Colorado 14ers: Mount of the Holy Cross via the North Ridge
This 10.3-miler outside Vail is a leg- and lung-buster, but at the end of the day you'll touch the sky on the summit of one of Colorado's fabled Fourteeners.
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-Mapped by Caitlin May
Trail Facts
- Distance: 16.6
Waypoints
HCR001
Location: 39.499786, -106.433272
HCR002
Location: 39.493118, -106.45105
Half Moon Pass: Enjoy sunrise over Tenmile Range’s razorback crests. To the L, the N ridge of Notch Mtn. reflects sun’s first rays. In next 1.1 mi., get the best views of peak’s fabled icy cross on NNE face
HCR003
Location: 39.489292, -106.466042
Descend long series of steep switchbacks. Tip: Save an energy bar for this hellacious climb on the return trip
HCR004
Location: 39.488834, -106.470772
Traverse E. Cross Creek on stable rock bridge (last water; good campsites). Stay R, pass user trails leading to technical routes; 3,300-foot climb ahead
HCR005
Location: 39.487438, -106.478508
Hike through last of thinning pine forest before crossing treeline
HCR006
Location: 39.48238, -106.476776
Scraggly high alpine shrubs cover landscape. Trail is faint in spots, aim SSW toward cairns and upper ridgeline
HCR007
Location: 39.477905, -106.480171
Loose talus; the crinkled summit notch appears dauntingly to the S
HCR008
Location: 39.46822, -106.484848
Trail disappears; slowly climb steep boulder field, arcing up and around summit’s easier W side
HCR009
Location: 39.466762, -106.481616
Mount of the Holy Cross (14,005 ft.): Mountains stretch miles in all directions, including several other 14ers and the Continental Divide