Cross Mountain Loop

Lizard Head Wilderness can be accessed between Telluride and Rico, CO. I can't tell you how many times I've driven by without stopping; I decided it was finally time (long past time, really) to explore. After doing some research, we decided on hiking the Cross Mountain Loop, which takes you from Cross Mountain Trail to Lizard Head Trail.

It's not a traditional loop as the trailheads are two miles apart. We had two cars, conveniently,  and were able to park a car at Lizard Head Trailhead and shuttle our group up to Cross Mountain Trailhead. If you don't have two cars, you'll have to walk parallel to the road for an extra 2 miles once you pop out at  Lizard Head Trailhead.

Cross Mountain Trail is rather steep, and we found ourselves above tree-line before we knew it. Well, our lungs and legs definitely knew it and felt it! The Cross Mountain Trail takes you up the face of Black Mountain at the base of Lizard Head Peak before connecting with Lizard Head Trail. We went right on Lizard Head Trail and walked around the base of Lizard Head Peak and then dove back down into the trees.

The trail quickly climbs back out of the trees and up onto the ridge of another mountain. The 360 degree views from the highest point of this trail, an unnamed knob, are phenomenal, and provided a dramatic backdrop for our beef jerky and granola bar lunch.

After the knob, the trail winds down the mountain with the help of TOO MANY switchbacks. We tried to keep count, but gave up around 20. We popped out at the Lizard Head Trailhead around 1:30 pm, just as the afternoon clouds were rolling in.

The Cross Mountain Loop was a great taste of the Lizard Head Wilderness, which boasts miles and miles of pristine, seldom traveled wilderness; I plan on backpacking there in the years to come. Until then...