Three miles south of Breckenridge in the Crystal Lakes drainage, Francie's Cabin can only be reached the old way — on skis, snowshoes or hiking boots. Built in 1994, the two-story timber hut has hosted roughly 75,000 guests since opening, making it the most visited backcountry hut in Colorado.

The cabin is one of five shelters stewarded by the Summit Huts Association, a Summit County 501(c)(3) founded in 1987 to build non-motorized backcountry lodging. It carries a local story too: the hut memorializes Frances Lockwood Bailey, a Breckenridge resident who died in a 1989 plane crash, and recent summer renovations have extended its working life for the next generation of skiers.

Inside, groups bunk dormitory-style and share a full communal kitchen, composting toilets and — the great equalizer after a day breaking trail — a wood-fired sauna.