Hennessy Backcountry Yurt

Winter

The Hennessy yurt is the newest yurt in the Idaho City system and  is designed for avid backcountry skiers and snowshoers. The Hennessy yurt replaces the Whispering Pines yurt that was burned to the ground during the 2015 Pioneer fire. The new yurt is located on a high, unburned knob with great views. From the large yurt deck you can see Pilots Peak, Sunset Peak, Trinity Mountains, Steele Mountain, Wolf Mountain and the Crooked River Valley. At an elevation of 5,679 in feet, there will be good snow for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing from December to late April.

Because of the recent burn near the yurt there are lots of Telemark slopes nearby waiting for first descents. There are good ski slopes offering all directional aspects ranging from north slope powder to south facing corn. Access to the yurt is from the Gold Fork Park N’ Ski parking lot located on Highway 21 about 20 miles north of Idaho City. Once at the Gold Fork Park N’ Ski parking lot (5,243 feet in elevation) walk to the toilet located on the east side of the parking lot and then head up and left up the groomed Gold Fork Loop trail. Ski or snowshoe about 1.3 miles on the groomed Gold Fork trail to the intersection of the Lodge Pole Trail/Gold Fork trail. At this point you should see a 2-by-2 foot, reflectorized yellow sign on a 4-by-4 inch wood post. From the large yellow sign turn left and immediately cross the creek bed and follow the yellow reflectorized reassurance tree blazes up the hill on a ungroomed trail. You now will follow the yellow tree blazes for seven-tenths of a mile to the yurt. This section of the access trail is steep (10 percent-plus grade) and winding through an old burn as it climbs 350 feet in elevation. You will find the yellow blazes nailed to burn trees and on round 10-foot-tall treated round posts. The yurt is located on the top of a knob in a grove of large Ponderosa pines.