Colorado · Hiking · Holy Cross Wilderness · Near Leadville

Ironedge

6.3 mi
loop
3,143 ft
climb
11,905 ft
high point
Loop
route

Is Ironedge 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.

Ironedge is a hard hike in the Holy Cross Wilderness, part of the Eagle Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a loop of about 6.3 miles with a total elevation gain of 3,143 feet, from a low point of about 9,374 feet to a high of about 11,905 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses, so riders can take it as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, which sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail's 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. Gold Dust and Lake Charles are both hikes within about 2 miles. Yeoman Park Campground and the Exit Wall climbing area are about 4.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Fulford Cave Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Hot Heads Chicken

    Fast food

    On your way back · 22 mi · Open after 6

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 Ironedge

    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, 23.3 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.