Snow Bowl Hut Winter
Title: Bruni’s Snow Bowl Hut
Permit: Snow Park Pass
Length: 6.1 Miles Roundtrip
Elevation: 1250 ft, highest point 4250 ft
Difficulty: Hard
Description:
Named for Brunhilde Wislicenus (a devoted mountaineer and skier who helped rebuild the Snow Bowl Hut after a 2007 fire) this alpine hut is a part of a 3 hut system (including High Hut and The Yurt) that make a great trekking or mountain biking (snowshoeing or ski touring in the winter) multi-day trip. The trail begins as a road and passes by Lower Yurt Trail at 0.9 miles, reaching a low saddle at 1.33 miles. Follow the trail to the left, catching glimpses of Rainier as the trail begins to climb again for about 0.8 miles before peaking beneath a line of prayer flags strung above the trail. Stay on the trail until it hits the road again, and in another 2.5 miles you’ll hit the hut! From here, you can see Rainier, Adams, St. Helens and even the Olympic Mountains on a clear day. If you choose to stay the night, there are great day hikes to Griffin Mountain and Anderson lake. Book your stay at www.skimtta.com.
Current Conditions:
Due to Covid-19, overnight stays are not available at any of the huts in the snow bowl system. The trail and parking lot are open though. Steep and muddy forest roads make it highly advisable to have tire chains or AWD/4WD. The trail system is currently operating out of the Upper Sno-Park and the snow pack at the trailhead is at 3 inches, deepening to several feet at the huts. The trail is ski-able, especially about a half mile out of the parking lot and higher; however, the trail is currently best enjoyed by snow shoe. Incoming Winter weather this week bring the hope of a deeper base, but also the threat of worse road conditions. Don’t forget tire chains!
Directions/ Road Conditions:
From Ashford, drive west on SR 706 for about a mile, turning left onto DNR Road 1 right before the Baptist Church on the left. Follow Road 1 6 miles to the Sno-Park lower parking lot, where you can find toilet facilities to use before your hike.
