Harry Gates Hut

Gates Hut winter

The Harry Gates Hut is reminiscent of a refuge in the Austrian Tyrol, standing at the edge of a meadow above scenic Lime Park and against the high ridgeline of the Holy Cross Wilderness. Spacious windows look out on sunsets lighting spectacular Avalanche Peak, one of many summits in the Holy Cross portion of the Sawatch Range. Built in 1986, Gates was the fourth structure added to the 10th Mountain system. It is the largest of the 10th Mountain-owned huts, with a handsome deck and welcoming facade.

The hut was built with funds from the Gates Foundation as a memorial to the late Harry F. Gates, an outdoorsman with a deep and abiding love for the mountains. Harry Gates was also a soldier of the Tenth Mountain Division who enlisted in 1943, serving in Company B of the 87th. Harry was severely wounded by mortar and machine gun fire while fighting in the Po River Valley of Northern Italy. He received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Infantry badge. After the war, Harry worked for the Gates Rubber Company as Vice-President until his death from cancer in March 1955.

Layout and capacity: 6 single beds downstairs, 2 private bedrooms upstairs with one double bed each, plus 6 beds in a communal sleeping area upstairs. Capacity 16.

Hut Location: Harry Gates Hut is located in the Sawatch Mountain foothills of central Colorado at 9,700, about 15 miles northeast of Aspen, and about 17 miles south of Interstate Highway 70. Nearby peaks rise above 12,000 feet. [locator map]

  • More Info
  • Winter Routes & Trailheads
  • Summer Routes & Trailheads

Maps:

Dates Open: Summer: 1 July through 30 September. Winter: Thanksgiving through 30 April

Owned By: 10th Mountain Division Hut Association Oven: woodburning Sauna: No

Parking/Route Changes for Harry Gates Hut: Please park in the parking lot located 3/10 of a mile downvalley at 26501 Fryingpan River Road (= 3/10 mile West of the old Diamond J). The parking is on the North side of the road. Please park in the designated area and do not block the driveway. Space is limited and carpooling is suggested.

The main winter route into the Harry Gates Hut follows the Mongomery Flats Trail and FS 506 and is primarily rolling terrain with few steep climbs. Please note that the alignment of the first mile of trail to the Harry Gates Hut from the Montgomery Flats Trailhead has been changed. Hut visitors departing from the Montgomery Flats Trailhead (located approximately 26 miles up the Fryingpan Road from Basalt) will now access the trail by skiing 200 yards northwest (downvalley) from the parking area to the old corral, then heading north (uphill). The new route is marked with blue diamonds but patience and diligent route-finding skills will be useful. This new alignment is located entirely on public US Forest Service lands. Please be aware of nearby private lands and respect private property.

Winter Trail Access

During the summer the Harry Gates Hut can be reached either by driving in on FS 400 (Spring Creek Road) or FS 506 (Burnt Mountain Road) to the summer closure gate, approximately 1/3 mile from the hut. Please be aware that FS 400 can be extremely slick and dangerous when wet. There is no established summer hiking trail to this hut. Vehicle access is never guaranteed to any hut at any time.

The numerous hiking trails in the area that lead to Tellerium Park, the top of Burnt Mountain and towards Woods Lake. There is also good fishing to be had at Crooked Creek Reservoir.

Click here for summer water source information

Summer Trail Access

  • Trailhead: FS 506, Elevation: 8,820' Route: Via FS 506, Total Mileage: 8.3
  • Trailhead: Spring Creek, Elevation: 8,440' Route: F.S. road 400 the FS 506Total Mileage: 10.6
  • Trailhead: Peter Estin Hut, Elevation: 11,200' Route: Via FS 400, FS 506 Total Mileage: 10.2
  • Trailhead:Sylvan Lake Elevation: 8,558' Route: FS 400, FS 506 Total Mileage: 10.8