Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
Standard route · West Ridge
Overview
Mount Cameron is a broad, flat hump on the ridge between Mount Democrat and Mount Lincoln. It rises above 14,000 feet, but it does not stand far enough above the ridge to count as an official 14er. Almost everyone climbs it on the way to Lincoln, as part of the Decalibron loop from Kite Lake.
From Kite Lake it is a short climb: 4.75 miles round trip and about 2,250 feet of gain. You follow the Democrat trail up to the Democrat-Cameron saddle, then turn right and climb Cameron's rocky west ridge. Most people reach the top in 2 to 3 hours. The trail is steep and loose in places, but there is no scrambling.
The whole route is above treeline. The trailhead itself sits at 12,000 feet. That means there is no shelter at any point, and the wide summit plateau is one of the worst places in the range to be in a lightning storm. It suits new 14er hikers who start very early and watch the sky.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5:30 a.m. You are above treeline from the car, and storms in the Mosquito Range often start before noon.
Turnaround
If you are not at the Democrat-Cameron saddle (13,380 feet) by 9:30 a.m., climb no higher than the saddle. Leave the summit plateau by 11 a.m. at the latest, or sooner if clouds are building.
Crux
The steep, loose climb up Cameron's west ridge from the saddle. The trail is gravel over rock and slick on the way down.
Route-finding
Easy in clear weather. The trail is obvious from Kite Lake to the saddle and up the ridge. In fog, the flat summit plateau is confusing, and it is easy to wander off toward Lincoln or down the wrong side.
Water
Kite Lake and the small streams near the start are the only water. There is none above the lower basin. Carry 2 liters from the car. Filter anything you take from the lake or streams; there is old mining in this basin.
Take Colorado 9 to the town of Alma. In the middle of town, turn west onto the small road signed for Kite Lake. It passes through a residential area, then becomes a dirt road up Buckskin Gulch. Follow it about 6 miles to Kite Lake.
The road is fine for most cars when dry until the last mile, which is rougher. A good-clearance two-wheel-drive car can usually get within a couple hundred yards of the lot. The lot sits at 12,000 feet and has restrooms and a few campsites. A day-use fee is charged. The lot fills early on summer weekends.
TundraTalus and screeRidgeExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Kite Lake trailhead 12,000' · 0 mi
Start at the Kite Lake parking area. The trail leaves from the upper end of the lot and heads north. Democrat is the big peak to your left; the Democrat-Cameron saddle is the low point on the ridge ahead.
2
Past Kite Lake 12,050' · 0.15 mi
Walk past the small lake. The trail is wide and easy here. Stay on the main path heading north up the valley.
3
Willows and grassy basin 12,300' · 0.4 mi
The trail climbs gently through willows and grass. You can see the trail cutting up the slope toward the saddle ahead.
4
Trail steepens 12,600' · 0.65 mi
The trail starts to climb more steeply up the basin toward the saddle. The ground gets rockier and the tundra thins out.
5
Rocky switchbacks 12,950' · 0.9 mi
Steady switchbacks climb loose, rocky ground below the saddle. The trail is well worn and easy to follow.
Watch for: Stay on the trail. Cutting switchbacks sends rocks down onto people below.
6
Upper slope 13,200' · 1.1 mi
The last switchbacks lead up to the ridge. In early summer, snow can cover parts of this slope.
Watch for: In June, snow here can be firm and slick in the morning.
7
Democrat-Cameron saddle 13,380' · 1.2 mi
Reach the wide saddle between Democrat and Cameron. Trails split here: Democrat is to the left (south), Cameron to the right (north and east). Turn right.
Watch for: Remember this saddle. It is your way back down to Kite Lake.
8
Lower west ridge 13,600' · 1.45 mi
Follow the trail up Cameron's west ridge. It climbs steeply over loose rock and gravel. The path is well worn but slippery.
Watch for: Loose gravel over rock. Watch your footing.
9
Steep middle ridge 13,900' · 1.75 mi
The ridge stays steep and rocky. The trail zigzags up through broken rock. Take short breaks; this is the steepest part of the climb.
10
Ridge eases 14,100' · 2 mi
The angle backs off as you near the top. The ridge broadens into a wide, rounded plateau of rock and gravel.
11
Summit 14,238' · 2.2 mi
The high point is on a broad, flat, rocky plateau. Lincoln is the higher peak to the east. Democrat and Bross are in view across the basin.
Watch for: No shelter on the plateau. Do not linger if clouds are building.
The broad ridge up Cameron · Photo: Jeremiah LaRocco
Here Cameron Ridge Connector Trail goes off to the right. Keep left to follow the trail.
Coming down: Keep right to stay on Mount Democrat Trail. Don’t take Cameron Ridge Connector Trail.
Landmarks to know
Kite Lake and the parking lot at 12,000 feet.
The trail heading north up the valley past the lake.
The clear trail cutting up the slope to the Democrat-Cameron saddle.
The trail junction at the wide saddle: left to Democrat, right to Cameron.
The steep, rocky west ridge of Cameron rising from the saddle.
The broad, flat summit plateau with Lincoln just to the east.
Getting down
Go back down the west ridge to the Democrat-Cameron saddle, then down the switchbacks to Kite Lake. The west ridge is steep with gravel on rock, so it is slippery. Go slow and use poles.
In fog or low cloud, the flat summit plateau is hard to read. Make sure you head west down the ridge toward the saddle, not north or east toward Lincoln. At the saddle, turn left (south) and down into the basin. Many people instead continue to Lincoln and Bross to finish the Decalibron loop; only do that if the weather is clearly good, because it adds several hours above treeline.
If things go wrong
The fastest way off is back down the west ridge to the saddle and down the trail to Kite Lake. Do not try to drop straight down the sides of Cameron; they are steep and loose. If weather turns, leave the plateau right away. Head down the ridge and keep moving to lower ground. There is no shelter until the cars. If someone is hurt, keep them warm and on the trail where others pass, and call 911. Cell coverage here is poor, so be ready to send someone down to the trailhead.
3D flyover
Press play to fly the West Ridge. The graph shows elevation along the way and how much you gain each mile. Open full screen.
For planning only. The line is traced from open map data, not walked in the field, and off-trail parts are drawn straight. Load it in your GPS app to see the route, but navigate with your eyes, a map and the route description.
See the trail on video
A climb of this route filmed by Wanderlust073. The video belongs to them and only plays when you press play. This video covers Cameron, Lincoln and Democrat together.
Jump to
Other routes
All 2 routes up Mount Cameron, with the class and round-trip distance for each.
Mount Democrat → Mount Cameron → Mount Lincoln → Mount Bross
Class 2 still means loose rock and route-finding
Expect talus, scree and stretches where the trail disappears. Ankles and weather cause most of the trouble here. Start early, keep an eye on the sky, and set a turnaround time before you leave the car.
