Sneffels Traverse LbNA #73349

Terrain Difficulty: Difficult (steep slope, 29.3 miles RT)
Recommended Ink: green, blue & brown
Status: alive

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The Sneffels Traverse starts at Last Dollar Pass above Telluride and ends at Ouray, passing through alpine meadows, aspen groves and beneath jagged peaks like Mount Sneffels. Using the San Juan Huts, you can leave your car in Ouray and get a shuttle ride to Last Dollar Pass and spend one night at each of the four other huts, finding this series of 5 boxes along the way back to Ouray. Since the huts provide much of what you need, you only have to pack in food and personal gear, so it is a great way to backpack without all the weight. Box #4 contains the logbook.

Directions:
Go north on US 550 to the San Juan Huts office in Ridgway to meet your shuttle, then follow them back to the Dallas Trailhead on CR 17 and leave your car. Take shuttle to Last Dollar Pass to start the hike.

Box 1: Last Dollar Hut
At Lost Dollar Pass walk on the Alder Creek Trail 45 steps from kiosk to tree on left with blue diamond marker. Go right off trail 11 steps to two trees next to each other. LB is between them under sticks and needles.

Box 2: North Pole Hut
Continue on trail as it joins the Dallas Trail for 8.2 miles to edge of clearing where trail forks. Go left (north) downhill 140 steps to edge of bigger meadow with North Pole Hut visible ahead. Go left off trail 17 steps to lone evergreen tree. LB is at back right base under a rock and needles.

Box 3: Blue Lakes Hut
Continue on Dallas Trail for 7.4 miles to stream crossing and go right on old road up to Blue Lakes Hut on left. Continue 50 yards past hut to end of road and continue on dirt path 20 steps to where it curves right. Go left 5 steps to evergreen tree with LB at back base under a rock and needles.

Box 4: Ridgway Hut
Continue on Dallas Trail for 5 miles to stump on right where trail bends sharply right and Ridgway Hut is in front of you. Go left off trail 7 steps to left side of a group of pine trees, then 10 more steps to a bigger pine tree. LB is at back base under rocks and needles.

Box 5: Burn Hut
Continue on Dallas Trail 4.1 miles to old road on right with sign saying "Road Closed". Go on this road 93 steps, as it bends left and becomes a dirt path, to a double-trunk Aspen tree on left side of trail with view of Burn Hut ahead. Go right off trail 4 steps to another double-trunk Aspen tree with LB at back base under a rock and leaves. The next day continue on Dallas Trail for 4.6 mile to trailhead outside Ouray where your car awaits.