Sapphire Col Hut

Quartzite Mountaineering High in Rogers Pass

Located between The Dome and Castor Peaks on the Asulkan ridge, the Sapphire Col Hut gives access to high-quality quartzite mountaineering on the ridges and faces of the the Asulkan Group. Sapphire Col is above the tree line in serious avalanche terrain and requires travel on a crevassed glacier. Getting to the hut requires mountaineering equipment and skills, knowledge of safe glacier travel techniques and whiteout navigation skills.

Sapphire Col Hut is a basic mountaineering shelter. Apart from a toilet system, this metal bivouac shelter is unequipped; with no heat, stove, utensils or sleeping pads. Water is obtained from a nearby melt pond or by melting snow.

At A Glance

Location
General: High in the Asulkan Valley in the Rogers Pass area of Glacier National Park
Map and Grid Reference: 82 N/3 (Mt Wheeler), grid 651732
Hut Elevation: 2,590 m (8,500 ft)
GPS: 
Lat / Long:
Rates
Open: Open all year
Rates: $30 members, $40 others
Access
Quick Description: A 4 km mountaineering route beginning at the Asulkan Cabin.
Approach Description: Printable PDF
How To Book Check Availability

Other Huts in the Area

A mountaineering loop can be done beginning at the Wheeler Hut, then to Asulkan Cabin and ending at Sapphire Col. Note: this route is exposed to ice fall and other hazards. A descent via the Lily Glacier completes the loop. Advanced to Expert backcountry travelers only.

IMPORTANT – During the winter months, you must display a parking pass when accessing the Sapphire Col Hut from the Illecillewaet parking lot. You can obtain a copy of the Glacier Parking Permit – Winter (it will also be attached to your confirmation email when making a booking at this facility).

Hut Bookings Summer 2020

Note that all ACC hut bookings for summer 2020 will be processed under a temporary system due to COVID-19.
Please see our Booking Huts page  for our temporary policies and rates for summer 2020.
Please do not call our office to make hut bookings at this time.

Hut Bookings

  • Reservations arerequired at all ACC huts.
  • ACC membership is not required to book huts. ACC members can book 12 months in advance. Non-members can book 30 days in advance
  • Call 403-678-3200 ext 0 to make a booking. We are open 8:30 am to 8:30 pm daily.
  • Please read our cancellation policies and consider cancellation and/or appropriate emergency medical insurance for your trip (link below).
Read Cancellation Policies
Get Travel/Cancellation Insurance

Rates

Per Night Adult Member $30
Per Night Adult Non-Member $40
Per Night Child Member $15
Per Night Child Non-Member $20
      

About rates

Facilities

4
No mattress pads, bring your own
No stove provided – bring your own stove and fuel
Outhouse
No lights
Unheated
Snow melt
Mattresses not provided

Recreational Opportunities

Summer
  • Mountaineering
  • Alpine Rock Climbing
  • Trail Hiking
Winter
  • Ski Touring
  • Ski Mountaineering

Access

Summer access to Saphire Col follows the route to the Asulkan Cabin and then steeply across rock and the Asulkan Glacier to the col between Dome and Castor Peaks. This route is only recommended for experienced mountaineers. The hut is open all year but is seldom used in winter.

Printable detailed approach description

References and Links

The Hut Experience

Staying in a backcountry hut is a shared, rustic experience. Sleeping, kitchen and living areas are communal, and foam mattresses, cooking and eating utensils are provided. Guests are expected to bring their own sleeping bags, food and personal items.

All of our huts are user-maintained, meaning that the custodial work of keeping the hut clean, chopping firewood and shovelling snow is done by the guests. The ACC provides major service and renovations to all of our huts each year to ensure they are in good repair.