wildernet

Holy Cross Ranger District

Quick Facts

Shrine Pass Road

Beginning Elevation:	8,650 Feet (2696.4 Meters) at Redcliff
Elevation Gain:	2,439 Feet (760.3 Meters)
Ending Elevation:	10,600 Feet (3304.2 Meters) at Vail Pass
Handicapped Accessible:	Yes Julia's Deck/ Mt of the Holy Cross Overlook
High Point:	11,089 Feet (3456.7 Meters) at Shrine Pass
Length, One-way:	11 Miles (18.33 Kilometers)
Other Maps:	Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area
Road Number:	FDR 709
Ti Topo Maps:	#108 Vail, Frisco, Dillon
USGS Maps:	Redcliff; Vail Pass

General Description

INTRODUCTION
Easily accessed, and frequently traveled by two wheel drive vehicles, hikers, and bikers, this scenic road winds through a beautiful valley with aspen and pine forests, and a pull over for one of the very best views of Mount of the Holy Cross.

It can be driven either from Vail Pass to Redcliff, or vice versa. Either direction, the view is entirely different. At the summit of the Pass, there is a 10th Mountain Division Hut that is generally open in the summertime to the public for lunch and dinner. Inquire locally.

At the west end of the road (near Redcliff) there are the remnants of log cabins... a great picture spot.

TRAIL TIPS
This road is heavily traveled. Watch for vehicles/people traveling in opposite directions. There are many spur roads off of the main road. Be sure to gather information before attempting these roads. The spurs are more difficult than Shrine Pass, and most require the use of four wheel drive.

Directions from Vail: Follow I-70 west to the Minturn exit (#171). Follow Highway 24 south through the town of Minturn for 9 miles until you come to the turn-off for the town of Redcliff just before crossing the suspension bridge. Travel east 1/2 mile to the town of Redcliff, and take the first road to the left. This road turns into the two wheel drive dirt road, Shrine Pass. At the top of the Vail Pass, you'll drive through a rest area, and then to I-70, about 10 miles east of Vail. The road directions may also be reversed.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Summer through Fall (NOTE: Seasons vary depending on weather and snow depth) .

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

OPEN. Updated: 2001-06-13 11:25:00.0

Add your own trip Report! Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others. This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report

Time of Day: Noon
Length of Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: The .25 mile walk to Shrine Mountain overlook was easy and very pretty. Great vistas and peaceful drive along a quiet stream. Do not recommend for 2WD low clearance vehicles because of large rocks in road.

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Cross-country Skiing		Yes
	Automobile Travel	Shrine Pass Road	Yes
	Mountain Biking	Shrine Pass and spur roads.	Yes
	Scenic Driving	The Shrine Pass Road is passable for 2 WD vehicles in the summer months.	Yes
	Snowmobiling		Yes
	Snowshoeing		Yes
	Viewing Scenery	Mount of the Holy Cross Overlook/ Julia's Deck	Yes
	Viewing Scenery	Holy Cross Overlook	Yes

Related Activities

Benson's Cabin Four-Wheel Drive Road - This four-wheel drive road is a short spur off of the Shrine Pass Road, located east of Redcliff.

Gore Creek General Forest Area - The Gore Creek General Forest Area includes the entire Gore Creek drainage, which runs from Dowd's Junction to Vail Pass and the Gore Range.

Lime Creek Four-Wheel Drive Road - This is a short spur off the Shrine Pass Road. It can be accessed from either the Redcliff or the Vail Pass end of the Shrine Pass Road.

Mount Of The Holy Cross Overlook - The Mount of the Holy Cross Overlook, Julia's Deck, is located off the Shrine Pass Road between Redcliff and Vail Pass. Julia's Deck was constructed as a handicapped accessible facility.

Upper Eagle River General Forest Area - The Upper Eagle River General Forest Area includes most of the area from Minturn, south to Tennessee Pass.

Wearyman/Resolution Four-Wheel Drive Road - The Wearyman Jeep Road begins east of Redcliff and eventually links to the Resolution Road, which leads to Hwy. 24 at Camp Hale.