This short, sweet route provides a much less crowded alternative to the standard Decalibron Route for Mount Lincoln from Kite Lake. It also provides the best and shortest winter and spring options for Lincoln.

Approach

Quartzville Creek Trailhead: 11,390 feet

From the North:
From Hoosier Pass on CO 9, descend 3.7 miles to the bottom of the valley and turn west onto Park County 4.

From the South:
From the intersection of US 285 and CO 9 in Fairplay, continue 8.1 miles to the turn to the west on Park County 4.

Turn west onto Park County 4. Set your odometer.
- Go west (left) at .1 mile
- Go south (left) at 0.3 mile
- Right at .4 mile
- Stay Right on the Quartzville Road at 2.7 miles
- Turn left onto FS 437 at 3.3 miles
- Follow FS 437 as far as you can go.

Red Tape:
FS 437 is a 4x4 road, and the only authorized parking is at a large parking area at the end of the road, approximately 1 mile from the turn. In winter, this road is never plowed, and it stays snowed in until May or June. There are no parking signs all along the main road and along the FS road. So, technically, parking is never allowed along the FS road, even when it is snowed in. However, parking is authorized at the end of an FS road as long as it is snowed in and no vehicle could conceivably drive further. Use your judgement here. Don't park on the main road.

Route Description

Follow FS 437 as it climbs into Cameron Basin. As you reach 13,000 feet, follow the road as it switches back hard and gains the East slopes of Mount Lincoln. After gaining the East slopes, follow the road past a bunch of mining ruins. Stay away from them.

Use a faint trail to gain the summit.

Route Stats:
Round Trip Mileage: 6.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet

TOPO credit to SP member odysseus

Route Photo for Mount Lincoln. This route is in blue

Essential Gear

Just standard hiking gear for summer. Snow season will require appropriate gear and clothing. An ice axe might be handy if you intend to climb the steeper slopes on snow.

Avalanche Conditions and Information

Colorado Avalanche information Center's Website for current information on Mount Lincoln's region.

The most dangerous portion of this route is the steep slopes next to the cliffs on Mount Lincoln's East Shoulder. You can easily avoid the steeper portions by varying your route during winter and spring.

Red Tape

ACCESS ISSUES:

All routes on Mt Lincoln, Mt Bross, and Mt Democrat are on private property.

The Forest Service originally distributed flyers in the area about the routes to all 3 summits being on private property. Kite Lake is public, the Bristlecone Pine area is public, but everything above them is not. The flyers caused millions of phone calls and grief for the Forest Service and the landowners. For instance, Mt Bross has over 50 owners. Mt Democrat and Lincoln don't have that many, but there are still quite a few.

So the Forest Service recently did the press releases that many of us saw in the Dever Post and other news outlets to limit phone calls to the rangers. This is where we currently stand. The land owners are concerned about liability issues, but so far, have not posted or blocked their land. They don't respond to phone calls or emails.

If you call the rangers, they will offer no information on routes and tell you that they are all on private property. This is the official FS stance.

Several organizations, including the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, are currently trying to work out a plan that works for everyone.

My two cents: Continue to hike and climb here. Respect the land owners and avoid all posted property. Leave No Trace. Pick up trash. Travel in small groups. Give all mining areas a wide berth. Use established trails and roads.

Travel at your own risk.

Images