Missouri Lakes

The Cross Creek trail begins at Tigiwon Road #707 and ends at the junction of Missouri Lakes Trail #2003 and Fancy Creek Trail #2006a: The trail begins following a ridge and then drops down to Cross Creek. There is a bridge crossing at 1 mile in a meadow that is usually filled with wildflowers. This, or a view of Mount of the Holy Cross from a rock outcropping a bit further, make nice destinations for a short day hike. From here the trail continues through alternating conifer forest and open meadows before reaching Treasure Vault Lake and the intersection with the Missouri Lakes Trail #2003 and Fancy Pass Trail #2006a at 15.3 miles in an open alpine meadow.

The Missouri Lakes trail is 4.4 miles long. It begins at Missouri Creek Road #704 and ends at Cross Creek Trail and Fancy Pass Trail #2006: The first mile of the trail passes diversion dams and water pipelines. Just past mile 1, the trail crosses the creek at the mouth of a miniature canyon, creating a breath taking view. The trail winds through stands of conifers and crosses the creek several more times before emerging into a large lush meadow. The trail climbs a short, steep distance to the basin that holds the Missouri Lakes. At about 2.7 miles you will see a side trail left that leads to the first of the lakes, a short climb of 100 feet gain in 0.3 miles. Savage Peak dominates the view to the south above this first lake. The main trail traverses the basin past several other lakes before reaching the last lake at about 3.5 miles. To get a bird’s eye view of the lakes, continue up switchbacks to the 11,986-foot Missouri Pass and back down the other side to join the Fancy Pass and Cross Creek trails at 4.4 miles.