Holy Cross Wilderness Area

Discovering the Holy Cross Wilderness Area

Straddling the Arkansas River about 30 miles south of Vail, the Holy Cross Wilderness Area offers a fantastic day trip during the warmer months. Encompassing an impressive 122,797 acres of rugged Colorado scenery, including jagged mountains, lush valleys, and verdant aspen forests, the park is home to 164 miles of hiking and biking trails. Make sure to bring your camera: You're sure to encounter a few elk along the way.

Exploring Trails

Recent visitors highly recommend the 7-mile Missouri Lakes/Fancy Pass Loop, which provides a scenic route through alpine lakes and towering evergreens. Start your trek at the Missouri Creek Trailhead, which is just down the road from the Fancy Creek Trailhead. Additionally, the Vail Recreation District offers a variety of guided hikes through Eagles Nest and Holy Cross. You can make reservations in advance on the Vail Recreation District website.

Visitor Information

The Holy Cross Wilderness Area is open to visitors year-round; however, this park experiences heavy snowfall during the colder months, so wintertime visitors should be extra cautious to avoid getting lost in the snow. While there is no fee to explore Holy Cross, you are required to register for a free permit before beginning your hike.

Getting There

To reach Holy Cross from Vail, start on Interstate 70 and take the Minturn exit. The Homestake or Tigiwon Forest Service roads are the most popular access points. For more information, visit the wilderness area's website.