Tennessee Pass Cookhouse

Great experience at the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse! The hike up was a little over a mile with a mild elevation gain. Views were breathtaking on the patio. Service was excellent and very attentive. The meal was multi courses and delicious. Only complaint is that the food could've been hotter.

Disappointing! We had four different (lunch) entrees: Falafel gyro, meat gyro, hamburger and pasta. Only the pasta was worthy of the trek; the others were pretty bad actually. Falafel was as dry as a dust storm, burger was over cooked, and gyro was just OK and not as good as your local food truck. Pasta was creamy and had a nice flavor. The absolute highlight was the cookie. Three of us obviously did not finish our meals which says a lot after a day of Nordic skiing. Service was spot on. Setting was unique. Our collective advice is to save your money. They have a great idea but did not execute it nearly well enough. Too bad : (

I'm a big fan of the Tennessee Pass Nordic center, and have always wanted to check out the Cookhouse. I finally did just that with a few friends recently. We made a day of XC skiing beforehand (dinner reservations will get you a free pass for the day, along with rentals if desired), and then we trekked up for our reservation in the evening. (Some of us switched to snowshoes for that, which were also included). Definitely make sure to allow yourself a little time to traverse, as it's a bit uphill and over a mile as I recall. (We were told to allow a half hour, but I think 40 minutes may be better depending on your method/fitness). There was a stellar view and sunset to catch, and a firepit was roaring as well. The Cookhouse itself was super cozy and intimate. The service was friendly, and the courses well timed. It's fair to say the chocolate dessert was a universal hit, and we really liked the brussel sprouts salad (though it was maybe a bit light split 5 ways). I had the elk rack, which admittedly was cut a bit unevenly (one piece thin, one thick), which led to some of it being raw. The dinner is definitely pricey, especially once drink and tax/tip are figured in; that said, you go to the Cookhouse for the experience of it all, and on that front we all agreed it was totally worth it. (It is also good to keep in mind that you're getting a nordic center pass and rental included too, so make the most of that.)p.s. In case you're wondering, there are some outhouses up top near the Cookhouse as well.

Food was very good - not mind blowingly amazing, but very good and no complaints.The hike in makes it a memorable experience. I will say that the hike (snowshoe) in was steeper than I expected - I'm an in-shape local who is used to altitude and it was tough! It's also worth knowing that the bathrooms up there are not heated.But, the employees were really kind and engaged. The yurt is really cool. The views are amazing. The food is good. I probably wouldn't do it a second time but I am glad I did it and recommend doing it at least once!

This is a gorgeous place on the planet. I'm not kidding! I've got the photos to prove it! You will be dining at 11,000 feet with a fantastic jaw-dropping view of a few 13ers & 14ers to the likes of Mt. Elbert and Massive. The idea is to hike in for dinner. Or ski in for winter. It's an easy leisurely hike through a tree-lined forest. About a mile from the Nordic Center check-in. Easy to see and follow signage. Take the snowshoe trail. The ATV that the staff uses will kick off some dirt. The food is top-notch! We had the Tomahawk. This giant of a behemoth is so tender, juicy, and so tasty! The chimichurri sauce it comes with is nice, but I didn't even use it! The tomahawk didn't come alone. It came with its very own sidekicks. This could easily feed a table of four because this feast had six-course belly-busting dishes! Come starving if you decide to order "the Hawk." They have Happy Hour on Saturdays only. From 11-2. The reason for these unique hours is in consideration of the staff who has to prep for dinner after. Perishables must be hauled up and hauled back down. It's an extra effort for the team to work here.If you decide to do a dinner and stay at the sleep yurts, you're in luck. You just added to your unique experience! The views from the yurt we stayed at have an unforgettable sight. They have about six sleep yurts. It's very comfortable. We had a great restful sleep. The queen size bed is comfortable. You will have an outhouse a few feet away. It's about another mile from the cook house to the yurts. The staff is great. Food amazing. Cookhouse and Sleep Yurt amazing! I'll do this experience all over again in a heartbeat!

Tennessee Pass has been a staple in Leadville for years. Good food! I miss the old manager Brandi. the brussels sprouts are delicious. Good beer selection as well and there's tables outside.

Super pricey, especially considering how you need a trail pass to even get up there, but a very nice treat. My family goes once a year around the Christmas holiday, and the meal and walk up to the yurt are a valued tradition. This time, they had to move our reservation around due to a scheduling error, but they comped us a nice bottle of wine for the inconvenience. The bison burger is the classic but I've loved every dish I had.

It's all about the EXPERIENCE. Forget the food. Yes, you will have a nice dinner with a nice beverage and some of the friendliest staff I've ever run into. But the EXPERIENCE is something you will long remember some 20 years henceforth. After hiking up a 2 mile mountain incline rising an additional 350 feet, you arrive at the the coziest yurt cookhouse overlooking a breakthtaking mountain range. The hike back to the Nordic center after dinner was in the dark but they give you gear like a headlamp, poles, etc. to make your trek easier. Hiking alone with my husband on top of a mountain in the dark with the light of a full moon was about as magical an experience could ever be.

We were super excited for the dinner based off of reviews, but sadly it was very disappointing. The ambiance and service were great, but the food was just not very good and the final bill was almost $400 (and we only had one glass of wine and a sparkling water)-The first course of bread with various spreads was absolutely fantastic - we could have eaten just this it was so tasty-Salad course was ok - fresh and pretty flavorful-The French onion soup was completely flavorless-Lamb pops were good, but didn't make much sense-Our entrees were luke warm at best and completely flavorless (we got the bison and elk)-Dessert was just three different kind of cookies in a nice Chinese take out container. They were all extremely sweet and we didn't even finish them. For this price point would have been nice to have a dessert tray with optionsWe'd 100% recommend the yurt stay, but bring food and cook dinner in your yurt vs this dinner.

A great experience! the hike in was a tiny bit steeper than expected but if you're in reasonable shape it's easy. With the exception of the empanada starter that was a bit dry the food was very good; what you would expect at fine dining. I was a bit leery about the food given some of the other reviews but we were very pleased. The view is amazing and the stars are incredible with no light pollution. There's outdoor tables on the deck if you prefer to eat outside. A guitar player played quietly in the background. Yes, they have vault toilets with no plumbing but were spruced up with candles and small lamps. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the mountain lifestyle and wants a unique Colorado experience.