Willamette Pass nordic huts.

A network of shelters. .

Include text here. In the early 1980s the U.S. forest service built or reconstructed a network of shelters to serve the growing nordic skiing community that accessed the backcountry trails of the Willamette pass area.

The Gold lake snowpark is the center of the nordic network of shelters and trails. There is a volunteer ski patrol that operates from a cabin located at the snowpark. The shelters are all equipped with wood stoves, lofts and or platforms for sleeping. They are all stocked with a splitting maul, firewood, paper, and matches.

The patrol cabin offers guest services such as parking and wilderness permits, weather condition information, a warming room with complimentary warm beverages. The cabin also is a first aid station and dispatch for the ski patrol.

The shelters are established at varying distances. There are three within two and a half miles of the patrol cabin.

Westview shelter a mere mile south of the cabin sits on a plateau at the base of westview butte. It is part of a network of trails called the westview loops. The trail system takes in the pacific crest trail from Willamette pass to Pengra pass an area of three by one and half miles square with outstanding views of glacially gouged Odell lake.

The Bechtel shelter is located two and a half of miles southwest of the patrol cabin. It is at the north boundary of the Diamond peak wilderness. It offers access to the pacific crest trail as it passes through the wilderness touching many lakes as it crosses over the shoulder of Diamond peak.

The Gold lake shelter is located a mile and a half north of the patrol cabin. It sits along the shore of Gold Lake. It offers access to the Marylin lakes, Gold lake, Maiden Peak and Fuji Mountain trail system.

These three shelters are the most popular with families, scouts, and the beginning to intermediate nordic skier. The shelters offer refuge in an outdoor setting without the huge commitment of time and energy.

There are three other shelters that are located in more remote locations. These three shelters require advanced ski skills to negotiate the terrain and a half a day to a whole day to reach them.

The Fuji shelter is located five miles northwest of the patrol cabin. It sits on a forested plateau above the salt creek canyon at the south base of Fuji Mountain. The area around the shelter offers great views of Diamond Peak and Mt Yoran. There are trails that weave through the lake studded plateau on their way to the summit of Fuji mountain, Mt Ray, and on over to spectacular Waldo Lake..

The Maiden peak shelter is located six miles to the northwest of the patrol cabin. The shelter is located along the Pacific crest trail on the western base of Maiden Peak. The route into this shelter ties in the rosary lakes and tait trails loop system. The Willamette pass ski area occupies most of the territory southwest of the shelter. The top of the lifts are great access to The maiden peak area. The maiden shelter is the only one in the network that is fully enclosed. It is an eight-sided octagon with a front door and windows. It has solar panels to run interior lights and it sleeps up to fifteen people.

The South Waldo shelter is ten miles north of the patrol cabin. It is very remote and is only recommended to those who have advanced backcountry skills. It is not uncommon to be brought partway in by snowmobile. Waldo Lake is one of the largest lakes in Oregon and is completely isolated in the winter and early spring months. It is one of the three purest lakes in the world standing in company with Oregon's own Crater lake and Russia's lake Baikal. The area is accessed by the waldo road and is shared with snowmobiles.

All six shelters are on a first come first serve basis. It is encouraged to share the facilities with all who come to visit. it is not uncommon to see tents sprout up around the shelters. The shelters are open to the public year-round. The patrol cabin and shelters are stocked, manned and maintained only during the winter months.

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