Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Leadville

Southern Cross Trail

Southern Cross TrailPhoto: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.9 mi
distance
49 ft
climb
10,190 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
Jun–Jul
best months

Is Southern Cross Trail 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.

The Southern Cross Trail is a short, moderate cross-country ski route in Colorado, set at about 10,100 feet in the Dillon Ranger District of White River National Forest. It is a joint-managed area of the Town of Breckenridge and Summit County, and the trail is less than a mile long, with a high point of 10,190 feet and a low of 10,132 feet. The climb is gentle, with a total elevation gain of about 50 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about a third of the way in, with a 10% grade. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Dillon, which sits roughly 1,100 feet lower, show January highs around 31°F and lows near 1°F. That station's July highs reach about 75°F, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Fuller Trail, a mountain biking route, lies just 0.1 mile away, and Preston Way Road, another cross-country ski route, is about 0.4 mile off. Within a few miles you'll also find the Raspberry Boulders climbing area and the Swan River for canoeing.

Around this trail

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

    Breckenridge Area

    Campground

    Campground · 1.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Traverse Restaurant and Bar

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeremy Olson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Jul

    Best time to visit Southern Cross Trail

    Best months: June–July. 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

      31° / 1°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      33° / 4°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 10°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 18°

      11 wet

    5. May

      58° / 26°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      69° / 33°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 38°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 37°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 30°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 21°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 11°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 3°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dillon 1 E, CO, 9 mi away at 9,065 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Preston Way RoadPhoto: Pbritti, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Preston Way Road

Next door

Preston Way Road is a 0.68-mile route in Colorado with 148 feet of elevation gain.

Hoo Doo Voo DooPhoto: Pbritti, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hoo Doo Voo Doo

~2 min drive

1.67-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 472 ft of elevation gain.

B&B Mine TrailPhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

B&B Mine Trail

~2 min drive

Short, beginner-friendly Colorado ski tour near historic mining area.

Prize BoxPhoto: xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Prize Box

~4 min drive

0.87-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 54 ft of elevation gain.

Mount Baldy RoadPhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Baldy Road

~4 min drive

Moderate 2.74-mile road-based ski tour in Colorado with steady climbing.

BreckenridgePhoto: 좀비 브렌다, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Breckenridge

~7 min drive

Breckenridge is a ski area in Colorado with 35 lifts, 128 runs, and 3,256 ft vertical drop.

Extension Mill RoadPhoto: Pbritti, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Extension Mill Road

~2 min drive

0.30-mile trail in Colorado with 239 ft of elevation gain.

Shock HillPhoto: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 au (via Wikimedia Commons)

Shock Hill

~4 min drive

0.61-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 215 ft of elevation gain.

Lincoln Park RoadPhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lincoln Park Road

~2 min drive

2.12-mile road ski route in Lincoln Park with 742 ft of elevation gain.

Lodge ConnectionPhoto: Pbritti, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lodge Connection

~4 min drive

0.11-mile ski trail in Colorado with 1 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors