Harry Gates Hut

Route Description

Park at the Montgomery Flats Trailhead. From the trailhead, travel west out of the parking lot on the marked 10th Mountain trail past an old corral. The trail quickly swings north and then back east as you wind around private land. Please respect all signed boundaries. The trail eventually intersects an old two-track which climbs to Montgomery Flats (9,100 feet). Stay on the trail NE through Montgomery Flats for 1 ¼ mile, then head N (left) on the Unit One trail. The trail from here to the hut is temporarily marked with blue survey tape. Follow this trail for about ¼ mile, cross Silver Creek, double back to the S for a couple hundred yards, then resume traveling N. Until this point, the trail is on a distinct wide platform, but it becomes less distinct over the next mile as it gradually climbs through the forest and intersects Burnt Mountain Road which is plowed this winter (2024-2025). Head north along the road for a couple hundred yards and take the Tellurium Lake TH trail #1917 to the right. This section of trail is on an old road platform and is mostly flat. Follow this trail NNE for about 1 ¼ mile crossing under a power line and two large meadows. Remove skins and descend NW about ¾ mile (losing about 350’ elevation) to the meadow immediately below the hut. From here, it’s a very short and gradual climb to the hut with or without skins.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Trailhead Directions

Parking

Please park in the plowed designated area for hut users and do not block the driveway.

Route Description

This lengthy route follows a well-used snowmobile trail on the Eagle/Thomasville Road (connects the Fryingpan drainage with Sylvan Lake Trailhead and the town of Eagle). With suitable snow you can easily use cross country wax for the whole trip. Start at the Spring Creek Trailhead. Ski N up the obvious road-cut 3 1/2 miles and 1,090 vertical feet to the huge open area of Lime Park (9,560 feet). You can identify your entrance into Lime Park by passage under the power line shown on the topographic map. Skirt the west edge of Lime Park for another 1/2 mile past the power line (still on the road). If you’re using skins, remove them here, then swing E and follow the road down a wide ravine to 9,313 feet. Continue on the road as it turns N to its intersection with the Burnt Mountain Road. Take care to identify this intersection; there is a sign but it may be covered by snow.

To continue to the Gates Hut (you’re still in Lime Park) turn SE onto the Burnt Mountain Road. The road will lead you across a short flat area for about 1/4 mile, then down a hill to the intersection with the Woods Lake Road at 9,270 feet. Again, whatever your direction of travel, use this intersection as a critical destination in your navigation. Stay on the Burnt Mountain Road as it takes you downhill another 1/8 mile and crosses Lime Creek at 9,190 feet.

At the crossing apply some cross country wax or skins if needed, and climb the Burnt Mountain Road a short distance E, then 1/2 mile S to a clearing at Slim Jim Gulch. Follow the road S another 1/4 mile to a smaller clearing at 9,566 feet. At this point, turn left off the Burnt Mountain Road and ski NE 134 vertical feet up a hill to the hut. You cannot see the hut from the road, so pay attention!

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: Avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route at locations indicated below. Elevations indicate approximate elevation where the slides crossed the trail, not the starting zones.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: Avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route at locations indicated below. Elevations indicate approximate elevation where the slides crossed the trail, not the starting zones. Learn more about avalanche hazards here {hyperlink}.

• At the junction of the Eagle-Thomasville and Burnt Mountain Roads (5.6 miles from trailhead), small bank on skier’s left (9,320′). D1.

Avalanche size/destructive force is scaled according to the American Avalanche Association as follows:

• D1 – Relatively harmless to people
• D2 – Could bury or injure a person
• D3 – Could bury a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees
• D4 – Could destroy a railroad car, large truck, several buildings, or a substantial amount of forest
• D5 – Could gouge the landscape, largest snow avalanches known

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Trailhead Directions

Route Description

Begin at the Sylvan Lake Trailhead. From your parking at snow closure, ski up the distinct snow-covered West Brush Creek road-cut for a mile around the north and east sides of the lake, then up into the Brush Creek valley for 4 1/4 miles to Crooked Creek Pass. Use your altimeter to identify the switchbacks at 9,220 feet and 9,260 feet, then the turn at 9,450 feet. From here be certain to stay on the road as it climbs S then SE around a timbered ridge dividing Spine Creek from Brush Creek, and then continues paralleling Brush Creek to Crooked Creek Pass (10,005 feet). Crooked Creek Pass is fairly obvious, but an altimeter check is always a good idea.

From Crooked Creek Pass ski the road 1 mile SE to Crooked Creek Park. Ski into Crooked Creek Park (you may get a few turns here), then follow the Crooked Creek drainage (stay on the road if in doubt) to the obvious dam, buildings, and flat expanse of Crooked Creek Reservoir. Ski the road on the dam along the west side of the reservoir, then about 3/4 of a mile down the Little Lime Creek drainage (still on the road) to Lime Park and a well-signed, obvious road junction (9,280 feet). Now you will be standing at the north edge of Lime Park, a vast clearing that can make for confusing navigation on the best of days. The way to handle Lime Park is to look for the road-cuts and signs at road junctions, but continue to heed your compass and altimeter. GPS recommended here as well. Ski the road SE across Lime Park to its intersection with the Woods Lake Road, then downhill S to cross Lime Creek at 9,190 feet. Next, take care to identify and follow the Burnt Mountain Road as it climbs into the timber after crossing Lime Creek.

Ski up the Burnt Mountain Road 1/2 mile to a large clearing at the base of Slim Jim Gulch (9,440 feet). Ski the road S across the clearing, then nip through the trees (still on the road) for another 1/4 mile to a smaller clearing at 9,566 feet. Turn left (NE) off the road here and climb several hundred yards NE up a knoll to the Harry Gates Hut. The hut is visible from about halfway up the knoll.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: Avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route at locations indicated below. Elevations indicate approximate elevation where the slides crossed the trail, not the starting zones.

• At Crooked Creek Reservoir, small bank on skier’s right (9,400′). D1-2.

Avalanche size/destructive force is scaled according to the American Avalanche Association as follows:

• D1 – Relatively harmless to people
• D2 – Could bury or injure a person
• D3 – Could bury a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees
• D4 – Could destroy a railroad car, large truck, several buildings, or a substantial amount of forest
• D5 – Could gouge the landscape, largest snow avalanches known

Trailhead Directions

Route Description

HUT TO HUT distances are usually longer than from trailhead to hut. Use winter specific topographic maps. Routes between huts are not often used so may not be tracked; navigation and breaking trail may be particularly challenging.

This is the most scenic and direct route between the Harry Gates Hut and Peter Estin Hut. From the Harry Gates Hut follow the Burnt Mountain/Lime Park Road northerly to the Woods Lake Road intersection (9,270 feet) in Lime Park. The road here may be obscured by snow, but the signs and fence break are usually obvious. Put your skins on here. Use your compass and GPS to follow a route that climbs N up through a clearing, then through timber to the crest of the ridge separating Lime Park from Crooked Creek Reservoir. Follow the trail NE along the ridge (the trail-cut is not obvious) for 3/4 mile. Turn N and travel through timber, then down into the Little Lime Creek drainage. This circuitous route avoids private land around Crooked Creek Reservoir.
Cross the east fork of Little Lime Creek at 9,680 feet, take a perpendicular course from the creek, and contour 1/2 mile NW up the west fork of Little Lime Creek. At 9,740 feet cross the creek and switchback S up to the crest of the ridge (Lime Ridge) separating Middle Creek from the west fork of Little Lime Creek. Once you gain the crest of Lime Ridge, follow a well-marked and fairly distinct trail-cut that leads through intermittent clearings and timber to 10,150 feet.
Continue up the ridge as the timber thickens, and follow a well-defined trail-cut through Sherwood Forest to a low-angled area with mature aspen trees. Look for interesting old initials carved in these trees. Continue N, switchback, then climb steeply through clearings and dark timber to another low-angled area at 10,850 feet. From here continue N 3/4 mile through a sparsely timbered logged area to Hat Creek Saddle (11,120 feet), a nondescript divide between the Hat Creek drainage and west fork of Little Lime Creek. Travel E from the saddle several hundred yards to the hut. It is not visible directly from the saddle, but soon becomes obvious.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: No avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route.

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

*Please Note: This route description assumes you’ll spend a layover night at the Beyul Retreat, a historic guest ranch nestled deep in the Fryingpan River Valley, between the Harry Gates Hut and Margy’s Hut. Beyul offers a warm and cozy break on what would otherwise be a long 16-mile trek between huts. The retreat provides both cabins with kitchenettes and rooms in their lodge, where guests have access to a communal kitchen.

Beyul has long been a favorite stopover on this route, offering a comfortable place to rest and recharge. To make winter reservations, you’ll need to call them directly at (970) 927-4188, as bookings during this season are phone-only. For more information and photos, you can visit their website at beyulretreat.com.

Start at the Harry Gates Hut and begin by skiing 1/4 mile downhill (134 vertical feet) to the SW until you reach the clearing at 9,566 feet. Turn left (S) onto the road and begin a gradual 1 3/4-mile ascent through a beautiful evergreen forest until you reach the road summit at 10,030 feet. As you ascend, you’ll pass under the power lines four times, signaling your approach to the summit.

At the summit follow the Burnt Mountain Road S, taking several switchbacks as you descend 1 1/2 miles to the junction with the trail to Montgomery Flats at 9,560 feet.

At the junction, turn right (SW) and follow the trail through Montgomery Flats for 1 1/2 miles. As you continue along the trail, you’ll gradually descend to 9,100 feet. The trail then intersects with an old two-track, and you’ll wind W around private land.

Respect all signed boundaries as you follow the trail, which swings S and then E. Eventually, you’ll pass by an old corral and continue E until you reach the parking lot at the Montgomery Flats Trailhead. Walk down the parking lot driveway to the Fryingpan River Road. Take a left and walk SE on the Fryingpan River Road for approximately 1/3 mile to the entrance to the Beyul Retreat.

After a restful night at the Beyul Retreat strap on your skis and follow the ski trail that heads southeast out of the property towards the Norrie Trailhead. The trail starts in the woods and then crosses a large meadow before passing private cabins just before the Norrie Trailhead.

From snow closure at the Norrie Trailhead ski up through aspen forests on the well-defined cut of the South Fork Road (FS road # 504). Stay on the road as it makes two switchbacks, then a 2 1/4 mile climbing traverse to intersect with an obvious spur that turns right (W) and leads 1/4 mile through conifer forest to Twin Meadows, a reclaimed gravel pit with two small lakes. Take the spur to Twin Meadows.

Stay to the north end of Twin Meadows, and ski around the north side of the north lake. Follow the west shore of the north lake, then enter the forest on the obscure summer trailcut for the Aspen/Norrie trail. There is a sign here but it may be covered by snow. Follow the Aspen/Norrie trail as it leads out of Twin Meadows on the north side of Deeds Creek, then crosses Deeds Creek and climbs into Foster Gulch. The trail parallels Foster Creek for 1/2 mile, then begins to turn W away from Foster Creek at 9,920 feet, and climbs W to 10,240 feet. From here you swing S then W to meadows at 10,400 feet. From the meadows a steep climb leads over a divide (11,057 feet) and into Sawmill Park. Enjoy the view of the Elk Mountains from Sawmill Park and ski down to the lower (west) end of the park. At the lower end of Sawmill Park (11,000 feet) find the Margy’s Hut trail which leaves from the north side of the park. It is easy to miss this fork. If you have trouble here, the trick is to identify Sawmill Park with adroit map reading, then stay on the north side of the park and ski to the west end where you search out the 10th Mountain junction markers on a couple of medium-sized evergreens. Your altimeter can really help here, and a GPS is highly recommended if you don’t know the trail.

Once you find the junction, leave Sawmill Park and follow the Margy’s Hut Trail W then SW as it makes a long 1 3/4-mile climbing traverse up to the hut. Margy’s Hut is usually visible several hundred yards before you reach it, but it may be hidden by snow on heavy snow years, with just the upper front windows visible.

Locations of Observed or Reported Avalanche Activity: Avalanche activity has been reported along this suggested route at locations indicated below. Elevations indicate approximate elevation where the slides crossed the trail, not the starting zones.

• Approx. 1.5 miles from Norrie along the road to Twin Meadows, steep hillside on skier’s right (8,760′). D2-3.

Avalanche size/destructive force is scaled according to the American Avalanche Association as follows:

• D1 – Relatively harmless to people
• D2 – Could bury or injure a person
• D3 – Could bury a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees
• D4 – Could destroy a railroad car, large truck, several buildings, or a substantial amount of forest
• D5 – Could gouge the landscape, largest snow avalanches known

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

Summer Driving Directions: 4-Wheel Drive/High Clearance Recommended

From the Eagle exit (#147) on I-70 drive S .2 miles to the roundabout on Hwy 6. Drive 1.0 mile W on Hwy 6 to the next roundabout and exit on Sylvan Lake Road. Travel 1.6 miles and take a right on Brush Creek Road (aka Eagle County Road #307). Travel 8.7 miles to a “Y” intersection. Take the right fork to stay on West Brush Creek Road and drive approximately 7.4 miles (passing Sylvan Lake State Park). Turn left onto the Eagle-Thomasville Road (FS Road 400) and in 2.5 miles you will arrive at Crooked Creek Pass. From the pass, continue 3.2 miles on the Eagle-Thomasville Road (FS Road 400) until the intersection of the Eagle-Thomasville Road and the Burnt Mountain Road (FS Road 506). Turn left onto the Burnt Mountain Road (FS Road 506) and note mileage – from this turn continue approximately 1.8 miles, then turn left onto the Harry Gates Hut access road and parking (marked with blue 10th Mountain signs). From the parking to the hut is a 1/3 mile hike, gear carts are provided (please return after use unless your group has booked the hut exclusively).

Trailhead Directions

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

Summer Driving Directions: 4-Wheel Drive/High Clearance Recommended

From the intersection of Two Rivers Road and Midland Avenue in Basalt, begin by heading northeast on Midland Avenue towards Basalt Center Circle for about 0.3 miles. The road will then continue onto Frying Pan Road (CR 4). Follow Frying Pan Road (CR 4) for approximately 25 miles. Turn left, and head North on the Eagle-Thomasville Road (FS Road 400) for 8.1 miles. You will arrive at the intersection of the Eagle-Thomasville Road and the Burnt Mountain Road (FS Road 506). Turn right onto the Burnt Mountain Road (FS Road 506) and note mileage – from this turn continue approximately 1.8 miles, then turn left onto the Harry Gates Hut access road and parking (marked with blue 10th Mountain signs). From the parking to the hut is a 1/3 mile hike, gear carts are provided (please return after use unless your group has booked the hut exclusively).

Trailhead Directions

Lodging

Transportation

Route Description

Starting from the intersection of Two Rivers Road and Midland Avenue in Basalt, the drive to the Harry Gates Hut is approximately 37 miles via Frying Pan Road (CR 4) and FS Roads 501 and 506 (Burnt Mountain Road).

Begin by heading northeast on Midland Avenue towards Basalt Center Circle for about 0.3 miles. The road will then continue onto Frying Pan Road (CR 4). Follow Frying Pan Road for about 26 miles.

Next, turn left onto County Road 4B (FS Road 501) and continue for about 2.6 miles. Then, turn left onto Burnt Mountain Road (FS Road 506) and continue for about 8.3 miles.

Turn right onto the Harry Gates Hut access road and parking (marked with blue 10th Mountain signs). From the parking to the hut is a 1/3 mile hike, gear carts are provided (please return after use unless your group has booked the hut exclusively).

Parking

Hut parking will be marked with blue 10th Mountain signs. From the locked closure gate, the walk to the hut is approximately 1/3 mile. Gear carts are provided, return after use unless you have booked the entire hut. If locked, use the same code as the hut.

Lodging

Transportation