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 1/2 miles to a junction with the Burnt Mountain Road at 9,560 feet. The Burnt Mountain Road is a wide, distinct road-cut. From the junction, follow the Burnt Mountain Road as it takes a northerly tack with several switchbacks for 1 1/2 miles to the road summit at 10,030 feet. You can navigate by how many times you pass under the power lines—four times to the road summit.

Consider removing your skins at the road summit and very gradually descend through beautiful evergreen forest 1 3/4 miles to a clearing at 9,566 feet. At the clearing, turn right (NE) off the road and ski 1/4 mile (134 vertical feet) up the hill to the northeast of the road, unlock the door of the hut, and make tea.

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

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