Trip
Ascending Hikes - Endurance – Mt. of the Holy Cross via North Ridge
Mount of the Holy Cross is a high and prominent summit in the northern Sawatch Range.
Contacts
- Fri, Jul 24, 2026
- Ascending Hikes Section
- Hiking
- Adults
- Difficult
- Mileage: 11.25 mi
- Elevation Gain: 5,600 ft
- High Point Elevation: 14,007 ft
- Maximum Wind: 25 kts
- Pace: 1-2 mph
- FULL, 3 on waitlist (6 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
All participants will meet at the Mount of the Holy Cross trailhead with an expected departure by 5:00am. Consider joining me with overnight camping OR feel free to leave the Denver-metro area on Friday morning with the expectation of joining us at the trailhead for a 5:00am departure.
This early start will allow us to achieve the summit by ~12:00pm and return to the trailhead parking lot by 4:00pm. Be aware the route requires ~1,000' elevation gain to return to the trailhead.
Please remain vigilant on the State of Colorado forest fires and air quality index (AQI) for Minturn, CO, Minturn Air Quality Index (AQI) and USA Air Pollution | IQAir USA
MEET: Most trip participants plan to camp near the Mount of the Holy Cross trailhead on Thursday, July 23, 2026. This will allow for an alpine start. Thursday departure from the Wooly Mammoth CDOT PNR, Section BB, 18560 US Highway 40m Golden, CO 80401. Carpooling logistics provided to trip participants.
Required Equipment
Ten Essentials, Ten Essentials (U.S. National Park Service) Recommend trekking poles and adequate clothing layers to withstand the winds on the exposed summit push.