- Elevation: 14,003 feet
- Miles of trail: 164
- Year designated: 1980
Cascading streams, dozens of emerald green lakes, and wide valleys moistened by melting snow make Holy Cross a watery alpine Wilderness of glistening beauty. Dominated by 14,005-foot Mount of the Holy Cross, this Wilderness also has 25 or so peaks that rise above 13,000 feet.
Hiking the Cross Creek Trail--up the glacial valley across Fancy Pass past spectacular high lakes and down the valley of the Fall Creek Trail--may be Colorado's most glorious short backpacking trip (about 28 miles).

Description from Wilderness.net

Cascading streams, dozens of emerald green lakes, and wide valleys moistened by melting snow make Holy Cross a watery alpine Wilderness of glistening beauty. Dominated by 14,005-foot Mount of the Holy Cross, this Wilderness also has 25 or so peaks that rise above 13,000 feet.
Hiking the Cross Creek Trail--up the glacial valley across Fancy Pass past spectacular high lakes and down the valley of the Fall Creek Trail--may be Colorado's most glorious short backpacking trip (about 28 miles).

Description from Wilderness.net

- Our drive into Colorado
- A walk and dinner at Vail, CO
- Beginning of our 3K hike into Base Camp

Length: 3.4 miles (one way)
Difficulty: More Difficult
Beginning Elevation: 10,314 ft.
Ending Elevation: 11,095 ft.
Elevation Gain: +1748 ft.-972 ft. = +776 ft.

Trail Highlights:
From the parking area, the trail is a moderately steep climb to Half Moon Pass, passing through spruce-fir stands the first mile then climbing above timberline to the Pass. On the west side of Half Moon
Pass, the trail descends, with some steep sections, to Cross Creek. The maintained trail continues .75 miles further.

Length: 3.4 miles (one way)
Difficulty: More Difficult
Beginning Elevation: 10,314 ft.
Ending Elevation: 11,095 ft.
Elevation Gain: +1748 ft.-972 ft. = +776 ft.

Trail Highlights:
From the parking area, the trail is a moderately steep climb to Half Moon Pass, passing through spruce-fir stands the first mile then climbing above timberline to the Pass. On the west side of Half Moon
Pass, the trail descends, with some steep sections, to Cross Creek. The maintained trail continues .75 miles further.