Gourmet dining in a gorgeous backcountry setting.
The Magic Meadows Yurt is a backcountry yurt located in the Slate River Valley just outside of Crested Butte, Colorado. It provides a truly magical setting for dinners, Sunday brunch, or private events. Diners ski or snowshoe to and from the yurt on an easy groomed trail, surrounded by majestic snowy peaks. We host yurt dinners catered by private chef, Tim Egelhoff, on most Saturday evenings with additional dates during the Christmas season and Sunday brunches most weeks from December through March.
Yurt Dinners
Yurt Dinners
Dinners at the yurt are a fine dining experience like no other. Work up your appetite by skiing or snowshoeing to the yurt. While your eyes feast on gorgeous vistas, get ready to dine on fine foods prepared by private chef Tim Egelhoff. A wide variety of salads, entrees, and desserts are served throughout the season, as well as a selection of fine wines, beers, cocktails by Montanya Rum, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Yurt Brunches
Yurt Brunches
On Sunday mornings ski or snowshoe your way out to the yurt with your whole family to enjoy the Backcountry Bistro at the Magic Meadows Yurt. Pick from our a la carte menu that includes fresh juices, pastries, soup, and an assortment of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Gluten and dairy free options are available.
Directions
The Yurt can only be accessed with skis or snowshoes via a 1 mile groomed trail from the Peanut Lake Trailhead. Please see our trail map for details of how to get there. The trail is mostly level, with a few rolling hills, taking about 30-45 minutes for beginner skiers and 15-20 minutes for skiers with a bit of experience. Our Yurt Dinners include guides that will show you the way to the yurt if you desire. We recommend that new or beginner skiers choose to snowshoe to this event for a more enjoyable return trip. Although we do light the sides of the trail with solar lights, returning in the dark after a great meal can be a bit of a challenge if you’re not familiar with skiing.
Yurt Amenities
The Yurt is owned and managed by CB Nordic, though it sits on Crested Butte Land Trust property. We are grateful to the Land Trust for allowing us to host outings in such a beautiful setting. It is only open in the winter. The Yurt can comfortably seat 40 people and accommodate more if sitting room is not a priority. It is heated by a wood stove and lit by solar powered lights. It has a deck, an outhouse, and a basic kitchen. It is open 7-days a week as a warming hut, though it is not heated outside of special events.
Yurt Trivia - Coming back for round two in 2024!
Winter 2024 dates are TBD
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a yurt dinner include?
Your yurt dinner reservation includes everything you’ll need for a great evening dining under the stars including rental equipment, trail passes, guides, a 5-course meal, beverages, live music, and transportation between the Nordic Center and the trailhead.What is the trip to the yurt like?
The trail to the yurt is one mile each way. The trail is rolling, so we recommend choosing snowshoes for the trip if you have never cross country skied. The trail is marked with solar lights, but it can still be dark out there, so if you have a headlamp we suggest bringing it.What should I wear?
It is best to dress with light layers and/or a wind/waterproof jacket for the journey out to the yurt. It is easy to overheat in a heavy insulated coat. Snow pants are not necessary unless it is snowing really hard. Light wind pants or regular pants will work just fine. Inside the yurt the temperature is comfortable enough that you won’t need to wear your coat. However, having a couple of layers is nice because the wood stove can cause the temperature to fluctuate inside the yurt. It’s nice to bring a small backpack for extra layers, water, and shoes or slippers for the yurt, but it is not necessary.Is there any other way to get to the yurt?
The yurt can only be accessed by skiing or snowshoeing in on Crested Butte Nordic’s trail system. The remote location is part of what makes the experience so special! It is also only accessible in the winter as it is located in a conservation area and there are no trails to it in the summer.Can I bring the kids?
While most of our guests are adults, kids are welcome to join as long as they can ski or snowshoe out the one mile trail to the yurt on their own. We do not have a kid’s menu, so they will receive the same 5 course meal as our adult guests.What if something comes up and I need to cancel my reservation?
Contact [email protected]. All cancellations incur a $25 per person cancellation fee to cover reservation costs that CB Nordic incurs. If you cancel more than 2 weeks prior to your reservation, you will receive a full refund minus the cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 weeks of your reservation, your reservation will be refunded only if we are able to rebook your spots. If you cancel within 48 hours, your reservation will not be refunded.Is there a discount for CB Nordic Passholders?
Yes, dinners reservations are discounted by $50 for current year passholders. To receive your discount please reserve a dinner and then email [email protected] with a list of the passholders in your group. You will be refunded the amount of your discount once we’ve confirmed current passholders.