Notch Mountain Trail

Notch Mountain is where the famous photographs of the Mount of the Holy Cross were taken, from a ridge directly across the valley from the cross-shaped snow couloir, and the stone shelter the Forest Service built there in 1924 for pilgrims still stands. The trail climbs 2,800 feet in 5 miles from the Half Moon trailhead, the last 2 on a long stack of switchbacks, to the shelter at about 13,100 feet on the ridge. The cross is best in late June and early July, before the arms melt out.

From the Half Moon trailhead, take the Fall Creek trail south into the Holy Cross Wilderness, climbing steadily through spruce along Fall Creek for about 2 miles. At the signed junction, the Notch Mountain trail leaves right and starts up the east face of the mountain.

The switchbacks are the mountain's signature: two dozen or more, well built, climbing through the last of the trees and then across tundra and talus with the view opening east over the Sawatch. The trail tops out on the ridge at the stone shelter, a roofed hut with a view straight across to the Holy Cross and its couloir. The listing's 13,237-foot high point is the south summit of Notch Mountain, a short scramble above the shelter along the ridge. Return the same way for 9.9 miles.

Tigiwon Road (Forest Road 707) leaves US 24 two miles south of Minturn and climbs 8 miles of gravel to the Half Moon trailhead at about 10,300 feet, passable by passenger cars when dry. The road is closed to vehicles every year from May 1 through June 20 to protect wildlife, so the trailhead opens by car on June 21 at the earliest, and it closes again with snow in fall. The lot is full by 5 AM on July and August weekends with Holy Cross climbers; the overflow lines the road. No fee or permit for day hiking; anyone staying overnight in the Holy Cross Wilderness must self-register at the trailhead and carry the copy, and camping inside the Notch Mountain shelter is prohibited. Toilet at the lot.

Dogs are allowed on leash in the wilderness. Not a kid hike. Carry three liters; Fall Creek is the last water. The shelter is open to anyone and is a fine place to wait out a squall, but it is not a place to be in lightning. The trailhead is above 10,000 feet and the ridge above 13,000; sleep in Minturn or Vail the night before. Tigiwon and Half Moon campgrounds sit along the road. Lake Constantine shares the first 2 miles, and the Holy Cross guide covers the mountain across the valley.