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