Fancy Pass - Missouri Pass Loop 
Distance: 8.1 miles (loop)
Holy Cross Wilderness, White River National Forest, near Leadville in Central Colorado
Peaks at the head of the Cross Creek Valley
This great loop hike climbs to two scenic passes and visits a pair of gorgeous lake basins surrounded by 13,000-ft. granite peaks and ridges in the Holy Cross Wilderness.
See Trail Detail/Full Description
- Distance: 8.1 miles (loop)
- Elevation: 10,000-ft. at Trailhead
Maximum elevation: 12,380-ft. - Elevation Gain: 2,380-ft.
- Difficulty: moderate-strenuous
- More Hikes in:
Leadville / Central Colorado
Why Hike Fancy Pass - Missouri Pass Loop
This is one of my favorite hikes in the Holy Cross Wilderness. The trail visits two scenic passes, traverses a beautiful alpine valley and wanders through the gorgeous Missouri Lakes basin. There are some steep sections of the loop, but overall the hike features moderate grades on good trails.
If you desire a degree of solitude the hike is best done during the week or in the fall. The Missouri Lakes basin is a very popular camping area that can become quite crowded on weekends and holidays.
If you like ghost towns and mining ruins a 3.0 mile (RT) detour near Fancy Lake contours northeast to Holy Cross City, a mining town occupied during the 1880’s and 1890’s. There is quite a bit of mining equipment scattered about the site as well as the remains of several cabins.
Elevation Profile
| Buy the BookThis opinionated guide includes all the hikes in the Aspen, Buena Vista, Crested Butte, Marble and Leadville sections of the website plus info on local services and nearby attractions. |
Trail Resources
Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map
Basecamp(s) Information:
Leadville
Region Information:
Central Colorado
Other Hiking Regions in:
Colorado