Clinton Peak

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 6/8/2026, By: E_A_Marcus_949
Info: Parked at Montgomery res. Wheeler Road up to the lake was free and clear of snow. Large standard puddles easily able to navigate around. Snow around the lake - some firm, some post holing - be careful around rocks. Some snow past the lake heading up into the basin for Clinton - mostly firm. Much other snow can be avoided. 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 5/31/2026, By: sfmarn06
Info: All the gates are open at Montgomery Reservoir to the TH. I decided to chance it & wore trail runners, which worked out well on the way up as the snow was still super firm. The road/trail from the TH to Wheeler Lake is snow free - albeit some giant puddles that are easily navigated around. There is a spot with some faster moving water where all the rocks to cross were covered in ice. I dropped down to the left/south side of the trail & found a narrower crossing with a dry rock. Only real snow I had to contend with was going around the lake & up the gully to the basin - the latter is still full of snow. Just used microspikes & poles. Otherwise, dry up the south slopes of Clinton & stating just right of the ridge to the other two keeps you out of any additional snow. Windy but fantastic morning out! 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 5/17/2026, By: EndWillows
Info: Hiked Clinton 5/17.
Gate is closed about 1/4 mile before the normal parking lot. Road is pretty washed out lots of big puddles, streams and snow.
Crux of the snow is ascending past wheeler lake, spikes were definitely necessary, ice axe wouldn’t hurt for the descent. Other than that snow wasn’t much of an issue. Posting pics of surrounding peaks as well. 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 10/26/2025, By: merrion13
Info: No traction needed, very minor snow in small pockets but could easily be avoided. 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 8/2/2025, By: Outbounder
Info: The road remains flooded in many spots. These sections can often be bypassed if you take an alternative route through the trees/willows. It seemed like all but two of these alternative trails were on your right as you ascend. However, even with those side trails and trying to keep my shoes dry, they ended up soaked. The trail itself is snow free and easy to follow. Wheeler is easy to add to the route. Enjoy the solitude and start early before the Jeeps hit the trail! 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 7/9/2025, By: jberning30
Info: The snow around and just above Wheeler Lake is less avoidable than I anticipated...but the crossings were all relatively short and minimal, only postholed bad once or twice. Had extra socks with me regardless because I wear trail runners and had read the reports about the 4x4 river, I mean road! Plus the swampy/marshy areas heading up the basin! Highly recommend bringing extra socks or just wearing boots. Snowfields up the basin all avoidable. All in all, it was a beautiful day, the ridgeline itself is super fun and easy and always nice to bag 3 peaks at once. Only saw 2 other folks all day, maybe they're on here, super nice and much further along in the 14er/13er journey than I, if you guys are on here - enjoyed conversating on Traver! 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 7/5/2025, By: skidude3892
Info: Conditions were great! Only a few bits of snow to avoid, but they were almost entirely avoidable. Didnt bring or feel like I really needed spikes. There’s still a good amount of standing/flowing water on the road, so prepare to get a little bit wet if you wear trail runners 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 6/20/2025, By: emilysharpe24
Info: Summer Solistice! Escaped the insane heat in Denver and this was the perfect day to do this combo. Forecast called for high winds, which In reality felt amazing with the warmer forecast. The road to Wheeler Lake Was dry in some spots, but mainly a running creek for the majority of the approach to the lake. In some cases you could go around, but I didn’t mind getting my feet wet for the majority of the day. The basin above the lake leading to Clinton is still holding a good amount of snow (no traction needed) but be prepared to get your feet wet. Ridges were mainly dry and snow-avoidable:) 

Route: Monica’s Descent
Posted On: 6/15/2025, By: austin132435
Info: Went early and climbed couloir, was in fine shape. Used snowshoes in parts of basin, very hot. 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 7/6/2025, By: infinitealpine
Info: This 4x4 road sucks for hiking. The road is still wet in a lot of places, most have side trails to avoid going through the water but I couldn't find a good detour on the last one. Kudos to you if you're able to complete this without getting your feet wet! Cross on the snow at Wheeler Lake, I tried going higher and had to backtrack. This area could benefit from a proper trail because the upper basin was really wet no matter where I went. 

Route: Monica’s Descent (partial)
Posted On: 5/31/2025, By: MidsizeAl
Info: Early start, hit the base of the couloir just after sunrise. In spite of this, the snow was very soft and did not get a good freeze overnight. Lots of recent slide activity throughout the basin. Bailed about a third of the way up off to the South on one of the cliff bands and made our way towards the standard route. Completed the traverse to McNamee and Traver and descended via the E ridge. The cornice between Clinton and McNamee has somewhat fallen, but be careful on the snow on the ridge. It was very punchy and difficult to tell what was above solid rock. Mashed potatoes the whole way back down towards the base of Clinton. Then, things got pretty spooky. We were on snowshoes headed down towards the lake around 11:30 and I heard a collapse behind me that travelled a couple hundred meters. Didn’t see anything move, but it was alarming. We moved cautiously and stuck to as low angle terrain as possible, but triggered several other audible collapses/wumphs that moved across the slope behind us. Definitely kept us on edge, especially as we traversed past the lake below the more dangerous slope angles. 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 4/7/2025, By: notidealbutfine
Info: Started at Montgomery Reservoir. Wore ski boots for the first .5 mile, switched to skins up until the last .25 mile below the summit. Back to boots on windswept rocks to the summit. Skied from the summit back to the basin via the south slopes, then followed my skin track back to the car. Skis on 95% of the day! A snowmobile track goes almost all the way to the lake making for nice gliding. Low wind on this bluebird day! 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 3/28/2025, By: aksean22
Info: Quick ski up Clinton yesterday from the Montgomery reservoir. Despite the forecasted warm temps there was a good freeze overnight and some cloud cover and a light breeze kept the snow locked up all morning. Good coverage from car to summit, no signs of any avy activity. Had to switch to booting in a few spots (ski crampons would've been helpful) but no postholing. 9.5 miles, 3200'. 

Route: Combo Clinton/McNamee/Traver
Posted On: 5/18/2024, By: backcountrybrodes
Info: Climbed the 3 peaks and it didn't feel like enough, so I added on the south face of North Star Mtn. and then an epic glissade down. Strava says 11.4mi, 5,492ft, 8:07:20.

Road is gated at the winter closure. Dug an avy pit on Clinton (see photo) - there are 3in of hard slab, followed by 8in of thin dust, followed by 4in of harder packed wet snow, followed by a paper-thin ice layer, followed by more thin dust.

Wore snowshoes for 90% of the day, mashed potato snow started at around 12:30pm. If you make the decision not to pack them because the road is completely dry from the parking lot... think again because you'll be walking back to your car to get them at about 0.5 miles in haha. If I would have done anything different I would have started about an hour earlier than my actual start time of 6:15am.

Saw no other hikers the entire time and I was the only one at the lot. Wildlife I saw was only birds.
Sweet views out there of all the snowy 14ers nearby!!! Go get 'em! Start early finish early! 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 5/12/2024, By: k_fergie
Info: Skied Clinton today with Breanna. Terrible flat light, great snow. Skied car to summit to car with minor billy-goating on the road between the gated winter TH and summer TH at Montgomery reservoir. The lower road will melt out soon, upper road and slopes had great coverage and will for some time