The United States Congress designated the Holy Cross Wilderness (map
) in 1980 and it now has a total of 122,446 acres
All of this wilderness is located in Colorado
and is managed by the Forest Service.
The Holy Cross Wilderness is characterized by rugged ridgelines and glacier-carved valleys complete with spruce-fir forests, cascading streams and dozens of lakes. The wilderness is named after Mount of the Holy Cross, which became famous in 1873 when William Henry Jackson first photographed the cross of snow on the northeast face of the mountain. Over 150 miles of trail traverse the area, providing excellent opportunities for day hiking and backpacking trips.