Magic Meadows Yurt

The Magic Meadows Yurt lies hidden within the Slate River Valley, so deep in the mountains that it’s beyond reach of both road and trail. Getting there isn’t exactly straightforward: the yurt is only open for dinner service December through March, and diners must cross-country ski or snowshoe a mile-long groomed path to reach the snow-dusted front stoop. But swing open the front door, and the serene winter mountainscape instantly gives way to another world—one busy with the hubbub of warmth and laughter, the clinking of dinnerware and the pop of wine corks, the smell of wood smoke—and the intoxicating aroma of Chef Egelhoff’s ingenious cooking. 

Every winter, Egelhoff, a local Crested Butte chef, takes over the yurt—usually a warming hut for skiers and hikers—and transforms it into an intimate venue for Saturday dinners and Sunday brunches. His cooking is hearty yet sublime: elevated Americana with a Colorado twist. Plates of seared meats, local produce, and delicate desserts arrive in a dizzying succession, all served alongside cocktails from Crested Butte’s Montanya Distillery and amid live music from local musicians.  

Dinner at Magic Meadow is a full sampler that is quintessentially Colorado: mountain-fresh ingredients, culinary innovation, and outdoor adventure—all within view of the serpentine Slate River and the snow-streaked slopes of Mt. Crested Butte. It makes a perfect date night or celebratory meal, but be careful to reserve well in advance: tables are limited and book up fast.