchen facilities. Water is provided. Guests should bring a sleeping bag, food, and clothes to stay overnight.

Snow Bowl Hut rests atop a large, open backcountry bowl featuring great cross country skiing outside the front door. The hut sleeps 10 overnight guests. The approach to the hut is intermediate and is located four miles from the South District sno-park.

High Hut is perched on a scenic ridge offering panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains. The hut sleeps 8 overnight guests. The approach to the hut is intermediate and is located 4 miles from the South District snow-park.

The Yurt is nestled in the forest and is the most remote hut on the trail system. The yurt sleeps 6 overnight guests. The approach is intermediate to expert due to the distance. It is located six miles from the South District snow-park.

Copper Creek Hut is the most accessible and most popular hut. The very gradual ascent in is beginner-friendly and families with small children frequently visit the hut. The hut sleeps 14 overnight guests. It is located in the North District off the 92 Road.

In the summer

In summer, the landscape shifts from a skier’s paradise to a mountain biker and hiker’s playground. These trails gradually wind through the ridges and valleys of the South Cascades range offering stunning views of its three volcanoes: Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. Trails vary from novice to expert and are well marked. Spend several nights at a hut; enjoy the clean mountain air; take in the extraordinary, above-the-cloud sunsets. There are no parking fees or passes required for summer day visits.

When you go

  • Dogs are allowed on select trails but not in the warming huts.

Overnight use is by permit only. Purchase permits Online 

  • MTTA, PO Box 206, Ashford, WA 98304 or call (360) 569-2451

Parking requires a Sno-Park permit.