This Cute Cabin at Gondola Village in Holy Cross City is all about adventure. We believe this is the highest Airbnb in the world (if you don’t, let us know a higher one!). We built this little hut as basecamp for exploring the great outdoors. It’s our newest hut, with amazing views.
Featured in 303, Travel & Leisure, Reclaimed on Discovery. Perfect alternative to 10th huts. Accommodates 2 inside on a double bed, plus 1 more in a pinch (on floor mattress).
The space
Welcome to Gondola Village at Holy Cross. Guests frequently comment that this is the most unique and special Airbnb they have stayed at, and we hope you will find the same-- it is truly one of a kind mountain destination. This new hut is similarly equipped to European mountain huts. We provide the bed and you bring yourself, clothes, hiking gear, food, and snacks. Remember to get an early start and enjoy the scenery-- this is not a great place to stay "just for a night" on a trip, unless you want to do the hike as well :) In winter, if the mileage does not make this clear, the trip is recommended for those with prior winter camping and/or hut trip experience.
We are located at 11,700 feet and accessible by ~ 2.5 - 4 miles hiking or mountain biking in summer / fall, ~ 10.5 - 11 backcountry skiing or snowmobiling in winter and spring, or heavily modified jeeps with 35" tires, winch, lockers, and armor or similar spec. Note that we are inaccessible to most passenger vehicles.
The hike is 2.5 - 4 mile hike in (or 11 in winter when the 703 road is closed; Nov 21-May 21). The hike in is part of the journey, we are located just outside of one of Colorado's most popular wilderness areas (Holy Cross Wilderness), near the Fancy Pass -- Missouri Lakes backpacking loop, in the heart of ski country.
Pack light, as we have plenty of books, games, and even a guitar for you to enjoy.
Please plan on bringing your own sleeping bag liner / hut sack and pillow cases, or light sleeping bag.
This is a wilderness destination, so while we provide some creature comforts, you can expect some mud, dirt, bugs, and other wilderness elements on your trip. We are a Leave No Trace property; if you aren't familiar with Leave No Trace, please research in advance so there are no surprises. Our toilet is an NRS style rafting toilet that uses WAG bags. Our shower is an outdoor solar-heated shower, or you can lightly heat water on the stove.
Winter access is longer and is tough by snowshoe though possible. Please note that we do not provide snowshoes, snowmobiles, or skis for guest use.
If you’re looking at this as a cheap lodging choice to ski Aspen / Copper / Vail / Beaver Creek / Breckenridge, we ask you look elsewhere. If you want to add a hut trip onto a ski weekend, this is a good option, but not an easy drive to ski areas. We’re located close to both Front Range cities and the Western Slope, for those looking for a hut trip a few hours or from major cities, instead of an all-day drive to the San Juans.
Our nightly fee is all-inclusive, with no extra cleaning fee, but we need your help to keep access available to the public. Please clean up after yourself and leave the hut clearner than you found it.
Please remember food, water, personal clothing, and emergency gear. Most folks use 25-65 liter packs. Pots and pans and utensils and bowls and such are available for your use. In winter, as the approach is longer and the snow can be deep, you may want to carry more standard hut trip gear in case you need to spend unexpected time outside on your approach. In terms of bath, the toilet enclosure (using WAG bags for now) and a solar shower are available for your use.
There is a small fireplace inside the cabin (please bring 6" wood / logs for your use) and there is a fire pit/ring outside (please bring your own wood and be conservative with fire wood, its a scarce resource up high). Check local fire bans (Eagle County and White River National Forest) before burning!
Expect to have no cell service along the way so if you're using your phone for navigation, we would suggest downloading the area map to your phone before taking off. onX is great for this. A printed topographic map is an excellent item for your pack as well.
There are several different routes you can take when getting to Gondola Village, which you will pass in this order as you go along the 703/ Homestake road and you'll see outlined in detail further below. Only specially modified jeeps or trucks should drive any part of the 759 road:
Options:
1. EASIEST ROUTE: Hike in from intersection of 727 and 759 (2.5 miles and 1250 vertical feet of gain; allow 1.5 - 3+ hours)
2. Hike in from Fancy Pass Trailhead (~4.4 miles and 1950 vertical feet of gain, allow 2 - 4+ hours)
Summer Directions:
1. Off highway 24, take Homestead Reservoir Road (road 703).
2. Drive about 7.8 miles and take a right onto Missouri Creek Road (road 704). Note: before Missouri Creek Road, your GPS may try to take you to the right up Holy Cross City Road (road 759). Unless you have a high clearance, off-road vehicle, we would not turn here. However, you can hike in from near this point. Please check signs regarding current parking restrictions if you choose this option - overnight parking is not always possible off 703.
3. Drive 2.2 miles and take a right on Fancy Creek Road (road 727). Note: you'll pass Fancy Pass Trailhead which is another hiking route you can take to the cabin (see route 2 above)
4. Drive 1.8 miles (or as far as your car can go; 8" or more clearance recommended even though road has been mostly repaired) and you'll reach an opening where you can park your vehicle. To make it all the way, Tacoma / 4runner, Suburban, or similar AWD / 4WD SUV or Truck recommended.
5. Head up the 759 jeep road to Holy Cross City and onto the cabin. Further directions, lock code, and GPS coordinates provided at booking.
In Winter (Nov 20 - May 20, approx, check with USFS website or Minturn ranger station for exact): Plan on the road being unplowed just off of HWY 24, so plan on 7.5 + miles flat skinning / snowmobiling / snowshoeing on the 703 road and then 4 miles up on the Road 759 (right turn off of 703) over snow by snowmobile, snowshoes, touring skis, etc.
Guest access
The whole lower cabin, plus area ~30 feet in all directions of cabin is open for guest access. Be careful of rocks, trees, and other hazards-- all use is at your own risk by making a reservation. Everything you need should be in your pack or in the cabin.
You'll have access to our firepit area between the two cabins, as well as to our gondola dining pod and reading nook, and our outdoor shower + bathroom (please bring your own WAG bags for the NRS rafting toilet).
Be sure to bring a good topo map and explore all the awesome trails.
We hope you enjoy some time without devices!
Leave No Trace practices and respect for the natural environment are required to allow us to keep our property open to awesome guests.
Pets are not allowed.
Other things to note
Please note the access options above-- generally in summer or fall the shortest option is to walk up the Road 759 from the 727/759 intersection. It is also possible (and beautiful) to walk up to Fancy Lake from the Missouri Lakes/ Fancy Pass Trailhead and into Holy Cross City that way, or via Cross Creek or Fall Creek works as well (from Minturn area trailheads like Half Moon).
If you wish to drive almost all the way to the hut, a specially built off-road vehicle (jeep, truck, 37" tires, winch, lockers, body armor) is needed for road access via Road 759 if that is your preferred transport type.
Please refer to a SkyTerrain Summit/ Vail map, Nat Geo Holy Cross Wilderness or Reudi Reservoir or similar map and plan your adventure accordingly. Gps coordinates provided at booking.
At all times of year, it is not recommended to hike at night, so please plan with that in mind. In winter it can take 10+ hours to reach the hut from parking, and in summer 2+.
If you are looking to host an event (elopement, small wedding, small birthday gathering) or engage in commercial photography or videography (including product shoots or any content intended to produce income), you will need to contact us beforehand to discuss your plans and allowable uses of the property. We've hosted some amazing events and photoshoots and love to provide a venue for your creative dreams when we can.
Suggested Packing List for hut trips (summer/fall; in winter/spring add more warm layers and winter essentials like over-snow travel equipment plus avalanche rescue equipment):
Warm & outer clothing (temps near freezing can be had in all seasons): down or synthetic jacket, fleece jacket and pants, wool or synthetic socks, spare socks, waterproof hiking boots, long underwear, hiking or climbing pants, wool or synthetic shirts, wool or synthetic undergarments, comfortable set of clothes for camp
Accessories: warm gloves, warm hat, baseball hat, sunglasses, rain gear, camp shoes or sandals
Sleep gear: pajamas, sleep sack or light sleeping bag
Personal gear: any cooking utensils or serving dishes required for special dishes (we have mugs / cups / bowls / plates / pots / cast iron fry pans/ dutch oven / utensils at the cabin), snacks, drinking water (we recommend 2 liters per person minimum), trash bags, journal, camera, cell phone, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine / personal care products. It's a long ways to the nearest store :)
Emergency essentials: 10 essentials including headlamp with replacement batteries, topo map, firestarter, emergency shelter, snacks, water/ water purification, personal camp stove and fuel (recommended in winter for safety)
In winter (Nov 20 - May 20, approx, check USFS website for exact) plan on the road being unplowed about 1/4 mile off HWY 24, so plan on 7-7.5 miles flat (depending on where you can park) on the 703 road and then 3.5-4 miles up (depending on what quick shortcuts you are familiar with) on the Road 759 (right turn off of 703) over snow by snowmobile, snowshoes, touring skis then. We do our best to keep a skin/ snowshoe track up maintained but not always possible after new snow. Parking is often available at start of 703 road a little before bridge, or off of 24. You'll want AWD or 4WD and good tires in winter.
Also, don't be freaked out, but there are bears and cats in the area; one of the benefits of a hard-sided cabin... we border wilderness, after all.
Heating:
Guests must be familiar with starting and maintaining a wood stove to stay in late fall, winter, and spring (or other times of year if heating is desired). By booking, guests warrant that someone in their group has the appropriate skills to use wood stove for heat. It can get very cold.
Avalanche safety policy: if conditions from CAIC for the Vail / Northern Sawatch zone warrant an “extreme” (black) rating on the day you start your trip or are forecast for the second day, you probably shouldn’t have be driving US-24, and we will happily refund your stay. If conditions warrant a “high” (red) rating, we will allow you to rebook your stay to another available date if you are not comfortable making the trip (rate differences may apply for certain dates).
