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
Lincoln Mountain sits .6 mile west of CO Hwy 83 in southeast Douglas County, 3.5 miles north of County Line Road.
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 trail to the top of Lincoln Mountain is 4.1 miles or less roundtrip. The trail is entirely Class 1, not terribly steep or rocky (for foot travel) and perhaps only a little strolling off-trail through grass is required to find the true highpoint (good luck…and watch your step for cactus!)
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
•Hours: 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset
•Dogs: Must be kept on leash
•Fees: No use or parking fees
•No fires, no camping, no shooting or hunting, no motorized vehicles
Weather and Seasons
Across the summit plateau
Across the buttes to the Front Range
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. :-)