• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
Holy Cross Wilderness Colorado

Holy Cross Wilderness – near Vail

FacebookTwitter

Designated as a Wilderness Area in 1980, the Holy Cross Wilderness now contains over 120,000 acres and is currently managed by the U.S. Forest Service. This wilderness is known for its rugged ridge lines, glacier-carved valleys with spruce-fir forests, streams, and lakes.

It’s located in the White River and San Isabel national forests. Its most famous location is the Mount of the Holy Cross, named so thanks to the photograph taken by William Henry Jackson in 1873 depicting the mountain with snow in the shape of a cross upon its northeast face.

Activities

Holy Cross Wilderness Hiking Trail
Hiking trail through Holy Cross Wilderness. Photo: clare_and_ben

Hiking is the most popular recreational activity in the Holy Cross Wilderness with the namesake mountain, Mount of the Holy Cross, being amongst the most recommended hikes. The most accessible route to the summit is the Half Moon Pass Trail. Hikers are advised to be careful of the wilderness, however.

As mentioned above, the wilderness is notorious for its jagged ridges. The Mount of the Holy Cross rises above 14,000 feet and has difficult terrain. Previous hikers have described the hike as hard but worth it.

The Holy Cross Wilderness requires a permit before it can be used, and aside from the standard Leave No Trace Policy expected to be followed in every wilderness, the Holy Cross Wilderness also has rules unique to itself. Familiarize yourself with the regulations of the area before setting out.

Holy Cross Wilderness Mystic Island Lake
Mystic Island Lake. Photo: CoMtMan

Getting There

Vail is among the closest towns to the Holy Cross Wilderness. The easiest access roads are the Homestake and Tigiwon Forest Service Roads. Both roads can be accessed by departing from Vail via Highway 24 toward Leadville. Homestake Reservoir Road accesses the Homestake Reservoir, and trails leading into the Holy Cross Wilderness. It’s located just south of Red Cliff off US-24.

Holy Cross Wilderness Lake Charles
Lake Charles. Photo: Rachel Kramer

Details

Nearby Towns:

  • Leadville
  • Minturn
  • Red Cliff
  • Vail

Phone: 970-945-2521

Season: Year round

Established: 1980

Management: USFS

Website: fs.usda.gov/…

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Colorado National Wilderness Areas

  • All National Lands
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison
  • Black Ridge Canyons
  • Buffalo Peaks
  • Byers Peak
  • Cache La Poudre
  • Collegiate Peaks
  • Comanche Peak
  • Eagles Nest
  • Flat Tops
  • Fossil Ridge
  • Great Sand Dunes
  • Greenhorn Mountain
  • Gunnison Gorge
  • Holy Cross
  • Hunter-Fryingpan
  • Indian Peaks
  • James Peak
  • La Garita
  • Lizard Head
  • Lost Creek
  • Maroon Bells-Snowmass
  • Mesa Verde
  • Mount Evans
  • Mount Massive
  • Mount Sneffels
  • Mount Zirkel
  • Neota
  • Never Summer
  • Platte River
  • Powderhorn
  • Ptarmigan Peak
  • Raggeds
  • Rawah
  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Sangre de Cristo
  • Sarvis Creek
  • Spanish Peaks
  • South San Juan
  • Uncompahgre
  • Vasquez Peak
  • Weminuche
  • West Elk

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Visit Mile High Happy Hour for Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Camping
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Federal Lands
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks

Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel.

Copyright © 2021 · Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer