-
7599 Hits
-
78.1% Score
-
9 Votes
Page Type:
|
Mountain/Rock |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
|
39.17460°N / 104.7597°W |
County:
|
Douglas |
Activities:
|
Hiking |
Season:
|
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
|
Elevation:
|
7394 ft / 2254 m |
|
Overview
Views to the northwest
Little Lincoln Mountain may not be lofty, thrilling or remote, but it offers a pleasant hour-or-so long diversion, a place to stretch the legs and take in scenery. Many of the Douglas County Buttes are off-limits to visitors, protected behind barbed wire ranch fencing and “No Trespassing” signs, but not Lincoln Mountain! Slated for development as part of two large-lot subdivisions, the developers ran into hard times and Douglas County in 2009-2010 acquired this nearly 900-acre preserve making Lincoln Mountain accessible to all.
•Expansive views of the snow-clad Front Range highcountry
•In-your-face vistas of Pikes Peak and neighboring Colorado Springs skyline peaks
•Great plains panoramas rolling off to the east
•Easy accessibility for residents and visitors of Colorado Springs, south Denver and places in between
•A mellow, on-trail day that folks of most abilities can enjoy
Stroll through the scrub oak stands, linger under mature Douglas Fir, stroll across the grassy summit studded by small cactus, and breath in the views from this little suburban oasis. Open to the public 31 August 2013, this open space is about as new as they come.
Rank: Unranked
Prominence: 244 feet
USGS Quad: Greenland
YDS Class: 1+ (perhaps a little off-trail wondering through the grass to find the highpoint)
Getting There
Driving toward Lincoln Mountain
Entering the Lincoln Mountain Open Space
Using a vehicle or phone GPS? Try plugging in this address:
7333 E Jones Rd
Larkspur, CO 80118
or
733 Jones Road
Franktown, CO
Head west for just over 1/2 mile on Jones Road. Parking is on the right; note the Lincoln Mountain Open Space sign.
Route
A good map of the Lincoln Mountain Open Space courtesy of Douglas County
Clearly marked trails
Heading up Lincoln Mountain
The Lincoln Mountain Loop Trail is clearly marked and easy to follow. Note that this trail is popular with equestrians and full of “horse apples.” Be mindful of yielding right-of-way to folks riding these big beasts – a horse of certain temperament can spook easily.
Red Tape
Detailed red tape
•Dogs: Must be kept on leash
•Fees: No use or parking fees
•No fires, no camping, no shooting or hunting, no motorized vehicles
![Across the summit plateau]()
Across the summit plateau![Across the buttes to the Front Range]()
Across the buttes to the Front Range
![Grassy summit area]()
Grassy summit area![South along the summit plateau]()
South along the summit plateau
There is no camping at the Lincoln Mountain Open Space and camping and lodging are limited in the immediate area. The nearest areas for lodging, restaurants and shops would be Castle Rock to the north and northeastern Colorado Springs to the south.
Weather and Seasons
Across the summit plateau
Across the buttes to the Front Range
 Click for weather forecast | Summer days in this region can be hot and dusty with violent afternoon thunderstorms. Fall should be sunny and crisp. Winters can be brutally cold and windy. Springtime snowfall should rarely be terribly deep, though you may find conditions conducive to x-country skiing or snowshoeing. |  Click for weather forecast |
Camping and Lodging
Grassy summit area
South along the summit plateau
Sarah Simon - Feb 1, 2014 10:14 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Space barHakes, Thanks, I'll update the breaks in the weather section when I get to a computer. And, yes, there are indeed Douglas firs on this peak. Take it from the woman who, as a kid, had the field guide to N American trees 3/4 memorized by 4th grade. :-)