Mount of the Holy Cross in White River National Forest, CO

Hike Mount of the Holy Cross White River National Forest, CO

Class 2 12.4 miles 5800 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back Sep 4, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount of the Holy Cross GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Starting from the Half Moon Trailhead, accessible by any car, the Half Moon Trail leads up through pretty forest for a while before reaching Half Moon Pass. From here the trail descends roughly 1000 vertical feet and while it's great for the view of Mount of the Holy Cross, coming back this way required regaining the lost elevation back to Half Moon Pass. The trail crosses over East Cross creek and then continues up easy Class 2 talus using the north ridge of Mount of the Holy Cross, before some minor scrambling to gain the summit. We probably should have turned around because we started to get hailed on, but the rainbow that followed that we saw from the summit was incredible.

A few years later I repeated Mount of the Holy Cross via Halo Ridge, a more adventurous and longer route compared to this standard one that might be worth checking out.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount of the Holy Cross
14005 ft
2111 rise

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

Starting along the Half Moon Trail.
Starting along the Half Moon Trail.
Heading up to Half Moon Pass.
Heading up to Half Moon Pass.
Image 2 from gallery
Heading down Half Moon Pass, the trail skirting the slopes.
Heading down Half Moon Pass, the trail skirting the slopes.
Image 4 from gallery
Mt. of the Holy Cross visible ahead.
Mt. of the Holy Cross visible ahead.
Another shot of Mt of the Holy Cross as we descend from Half Moon Pass.
Another shot of Mt of the Holy Cross as we descend from Half Moon Pass.
Crossing East Cross Creek, ready to start ascending Mt. of the Holy Cross' north ridge.
Crossing East Cross Creek, ready to start ascending Mt. of the Holy Cross' north ridge.
Image 8 from gallery
Image 9 from gallery
Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
Mt. of the Holy Cross peeking out.
Mt. of the Holy Cross peeking out.
Another view down the north slopes of Mt. of the Holy Cross. Half Moon Pass in the center.
Another view down the north slopes of Mt. of the Holy Cross. Half Moon Pass in the center.
Continuing up Class 2 stuff along the ridge.
Continuing up Class 2 stuff along the ridge.
Image 14 from gallery
Another shot looking back down the ridge.
Another shot looking back down the ridge.
Mt. of the Holy Cross ahead, the Bowl of Tears visible on the left.
Mt. of the Holy Cross ahead, the Bowl of Tears visible on the left.
A view back along the ridge.
A view back along the ridge.
Some Class 2 below the summit.
Some Class 2 below the summit.
Another shot along the ridge, just off-trail,  East Cross Creek below.
Another shot along the ridge, just off-trail, East Cross Creek below.
The ridge wraps around to the west side of Mt. of the Holy Cross. This is a shot to the west on the way up the Class 2 as the clouds rolled in.
The ridge wraps around to the west side of Mt. of the Holy Cross. This is a shot to the west on the way up the Class 2 as the clouds rolled in.
View south toward Holy Cross Ridge. Maybe another day!
View south toward Holy Cross Ridge. Maybe another day!
Continuing up the Class 2 to the summit.
Continuing up the Class 2 to the summit.
Mount of the Holy Cross summit shot, view north.
Mount of the Holy Cross summit shot, view north.
Image 24 from gallery
Mt. of the Holy Cross, view south.
Mt. of the Holy Cross, view south.
Image 26 from gallery
Image 27 from gallery

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!