Mount Lincoln · Lincoln Amphitheater

Difficulty

Class 2

Advanced, D6 / R3 / II

Risk Factors

ExposureModerate
RockfallConsiderable
Route-FindingModerate
CommitmentModerate

Trailhead

Montgomery Res. 10,900 feet

Summit

14,293 feet

Elevation Gain

3,400 ft

Length Round-TripRT

4.75 mi

Peak Conditions

191 reports

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KML

Route Last Updated: Jul 2026

Trailhead

Less than 1 mile south of Hoosier Pass, take the County Road (CR) 4 west from Colorado 9. Start measuring mileage when you turn onto CR 4. At 0.3 miles, stay straight. At 0.6 miles, stay straight. At 0.8 miles, go right on the higher road. At 1.4 miles, reach the parking area at Montgomery Reservoir. Cross a small bridge and continue around the reservoir. Near 1.6 miles, the road gets a little rough. Climb the hill for a bit and locate a turn-off to the left - at 1.7 miles. Turn left and park near a water shed and concrete wall. This is the trailhead.

Route Description

Taken from Hoosier Pass, 1 and 2 show the amphitheater route. 3 is a look from just east of the trailhead. From the parking area, cross a small bridge that spans Middle Fork of the South Platte River. Hike into the forest on a good trail. Weave up through pines and follow the trail as it eventually turns left (south). Continue to a large talus field and hop up through the boulders to reach another talus field 4. Climb a few hundred feet along the side of the stream to reach the ice/water falls 5. Pass them on the right and continue to the mouth of the Amphitheater, near 11,700'. To enter the amphitheater, hike onto or around the initial rock glacier 6. Without a trail, ascend 1/2 mile west through the middle or along the right side of the amphitheater 7.

Near 12,500', begin your exit of the amphitheater by staying right of a small stream 8. Bypass cliffs and a water fall 9 before turning left to avoid loose rock in the center of Lincoln's east slope. Continue to approximately 13,400' to reach Lincoln's southeast ridge 10 and follow the ridge higher to reach a road, near 13,800'. Continuing up the ridge, follow/cross roads but before you reach the summit, turn right and traverse north below Lincoln's summit to reach Lincoln's northeast ridge 11. Turn left and ascend the ridge to reach the summit 12.

Skiing?

The upper east slope holds snow through May. Pick your ski descent during the climb. The Amphitheater is rough and will likely have areas that require travel without skis. By mid-spring, most of the Amphitheater will be melted out.

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Mount Lincoln · Lincoln Amphitheater

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