Trail Overview
This route begins off FS 507, the main road leading to Woods Lake. Almost immediately after starting the trail, you’ll find a turnoff to Lime Park, a scenic canyon known for its impressive cliffs, rock climbing opportunities, and camping areas. From there, the route climbs steadily through the forest toward an active logging area, with the road remaining relatively smooth along this section. Along the way, you’ll pass the parking area for the Gates Hut, one of the historic 10th Mountain Division huts, several trailheads, and numerous dispersed campsites that make excellent base camps for exploring the area. Near the end of the route, there is also a designated trail open only to motorcycles, quads, and mountain bikes. After crossing the ridge and descending into the next canyon, the character of the road changes. Beyond the logging operations, the trail becomes rockier and bumpier, but it remains an easy drive that can typically be completed by any high-clearance vehicle in dry conditions. The route eventually ends near Lost Lake, providing access to another beautiful and scenic area of the White River National Forest.
Difficulty
This route is not particularly difficult in dry conditions, provided your vehicle has good ground clearance. Because logging trucks frequently travel this road, drivers should remain alert for oncoming traffic and be prepared to yield when necessary. Beyond the active logging area, the trail becomes somewhat rougher and bumpier, but it remains a relatively easy route for most high-clearance vehicles.
History
The Gates hut of the 10th Mountain Division is on this route. The huts trace their origins to the elite U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division, a specialized unit trained in Colorado during World War II at Camp Hale near Leadville. After the war, many veterans of the division helped establish and shape Colorado’s modern ski industry and retained a deep appreciation for the state’s backcountry. In the 1980s, the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association was formed to honor the division’s legacy by creating a network of remote backcountry huts inspired by the European alpine hut system. Today, the system includes more than 30 huts spread across Colorado’s high country, providing year-round opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing while preserving the history and spirit of the soldiers who trained and served in the famed 10th Mountain Division.
