Dining
The Mountain Research Station has its own dining hall serving excellent food. All meals include vegetarian options. Vegan meals should be requested in advance. Service is available early June through mid-August, when summer field courses are in residence. Reservations for all meals need to be made 2 weeks in advance for everyone except course students.
2026 dining hall meal costs: Breakfast $16, Lunch $16, Dinner $20. Meal costs for students are covered as part of their course tuition.
Wildrose Dining Hall
The Wildrose Dining Hall, which was renovated in 2021, serves excellent meat and vegetarian dishes throughout the summer (early June to mid-August). The classic log building was originally constructed in 1921, and has seating for 50 people indoors, and 50 people on the patio.
The Wildrose Dining Hall
Dietary requests
All meals have vegetarian options. Vegan meals and special dietary restrictions should be requested in advance.
Please let us know of any food allergies. Gluten free meals can be provided, however we urge you to discuss your sensitivity to cross contamination with the cook staff to ensure expectations are clear.
Please be aware that our food may contain or come into contact with common allergens, such as dairy, eggs, wheat, soybeans, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish or wheat.
For all inquires about dietary restrictions, contact the station manager.
Early morning table full of food items for station residents to assemble into sack lunches.
Eating on the patio deck of the Wildrose Dining Hall (50 person capacity outside).
Dining hours and rates
$16 Breakfast 6:45-7:45 am
$16 Lunch 7:30 am
Self-made sack lunch.
$20 Dinner: 6:00-7:00 pm
The dining hall is open all days that summer field courses are in session. Typically, it is open Mon-Thur, closed Fri/Sat/Sun, but can vary.
Reservations for all meals need to be made 2 weeks in advance and are required unless you are a student of a course.
Reserve with the Station Manager. Group meals can be pre-paid/pre-invoiced when making reservations. For large groups, check with the Station Manager as the dining hall might be available outside of the usual hours/days.
Self-made lunch items are provided during the breakfast hour for a sack lunch. Please take only what you need for that day's lunch. If you would like to reduce the use of throwaway products, you may bring your own plastic lunchbox/bag and reusable containers.
Meals for students are covered as part of their course tuition.
Single meals must be reserved 2 weeks in advance and can be purchased with cash at the dining hall at the time of the meal. However, exact change (or more) is required – no change will be provided. Sorry, credit cards are not accepted – cash only.
Children under 5 years old dine for free. Children 5-11 years of age dine for half-price. Reservations must be made 2 weeks in advance.
Eating inside the Wildrose Dining Hall (50 person capacity inside).
A panoramic view of the dining hall, lodge, and Limber cooking cabin.
Wildrose dining hall (Photo: Gabe Allen).
Rental & catering
Rental of the commercial kitchen in the dining hall and/or the dining area is possible after summer field courses end in mid-August up until winterization around Oct 1st each year. Indoor seating and restroom facilities for up to 50 people.
Rental of the kitchen
- Requires an insured catering company.
- Serving of alcohol requires CU permitting and TIPs certified servers.
Rental is intended for groups using overnight station housing. For current prices, see User fees.
Rental for special events by day visitors is possible, but subject to more review, approval, and special event pricing. Such pricing is not listed on the user fee sheet, inquire with the Station Manager.
Catering is likely available from CU Boulder catering. Check with them on menus, availability, pricing, and questions. Ask about single or multi-day packages. For more info beyond their website, call them or use their online inquiry form.
You may also contact restaurants in Nederland (15 minute drive to the south of the station) and inquire if they will cater/deliver to the MRS.
Alcohol at MRS events
If you are hosting an event at the station and are considering alcohol, be sure to read the alcohol policy below.
Introduction
The Mountain Research Station (MRS) is a University of Colorado (CU) facility. The MRS requires that all events that wish to serve alcohol at the MRS must have an approved “Event with Alcohol Authorization Form” prior to their event. Permits must be submitted a minimum of 15 days prior to the event. Permits are approved/denied by the CU alcohol agent and a submission of permit does not guarantee a permit. Event organizers should plan accordingly and submit their application as early as possible.
For general use of the MRS facilities all state and federal laws regarding the possession and consumption of alcohol apply to the Mountain Research Station. Alcohol is not to be present or consumed in public areas or events. Residents who are of legal drinking age may consume alcohol only at their cabin/residence at the MRS.
The MRS follows all University of Colorado Boulder policies regarding alcohol at MRS events. "Event" means a conference, fundraising event, meal, meeting or any other gathering (formal or informal) on University Property.
- MRS events with alcohol must follow the CU policy at Events with alcohol.
- MRS events with alcohol must have an approved CU “Event with Alcohol Authorization Form". The form can also be downloaded from the web site above.
This section describes a typical application of the alcohol at events policy here at the MRS. For additional detail, refer to the complete CU policy at http://www.colorado.edu/events/plan/alcohol.
A. Most events at the MRS with alcohol are “Private Events”.
"Private Event" means an event where alcohol is served that is not open to the general public. The designation of private event applies to both CU and non-CU affiliated organizations. In order to be a private event, the event must satisfy all of the following:
- It must be by invitation only. Invitations to the event must have been sent to specific individuals. This does not include an event where attendees register in response to an announcement of the event.
- A previously printed list of invited guests must be used to identify attendees at the entrance to assure that only invited participants enter.
- The event cannot have been advertised as being open to the public.
- The alcohol is free or the event is a University sponsored event and the admission charge or other charge for participation is the same regardless of whether the person attending consumes alcohol or not.
B. Private events at the MRS are scheduled by the MRS Station Manager (CU Event Coordinator).
The CU event coordinator for private events at the MRS is the MRS Station Manager. The CU event coordinator must submit the “Event with Alcohol Authorization Form” and must receive all required approvals before the event can take place. The MRS Station Manager will work with the event organizer to complete and submit the application.
C. There must be an “Event Designee” who will be PRESENT AND RESPONSIBLE AT THE EVENT.
The event designee must be a responsible person who is organizing/leading the group. The event designee must understand and ensure enforcement of the requirements outlined below; including only allowing guests on the guest list, control of area where alcohol is served, service of alcohol only by TIPS or ServSafe, and ensuring no underage drinking. Note that the Event Designee is responsible for assigning a check-in person and bartender (TIPS or SafeServ certified). The event designee, check-in person, and bartender are 3 separate roles and cannot be combined.
D. General Requirements for an Event where Alcohol is Served
Guest List is Required
A previously printed list of invited guest must be used to identify attendees at the entrance to assure that only invited participants enter.
Area Where Alcohol is Served
The area where Alcohol is served must be defined and clearly marked using readily identifiable barriers such as fencing and/or built in boundaries. On this webpage, see the typical barrier/signage locations at MRS event locations (Lodge, Dining Hall, Megaron).
Signs must be posted at every entrance or exit stating:
Private Event (if applicable).
No alcohol beyond this point.
No one under 21 shall be served.
See elsewhere on this webpage for printable signs.
Service of Alcohol
Self-service of alcohol is prohibited. Persons attending the Event may not pour their own alcohol or be given direct access to coolers, kegs, bottles or containers containing alcohol or bottles or cans of alcohol.
Servers of Alcohol
Shall be trained to serve Alcohol. TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) training or ServSafe.
Shall be 21 years of age or older.
Shall not serve anyone who is visibly intoxicated.
Shall not consume Alcohol before or while they are on duty.
Shall be familiar with the system being used at the Event for verifying that only persons 21 years of age and older are being served Alcohol.
Tips shall not be accepted.
Additional Requirements of the Event
No one may be served more than two drinks at a time.
Non-alcoholic beverages and food shall be available.
No one under 21 years of age may consume Alcohol at the Event.
Drinking-oriented games are prohibited.
See also:
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