
The Huts > 10th Mountain Division Hut Association > Harry Gates Hut
Harry Gates Hut
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.
Hut Information
Owned By
10th Mountain Division Hut Association
Open
Summer / Winter
Winter Mileage*
7.1
Closest Town
Basalt
Hut Elevation
9,700'
Cumulative Elevation Gain*
2,025'
Layout
Main Level: 6 single beds. Upstairs: 2 private bedrooms with one double bed each, plus 6 beds in a communal sleeping area.
*from Montgomery Flats Trailhead
Amenities
Heat
Wood
Oven
Wood
Refrigeration
No
Water
Stream*, Snow Melt**
Toilet
Outhouse
Ada Accessible
No
Sauna
No
Fire Ring
Yes*
Grill
No
Dogs
No
Charging
None
Gear Cart
Yes*
* Summer only
** Winter only
Details
- Firewood, starter paper, matches, axes
- Propane for kitchen burners
- Cupboard or closet for cold food storage
- Snow collection buckets and large pot for melting snow on wood-burning heat stove (suggested use of snowmelt water is for drinking, cooking and cleaning)
- Pots, pans, potholders, dishware, cooking and eating utensils, percolator, salt & pepper
- Paper towels, dish soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, trash bags, toilet paper
- Solar powered lights
- Mattresses, pillows
Book This Hut
Visit our Online Booking Platform to search for availability and book this hut.
Location
Official 10th Mountain Division Map
CalTopo
Winter Map : Mt. Yeckel N/S Map
View / PrintNational Geographic
Map : Holy Cross/Ruedi Reservoir; Eagles Nest/Holy Cross
USFS
Map : White River National Forest
Trailheads/Routes
The main winter route into the Harry Gates Hut follows the Montgomery Flats Trail and FS road 506 and consists primarily of rolling terrain with few steep climbs. An alternate route is to take the Unit One trail which minimizes traveling on the road but does require more diligent navigation.
Routes
Harry Gates Hut from Montgomery Flats Trailhead
Total Mileage
7.1
Trailhead Elevation
8,250'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,025'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
538'
Harry Gates Hut from Spring Creek Trailhead
Total Mileage
7.7
Trailhead Elevation
8,440'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,818'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
566'
Harry Gates from Sylvan Lake Trailhead
Total Mileage
10.7
Trailhead Elevation
8,558'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,042'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
966'
Hut to Hut/Harry Gates Hut to Peter Estin Hut
Total Mileage
7.0
Trailhead Elevation
9,700'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
2,257'
Cumulative Elevation Loss
752'
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. Vehicle access is never guaranteed to any hut at any time. Hut visitors can also hike along the trail that begins at the Montgomery Flats trailhead and goes up through Montgomery Flats and intersects with FS 506.
Numerous hiking trails in the area lead to Tellurium Park, the top of Burnt Mountain and towards Woods Lake. There is also good fishing to be had at Crooked Creek Reservoir.
Summer Water Source Information
Summer Hut Information PDF
Routes
4WD High Clearance to Harry Gates Hut from Eagle via FS Rd 400 (aka Eagle-Thomasville Rd)
Total Mileage
11.2
Trailhead Elevation
0'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,937'
4WD High Clearance to Harry Gates Hut from Basalt via FS Rd 400 (aka Eagle-Thomasville Rd)
Total Mileage
10.6
Trailhead Elevation
0'
Cumulative Elevation Gain
1,876'
4WD High Clearance to Harry Gates Hut from Basalt via FS Rd 506 (aka Burnt Mountain Rd)
Total Mileage
8.3
Trailhead Elevation
0'
Weather
Current Condition
Today
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. South wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tonight
Slight Chance T-storms
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 10pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 11pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday
Chance Snow Showers
A chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms before 3pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. West southwest wind 0 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday Night
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Snow Showers
A slight chance of snow showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday
Slight Chance Snow Showers
A slight chance of snow showers before 10am, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 10am and 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. West southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 24.
Thursday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 56.
Thursday Night
Clear
Clear, with a low around 28.
Friday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 58.
Friday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 29.
Saturday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 58.
Saturday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Sunday
Sunny
Sunny, with a high near 59.
Sunday Night
Mostly Clear
Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Notices
Avalanche Hazard Information
Colorado is known for its avalanche prone snowpack. A number of the suggested routes to 10th Mountain Division Huts pass through or are next to terrain that may be prone to avalanches. Accordingly, pick the suggested route that most suits your group and its abilities, carry appropriate equipment, and always exercise prudent backcountry travel techniques when passing through avalanche prone terrain. Remember, avalanches can occur in forested areas and can run into forested areas from open slopes. Moreover, a number of huts booked are situated in the midst of extreme avalanche terrain. Many other huts, while located in more modest terrain, still have access routes that cross avalanche paths.
We strongly suggest that someone in every group be experienced in evaluating avalanche and snow stability hazards and practicing prudent backcountry and winter mountain travel techniques. For up-to-date avalanche information for all of Colorado, visit the website for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Another excellent resource is the Forest Service National Avalanche Center website. While this site doesn’t have local forecasts, it does have a wealth of information on backcountry travel in avalanche terrain and snow science, as well as tutorials on some basic skills and snow science.
We recommend that you start checking the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) website regularly before your trip to see how conditions are evolving. Study your maps to see what type of terrain you will be traveling through to see if there are alternative routes that might be feasible if snow stability conditions deteriorate. During most of the winter, travel to the huts, other than those in the Braun Hut System, is possible with a relatively minor degree of risk. However, if your trip falls within a period or cycle of high or extreme instability, you must make the decision of whether or not to go. The huts are not closed for avalanche hazard reasons.