6/7/2026 Route: Holy Cross Ridge/Halo Ridge up//North Ridge down Posted On: 6/7/2026, By: sfmarn06 Info: Started at 4am due to forecasted high winds starting around 10am. Lots of downed trees in the first mile of Fall Creek Trail — one bunch in particular sent me off route. Stream crossing is low enough that can easily navigate across using rocks. Otherwise, trail is completely dry up to Notch Mountain Shelter. Ridge is 95% dry & almost any remaining snow is avoidable if you want it to be. Few patches I chose to walk across were firm pre-9am. Did not use spikes. The summit register on Holy Cross Ridge did not have a writing utensil (even tho someone signed it yesterday 🤷🏼♀️). I didn’t have one with me, so if the next kind soul going up there could bring one, I’m sure it would be appreciated. Continuous snow down the north ridge of the standard route - again, avoidable if you want it to be or firm enough to walk on if you’re early enough. Wore trail runners & did not have an issue. |
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9/26/2025 Route: Tuhare Lakes (up) - Halo Ridge (down) Posted On: 9/27/2025, By: LizWeiss Info: Basically, summer conditions. Snow was absolutely not an issue on either route. The route from Tuhare Lakes to the ridge is great. The rock is extremely stable and it's straightforward. Highly recommend this route! |
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8/7/2025 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 8/8/2025, By: sehessler92 Info: Longer day than I expected. Probably got off route at least a half a dozen times. For some reason PT 13373 was the trickiest for me as I was trying to follow the sporadic cairns as well as my gpx file which neither seemed to agree. Then came all the false summits before Holy Cross Ridge. This route is super tedious and long. If I was to repeat it I would just take the standard route up to Mt. of the Holy Cross and cross over from there. A little over 4 hours to get up to Holy Cross Ridge then 3.5 hours back down to my car from the standard MOTHC route |
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7/6/2025 Route: TH-Holy Cross-Halo Ridge-Fall Creek Posted On: 7/7/2025, By: 5meodimte Info: About 3 very minor snow patches on the ridge. Flat/ zero consequence areas. Most can be easily avoided. No traction needed. Trail runners all day felt great. 3 am start-3pm ish finish. Lots of breaks and chatting with fellow hikers. |
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6/25/2023 Route: Via Mount of The Holy Cross Posted On: 6/25/2023, By: shepherdkyle Info: Snow not an issue. Scree/boulders not as bad as forewarned. Tedious, but not bad. |
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10/16/2022 Route: From Notch Mtn Posted On: 10/16/2022, By: gluckhikes Info: Nearly summer conditions, just a few avoidable snow patches mostly around the ribs after crossing the Notch. Completely dry on HCR itself. |
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10/8/2020 Route: Notch/13248/Holy Cross Ridge/13768/Holy Cross Posted On: 10/9/2020, By: JasonKline Info: Summer conditions. No snow or ice. Bathroom was locked at Half Moon Trailhead. |
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9/19/2020 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 9/19/2020, By: Danger_D Info: Route still completely clear. Snow is holding in north facing gullies but the Halo Ridge itself is dry. Route finding is super easy |
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9/6/2020 Route: via Halo Ridge Posted On: 9/8/2020, By: E_A_Marcus_949 Info: Went up Halo Ridge down and up Mt of the Holy Cross - both sides clear and dry all the way, mostly stable rocks, no snow or obstacles along the way. |
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9/26/2019 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 9/26/2019, By: supranihilest Info: Coming off Point 13,248 there's a spectacular, wide catwalk. It's barely a catwalk as it's like 10 feet wide, but it's very cool. Ascend the first point on the same rough granite talus and boulders you should be very used to by now and cross another wide catwalk. Continue up even more talus and boulders past a false summit or two to Holy Cross Ridge's summit. |
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8/31/2019 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 8/31/2019, By: durkan Info: Late start, but beautiful day in the Holy Cross Wilderness. Some snow (but all avoidable) on the ascent of the 2nd 13er point, Holy Cross Ridge, the and the saddle between Holy Cross Ridge and Mt of the Holy Cross. Easy route finding the entire way after the shelter, as long as you love talus! |
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7/7/2019 Route: Halo Ridge- Fall Creek Trailheas Posted On: 7/7/2019, By: WildWanderer Info: Not yet summer conditions. Trail dry for first half mile, then few inches of water on trail until 11,700 when it turns to snow. Snowshoes nice in the morning, mandatory on the way back down. Needed ice axe and crampons to get past point 13,248. Dry from 13600 to summit. |
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6/26/2018 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 6/26/2018, By: LetsGoMets Info: Summer conditions, enjoy. |
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6/18/2018 Route: Halo ridge Posted On: 6/20/2018, By: cottonmountaineering Info: Holy cross ridge does not have any snow on the route, no traction needed Moose sign between the trailhead and junction to notch mtn |
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8/8/2011 Route: French Creek/Fall Pass/Tuhare Lake Posted On: 8/13/2011, By: Wyoming Bob Info: Holy Cross Ridge with connection to Holy Cross > parking was 1/4 short of Fancy Creek TH, road to Fancy creek TH dry, road to HC jeep trail, dry, HC jeep trail, dry but for creek crossings, trail to Fall Pass had minor snow crossings, all flat, trail down from Fall pass, boggy at top, minor flat snow lower but for one short slope (soft - 3 p.m.), dry ground at lower Tuhare, no snow from Lower Tuhare direct to Halo Ridge spur through upper Halo to summits but for minor flat snow at saddle between summits. |