High Hut

High Hut is the highlight of the Mount Tahoma Trail System. From the warmth of a cozy alpine hut, enjoy some of the best views in the southern Cascades.

There’s no sugarcoating it—this trail is steep, and it climbs almost the entire way. But don’t let this discourage you. The views are well worth it, with a picture frame view of Mount Rainier from inside the hut.

Assuming you start from the middle Sno-Park trailhead, start up the road and pass by the upper parking lot after 0.68 miles and the Lower Yurt Trail after 0.88 miles. While hiking be cautious of logging trucks driving on the forest road. Sharing this property with the Department of Natural Resources and the logging company helps provide us access to these amazing huts!

Stay on the main road throughout a series of switchbacks until you reach a low saddle at 1.33 miles from the middle parking lot. Here, the road veers right, where you can shortcut up to High Hut -- while closer, it's a much steeper hike.

Until this point, most views have been blocked by the dense forest. Now, clearings start to reveal peeks of Mounts St. Helens and Adams, which will help keep your mind off the steep climb. At 1.6 miles, turn right and head straight up the ridge. Continue straight just less than one mile to reach the hut.

Sitting on a windblown ridge, High Hut offers outstanding views of the area: Mount Rainier, the Nisqually Valley, Anderson Lake, Puget Sound and the Olympics. Inside the hut are a wood stove, oven, stovetop, and cooking utensils. Warm up by the fire and make a hot drink, then relax and enjoy the views.

Alternate route: High Hut can also be accessed through a longer loop on the Anderson Lake Trail from the lower Sno-Park. Anderson Lake is fed by Lake Creek and at almost 4000 feet elevation, can be home to many mosquitoes during the spring and summer. After a .34 mile hike from the lower lot, turn right onto Anderson Lake Trail and circumnavigate the hill 3.33 miles to Anderson Lake. Stay left on the forest road another .66 miles to the bottom of the ridge. From here, it's about one mile more to be at High Hut.

All huts have a wood stove, oven, stovetop, bunk beds/mattresses, outdoor pit toilet, and cooking utensils. Reservations to stay overnight must be obtained via the Mount Tahoma Trails Association website. Day hike down to Anderson Lake or up to SnowBowl.

WTA Pro Tip: This route is usually marked with mileage markers, but they can be inaccurate. Be sure to bring a map and compass or, better yet, a GPS to help monitor elevation and navigate the ridge to the hut.