Is it right for you?
Savage Peak stands at the head of the Missouri Creek valley in the Holy Cross Wilderness, above Homestake Reservoir north of Leadville. The Missouri Lakes basin below it is lovely and popular.
About half the hike is on the busy Missouri Lakes trail. You leave it short of the lakes, walk south past small ponds to the foot of the northeast ridge, and follow that ridge up, steeper and steeper, to the top of the big couloir that cuts the northeast face. It is Class 2 with no exposure.
The round trip is about 8 miles with 3,200 feet of gain. Another way goes on to the first lake and climbs a steep grass slope west to the north ridge, then walks south about 500 feet higher; that is about 7.5 miles round trip.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be on the ridge crest by 10 a.m.
Steep ground between 12,400 and 13,000 feet.
Moderate. Leave the trail at the clearing where Point 12,898 comes into view.
Missouri Creek and the lakes. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,135'…—
—
—
Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
Getting there
Missouri Lakes
Homestake Road (Forest Road 703) leaves US 24 on the west side at an S-curve between Leadville and Minturn. From Leadville, go north over Tennessee Pass; the turn is 10.9 miles past the Ski Cooper road. From Minturn, climb past Gilman, drop toward Red Cliff, and look for the turn about 3 miles past the big arch bridge at the Red Cliff junction.
Follow 703 about 7 miles to Gold Park Campground (12 fee sites, a vault toilet, no water). There are many free roadside sites on the way, plus one big enough for trailers near the information kiosk 0.3 mile in. About a mile past the campground, turn right at a signed junction onto Forest Road 704 and switchback 2.1 miles up to the shared Missouri Lakes and Fancy Lake trailhead. Skip the Holy Cross City road (Forest Road 759); it is for serious 4WD only.
Any car can make it, though parts are washboard. The trailhead has a vault toilet, and you'll find more primitive sites in the last mile and along the aqueduct road. Busy on summer weekends.
Base towns and camping for this climb
Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.
Before you go
Check these the week of your climb.
Official forecast
The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.
NWS point forecast →Directions to the trailhead
Missouri Lakes. Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
Get directions →Roads and highways
Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.
COtrip road conditions →Closures and fire rules
Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.
Forest Service alerts →Snow on the route?
From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.
Avalanche forecast →Cell signal
Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.
FCC coverage map →