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

Capacity

16

Price

$37/person/night*
*Children 12 & Under 50% Off

Visit our Online Booking Platform to search for availability and book this hut.

Location

39.399884, -106.6491459

Official 10th Mountain Division Map

CalTopo

Winter Map : Mt. Yeckel N/S Map

View / Print

National 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.

Winter Hut Information PDF

 

Routes

Harry Gates Hut from Montgomery Flats Trailhead/Standard Winter Route

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 Hut 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'

Hut-Specific Weather

This Afternoon : Sunny, with a high near 45. West northwest wind around 5 mph.

Tonight : Mostly clear, with a low around 17. East northeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday : Isolated snow showers between 3pm and 5pm. Sunny, with a high near 48. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night : Mostly clear, with a low around 18. East wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday : A slight chance of snow showers after noon. Sunny, with a high near 46. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night : Mostly clear, with a low around 17.

Thursday : Sunny, with a high near 47.

Thursday Night : A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Friday : A chance of snow showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Friday Night : A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Saturday : A chance of snow showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Saturday Night : A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

Sunday : Snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 40. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday Night : Snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 17. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Contents

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 and the Friends’ Hut, 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.

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