Colorado · Hiking · Holy Cross Wilderness · Near Leadville

Missouri Lakes

9.0 mi
round trip
2,554 ft
climb
11,997 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Missouri Lakes 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.

Missouri Lakes is a 9-mile out-and-back hike in the Holy Cross Wilderness, part of the Holy Cross Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. The trail rises from about 10,000 feet to about 12,000 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,554 feet, and it is rated expert. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is on natural surface. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, which sits a few hundred feet lower, show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F and no snow days. Winter is harsh, with highs in the upper 20s and snow on about half the days from December through February. The Missouri Lake / Fancy Pass Trailhead is the parking for this route, and the trail is open year-round. Fancy Lake Spur #2006.1A and Cross Creek are both within about a mile and a half. Gold Park Campground is about 4 miles away, and the North Fork Fryingpan River offers canoeing about 5 miles out.

Around this trail

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

    Gold Park Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 4.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Hot Heads Chicken

    Fast food

    On your way back · 15 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 Missouri Lakes

    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, 17.5 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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