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An overnight use permit is required to spend the night in any of the MTTA huts. To receive a permit, follow our Reservations Process, check Hut Availability and fill out a Hut Reservation Form. Permits are not required for day use of the huts.
Hut reservations are now available for both winter and summer seasons. Winter season is typically from December 1st through April 30th. The rest of the year is considered our summer season. The Reservations Process specifies requirements for both winter and summer hut usage.
Advanced reservations are only available at our Annual Fall Gala and only for the upcoming winter season. All other reservation requests are valid for the current season only.
Hut berth reservations are available on a first come, first served basis. Reservations for a particular hut and date will be granted to the first received application that is complete and that contains applicable fees. Hut berths are as follows:
| Hut | # Berths |
|---|---|
| Snow Bowl | 10 |
| High Hut | 8 |
| The Yurt | 6 |
| Copper Creek | 14 |
Huts will be filled to capacity with other parties if you do not reserve all available berths. In each hut, additional berths are set aside for ski patrol and/or hut manager use only.
Check availability using our new On-Line Hut Availability system. This is a prototype, so please contact us and let us know how it works for you.
During the winter season, choose several dates (and possibly huts) that might work for you, as winter hut reservations are in high demand. Smaller parties and those staying during the week will find it easier to get reservations. It is sometimes easier to get reservations at the Yurt. To pick a hut, checkout our huts page.
Summer reservations are typically easier to get; and are available in-person at Whittaker Mountaineering near the center of Ashford between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Summer reseration permits may also be requested by mailing in a completed reservation form at least 2 weeks prior to your trip.
Your hut stay is limited to three consecutive days. Your party size is limited by hut berth availabilty.
If the dates/huts you want are not available, please try again later as we occasionally get cancellations.
For your best shot at winter hut reservations on weekends and holidays, plan on attending our Annual Fall Gala in November. Names of attendees are drawn throughout this event. Those chosen have their choice of remaining huts and dates. Learn more about our Fall Gala event.
Use one of the following methods to receive and complete a hut reservation application:
At this time, we do not support reservation applications on-line or over the phone.
There is no charge to stay in the huts but the following deposits and non-refundable permit processing fees are required.
| Deposit | Friday - Sunday nights: | $25 / person / night |
| Monday - Thursday nights: | $10 / person / night | |
| Permit Processing Fee (automatically deducted from your deposit refund) | $10 / person / night | |
Return of your deposit is subject to the hut usage rules described below. You must pay with cash or a single check/money order. Your check will be deposited.
Please donate part of your deposit!
The Mt. Tahoma Trails Association is non-profit organization operated entirely by volunteers. We have no trail usage fees; but there are operating costs.
The permit processing fee pays only for the reservations program; it does not pay for hut propane, grooming equipment fuel, outhouse pumping, cleaning supplies, hut maintenance, and many other necessary items.
We depend on donations to cover these operational expenses and sustain this trail system.
Please donate a part of your deposit refund. Just indicate a percentage or an amount on your reservation form. Hut users may also place donations in the Hut Drop Box. We greatly appreciate your support!
If the hut(s) and night(s) you requested are available, confirmation will be provided to you along with your overnight use permit, our hut guidelines and a trail brochure.
If the nights requested are not available, your check or money order will be returned along with a new hut reservation form. You are encouraged to try again.
Everyone in the hut between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. must have a valid overnight use permit issued by the Mount Tahoma Trails Association in their possession. Anyone without a valid permit is subject to a criminal trespass citation issued by the Dept. of Natural Resources. Take care not to lose your permit. There is a $40 charge for a replacement permit. Compliance will be checked by ski patrol staff in the winter season and may be checked by Dept. of Natural Resource personnel during the summer.
Ensure all members of your party are present -- for each no-show in your party, you will forfeit their full deposit for each night they are absent. Compliance will be checked by ski patrol staff in the winter season and may be checked by Dept. of Natural Resource personnel during the summer. With a $0 charge for staying in in the huts, this policy is necessary to minimize no-shows and maximize hut usage. If you know someone in your party will be absent in advance, we encourage you to enlist others to take their place. You may also call our office and inquire if there is a waiting list for your reserved night(s).
Never burn any paper, kitchen waste or any other material in the propane heating stoves. This will damage the stoves. Anyone doing so will forfeit their full deposit.
The propane heater thermostats must be turned all the way down prior to leaving the hut on the last day of your visit. Leaving the thermostat on can waste a significant amount of propane; particularly when it is left on for an entire week. If your party leaves the thermostat turned up, $40 will be withheld from your reservation deposit.
No animals are allowed in any of the huts. Parties bringing animals into huts risk losing their full deposit.
Unauthorized vehicles are prohibited in our backcountry. Access is more restricted in the summer. From mid-April through mid-December, our lower backcountry access gates are closed and locked. During the winter season, these gates are open and public vehicles are allowed up to the currently open Sno-Park.
For parking, a valid Washington State Sno-Park permit is required from December 1st through May 1st. During the rest of the year, parking permits are not required for the South District (High Hut, Snow Bowl Hut and the Yurt), but a valid Rainier Timber Access Permit is required for the North District (Copper Creek Hut). Vehicles are checked frequently by law enforcement and ski patrol personnel. Those without a valid Sno-Park or Rainier Timber Access permit are subject to citation. Sno-Park permits are available at many most outdoor stores, REI, the Elbe Mall and the Ashford Valley Grocery.
Before you leave the hut on the last day of your stay, you must place your hut reservation permit in the hut drop box. This confirms you stayed at the hut. If you don't place the permit in the drop box you will forfeit your hut deposit.
The cost of any missing or damaged items will be deducted from your deposit.
During the summer, the following additional rules apply:
After your hut stay has been confirmed, your deposit, less the permit processing fee, any donations and any penalties, will be refunded. Please allow 6-8 weeks to process your deposit refund.
Cancellations are accepted in writing and must be postmarked 30 days prior to your first reserved night. Your full deposit will be refunded. The permit processing fee is non-refundable.
Go to our Reservation Form (printable).