Route Description

Take Colorado 9 to Alma. In the middle of town and on the west side of the road, look for a small sign for the road to Kite Lake. Turn here and drive a bit through a residential area. Continue 6 miles to Kite Lake. The last mile of this road can be a bit more rough, but a good-clearance 2WD should still be able to make it when the road is dry. There are restrooms and some camping spots at the trailhead. You must pay a small fee to park/camp at Kite Lake. If you park below (no fee), walk up the road to Kite Lake.

Details:

From the parking area, follow the blocked road past the lake. After the lake, begin the ascent out of the basin - Photo #1 and Photo #2. Near 12,200’, pass a collapsed mine shack - Photo #3. At 12,600' (Photo #4), follow the trail up a rugged slope (Photo #5) to reach the base of Mt. Democrat’s east slope - Photo #6. Near 12,800', the trail swings left (south) for a bit before turning right and heading north across the east slope, toward the Democrat-Cameron saddle - Photo #7.

From the saddle (Photo #8), turn right and follow the trail along the right side of Mt. Cameron’s west ridge - Photo #9 and Photo #10. After some hiking below the ridge crest, the trail swings left to regain the ridge near 13,500’ - Photo #11 and Photo #12. Continue along the ridge to 14,000’ where the steepness eases and you can see the remaining hike to Cameron’s summit - Photo #13. Pass a bump on the left side and walk up to the summit - Photo #14.

Photo #15 shows the next leg of the hike over to Mt. Lincoln. Leave Cameron and descend northeast to the Cameron-Lincoln saddle - Photo #16. Follow the trail up past a bump (Photo #17) to see Lincoln’s summit - Photo #18. Walk over to the final pitch (Photo #19) and hike up through some Class 2 terrain to reach the summit - Photo #20.