Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville

Cougar Ridge

Cougar RidgePhoto: jrm353, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
10.6 mi
round trip
2,154 ft
climb
10,685 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Cougar Ridge open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cougar Ridge is a hard out-and-back hike in the Holy Cross Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail runs about 10.6 miles, with a total elevation gain of 2,154 feet, from a low point of 8,174 feet to a high of 10,685 feet. The route is on natural surface and allows horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, which sits about 660 feet higher than the high point, show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F and no snow days. Winter is cold and snowy, with highs in the upper 20s and about 15 snow days a month from December through February. The Game Creek Trailhead is the parking for this route, and the trail is open year-round. Game Creek, a mountain biking area, is less than a mile away, and Hay Meadow and Grouse Lake are each about a mile off. Halfmoon Campground is roughly 6 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Vail Area

    Campground

    Campground · 4.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Mexican Bar & Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Craig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Cougar Ridge

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    2. Feb

      29° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    3. Mar

      35° / 8°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    4. Apr

      40° / 15°

      13 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      49° / 25°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    6. Jun

      61° / 34°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      67° / 40°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      64° / 39°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      58° / 32°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      47° / 21°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    11. Nov

      35° / 11°

      12 wet · 12 snow

    12. Dec

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 19.6 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 700 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Route details

Distance
10.6 mi round trip
Climbing
About 2,154 ft
Starts at
Game Creek Trailhead (about 9,880 ft)
Summit
9,946 ft
Difficulty
Hard

Getting there

Park at Game Creek Trailhead.

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Cougar Ridge on Lionshead?

About 10.6 mi round trip from Game Creek Trailhead (about 9,880 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Cougar Ridge?

About 2,154 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Cougar Ridge?

It is rated hard.

Where does the Cougar Ridge start?

Game Creek Trailhead (about 9,880 ft).

When is the best time for the Cougar Ridge?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Lionshead

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors