Cross Mountain (Colorado)

Cross Mountain
East aspect
Highest point
Elevation	12,703 ft (3,872 m)[1][2]
Prominence	203 ft (62 m)[2]
Parent peak	Gladstone Peak (13,919 ft)[2]
Isolation	1.02 mi (1.64 km)[2]
Coordinates	37°49′56″N 107°58′07″W / 37.8321257°N 107.9686907°W / 37.8321257; -107.9686907[3]
Geography
Cross Mountain Location in Colorado Show map of Colorado Cross Mountain Cross Mountain (the United States) Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Dolores / San Miguel
Protected area	Lizard Head Wilderness
Parent range	Rocky Mountains San Juan Mountains San Miguel Mountains[4]
Topo map	USGS Mount Wilson
Geology
Rock age	Cretaceous[5]
Climbing
Easiest route	class 2[1][2]

Cross Mountain is a 12,703-foot-elevation (3,872-meter) summit on the border shared by Dolores and San Miguel County, in Colorado, United States.

Cross Mountain is located 11 miles (18 km) southwest of the community of Telluride in the Lizard Head Wilderness, on land administered by Uncompahgre National Forest and San Juan National Forest. It is situated west of the Continental Divide in the San Juan Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's south slope drains to the Dolores River via Slate Creek, whereas the north slope drains to the San Miguel River via Bilk Creek. Topographic relief is modest as the summit rises 2,100 feet (640 meters) above Slate Creek in 1.4 miles (2.3 km). An ascent of the summit involves hiking 4.3 miles (6.9 km) with 2,663 feet of elevation gain from the Cross Mountain Trailhead along Highway 145.^[1] The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[3]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cross Mountain has an alpine climate with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.^[6] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring. Climbers can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.

• Mountains portal
• Mountains of Dolores County, Colorado

• Cross Mountain Trail: usda.gov