Cross Creek
Begins at the forest's mile 0, 39.7969, -107.1654 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins
Cross Creek TH #1855 the Forest Service's write-up
The Cross Creek trail begins at Ute - Deep Trail #2031 and ends at Sweetwater Trail #1854. Hike the Ute Trail #2031 for about 1/4 mile and turn right onto this trail, which runs parallel to Sweetwater Canyon and quickly drops down into a lush aspen forest in the first 1/2 mile and crosses Lake Creek, before a steep sagebrush and scrub oak hill. As the trail enters a large wet meadow, it becomes faint, but continues again straight across near an aspen grove. From this point on the trail is fairly level passing through spruce/ fir forests with some aspen. After crossing the Dry Sweetwater Creek the trail ends connecting onto Sweetwater Trail #1854 which can be utilized to return back to the Sweetwater Lake area, about 2 miles northwest of Sweetwater Campground. Early summer is the best time to find excellent displays of lupine, white and purple peavine, flax, sulfur flowers, wild geraniums, locoweed and scarlet gilia.
Cross Creek TH #2006 the Forest Service's write-up
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.
Restrictions See <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/?cid=STELPRD3825863">Holy Cross Wilderness Regulations</a>
Grouse Mountain TH #2010 the Forest Service's write-up
The Grouse Mountain trail links the West Grouse Creek Trail #2129 and the Cross Creek Trail #2006. One of these trails must be hiked about 6 miles just to get to this trail, so most people will require more than one day to hike this. The trail passes over an eastern shoulder of Grouse Mountain and several panoramas of the Sawatch Range can be seen from openings in the forest and near timberline areas along the trail.
Restrictions <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/?cid=STELPRD3825863">Holy Cross Wilderness</a> regulations apply within the Wilderness boundary.