Colorado · Hiking · Near Glenwood Springs

Cross Creek

13.0 mi
round trip
1,529 ft
climb
9,359 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Cross Creek 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.

Cross Creek is a hard hike of 13 miles, with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain from the low point at 7,941 feet to the high point at 9,359 feet. The route is an out-and-back on natural trail in the Eagle Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is open year-round and starts at the Sweetwater Lake Trailhead. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. That makes the route a practical choice for riders on horseback and for hikers planning a full day on foot. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. At a nearby weather station in Yampa, typical July averages run to a high of 79°F and a low of 46°F. That station sits about 1,500 feet below the high point, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. Sweetwater Lake Recreation Area and the Ute-Sweetwater Trail are both within half a mile of the trailhead, and Deep Lake Campground is about 7.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Sweetwater Lake Recreation Area

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail

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  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Cross Creek

    Best months: May–September. 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

      32° / 7°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 9°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 17°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 24°

      11 wet

    5. May

      62° / 33°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 40°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 46°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 45°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 37°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 27°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 17°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 8°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yampa, CO, 28.2 mi away at 7,857 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.