October 17, 2019

By Tim Briese

7.4 miles, 2200’ elevation gain, 5:00 roundtrip time

While on a trip to southwest Colorado I hiked the Cross Mountain Trail, partly to see some of the rugged San Juan Mountains from a new perspective, but mostly to get a close up look at spectacular Lizard Head Peak (13,113’). I drove to the Cross Mountain Trailhead a couple of miles south of Lizard Head Pass on CO Hwy. 145 and embarked up the trail on a chilly and windy morning with my lab Abby. The trail climbed steadily up through meadows and woods and after a couple of miles nice views of Lizard Head appeared ahead.

a view of lizard head peak as i approached on the trail

I passed a couple of hikers with their dogs taking a break, the only other hikers I saw today. It became more and more windy as I climbed higher. The nice trail climbed up to timberline and intersected the Lizard Head Trail just south of the peak.

getting closer

I turned left at the junction and continued about a half mile on the Lizard Head Trail to a saddle at 12,000’.

i followed the trail to a saddle at the left

the summit tower of lizard head is the neck of an ancient volcano

a technical climb anyone?  the 350 foot summit tower has at least three established routes up this south face, with a minimum difficulty of 5.8.  it is easily the most difficult of colorado's 13ers to climb.

there was a nice view of mt. wilson, left, and gladstone peak, right, as i approached the saddle

The saddle was a spectacular vantage point, with Mt. Wilson and Gladstone Peak a mile and a half to the west and Lizard Head Peak towering directly above me to the east.

looking up at lizard head from the saddle

a zoom shot of the summit tower from the saddle

a panorama of mt. wilson, gladstone peak, and wilson peak, left to right, from the saddle

mt. wilson and gladstone peak.  the view brought back memories of my climbs of these peaks.

gladstone peak

mt. wilson

cross mountain (12,703'), center, might have been a fun climb today if conditions and time permitted

The trail continued on down into Bilk Basin to the north but the saddle was my turn around point today. After standing in the vicious wind to take some photos and admire this wonderful place for a few minutes I turned and retraced my steps back.

a view of pilot knob, golden horn, and vermillion peak, left to right, from the trail on the way back

the 10,400' trailhead was in itself a scenic place