Camp Hale Memorial Campground
Campground
Campground · 4.1 mi from the trail
Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Leadville
Cooper Loop
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.2 mi
- distance
- 10,542 ft
- high point
- Moderate
- difficulty
Is Cooper Loop open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Limited parking at Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Grizzly Creek Trail Closure
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026-02 · USFS · White River National Forest
Ruedi Marina Day Use area Dump Station is CLOSED
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Asbestos safety closure - Camp Hale
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Cooper Loop is a short, moderate cross-country ski route in the Holy Cross Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The loop is about 0.2 miles long, with no elevation gain, and it sits at roughly 10,530 feet, making it a flat, low-commitment outing for skiers looking to stay close to the trailhead. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, which sits about 800 feet higher, show January and February highs around 27 to 29°F with lows near 3°F and about 15 snow days a month. By June, snow days drop to about two, and July highs reach the mid-60s, though the station's higher elevation means temperatures on the loop run a little warmer. Cooper Creek, another cross-country ski route, lies just 0.1 mile away, and The Woods, a mountain biking area, is at a similar distance. For overnight stays, Camp Hale Memorial Campground and Camp Hale East Fork Group Campground are both about 4 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Hot Heads Chicken
Fast food
On your way back · 7 mi · Open after 6
If it rainsPlazak, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMatchless Mine
Attraction
In town
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Plazak, CC BY 3.0 (commons)
More in LeadvilleLocal outfitters
- Rancho Del Rio40 mi away
- Jones Pass Guides43 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Cooper CreekCross-country skiingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
The WoodsMountain bikingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
Tennessee CreekCanoeingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)4.1 mi- Camp Hale Memorial CampgroundCamping4.1 mi
- Camp Hale East Fork Group CampgroundCamping4.2 mi
East Fork Arkansas RiverCanoeingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)4.6 mi- Alpine RockRock climbing5 mi
- Cecilville Slab aka Cecil RockRock climbing5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Cooper Loop RoadCross-country skiing · Next doorPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
10Th Mountain DivideCross-country skiing · Next doorPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Lung BurnCross-country skiing · ~1 min drivePhoto: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- CooperCross-country skiing · ~2 min drivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ski CooperDownhill skiing · ~2 min drivePhoto: The original uploader was Sculptorjones at English Wikipedia., Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Mount Of The Holy Cross #2009Ski touring · ~21 min drivePhoto: Lionello DelPiccolo liodp, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Larry'S LoopCross-country skiing · Next doorPhoto: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- The WoodsCross-country skiing · Next doorPhoto: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- GrizCross-country skiing · ~2 min drivePhoto: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Treeline Loop Ski TrailCross-country skiing · ~2 min drivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Cooper Loop
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.
Jan
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Feb
29° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Mar
35° / 8°
14 wet · 14 snow
Apr
40° / 15°
13 wet · 13 snow
May
49° / 25°
10 wet · 8 snow
Jun
61° / 34°
8 wet · 2 snow
Jul
67° / 40°
13 wet
Aug
64° / 39°
15 wet
Sep
58° / 32°
11 wet · 2 snow
Oct
47° / 21°
9 wet · 7 snow
Nov
35° / 11°
12 wet · 12 snow
Dec
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 6.1 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 800 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
