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.
Centennial 13er · South Slope
Overview
Clinton Peak is a rounded Mosquito Range summit at the head of the Middle Fork of the South Platte River, just east of the Climax Mine. From Montgomery Reservoir you walk a long, rough 4WD road up the valley to Wheeler Lake, climb a gully into a high basin, and finish on talus to the summit. Many people also add the nearby summits of Traver and McNamee.
The route is Class 2 with no exposure. It is a gentle mountain, but the day is long because of the road walk. The road is muddy and rocky, with big puddles that push you into the willows. Above the lake the terrain is open tundra, rock outcrops and talus.
The round trip is about 9 miles with about 2,950 feet of gain. Plan on 6 to 8 hours. It is a good choice for newer hikers who can handle distance, and for anyone who wants a quieter peak close to Breckenridge.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m. The road walk takes a while, and you want to be off the upper slopes before afternoon storms.
Turnaround
If you are not at Wheeler Lake by 9:30 a.m., or clouds are building over the basin, turn around. Leave the summit by noon.
Crux
The last talus slope from the head of the basin to the summit. It is steady, loose and tiring, but never hard.
Route-finding
The road is easy to follow. Above Wheeler Lake, pick your way up a gully into the basin, then head to the basin's head and up to the summit. In clouds, the broad basin and ridges can be confusing.
Water
The Middle Fork and Wheeler Lake have water. Small streams in the upper basin may run early in the season. Filter everything; there is a lot of old mining in this area.
From Breckenridge, drive south on Highway 9 over Hoosier Pass. About a mile past the top, turn right (west) onto County Road 4. From Alma, drive north on Highway 9 about 5 miles and turn left onto CR 4. Follow CR 4 down to Montgomery Reservoir, ignoring side roads.
Right before you reach the dam, the road splits in two. Passenger cars should take the left branch, which drops to parking beside the lake. The right branch swings over to the reservoir's west end and a lot where the road ends; most stock SUVs can get there. Past that lot, the 4WD road toward Wheeler Lake opens with a rock slab and a tall step that turns back many vehicles, and conditions get much worse higher up. The trailhead has no real camping, and the land surrounding the reservoir is private.
ScramblingRoadTrail in the treesTundraTalus 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
Montgomery Reservoir 10,970' · 0 mi
Start at the parking area at the west end of the reservoir. Walk up the 4WD road heading west. Do not take the road that turns right to the old Magnolia Mill.
2
Rock slab step 11,000' · 0.2 mi
Right away the road climbs a steep rock slab with a tall step. This is where most drivers turn back. Walking it is easy.
3
Middle Fork road 11,200' · 1 mi
The road runs west on the north side of the Middle Fork of the South Platte. Expect deep puddles and mud that push you into the willows along the side.
Watch for: Mud and wet willows. Waterproof boots help.
4
Upper valley 11,450' · 1.8 mi
The valley opens up. The rounded peaks at the head of the valley come into view. Ignore an old fork that goes left down to the creek.
5
Road turns north 11,680' · 2.3 mi
The road makes a sharp right turn and starts climbing steeply toward Wheeler Lake. If you want to skip the lake, you can head west here up a gully to the basin above the cliffs.
6
Climb to the lake 12,000' · 2.7 mi
The road climbs steeply over loose rock and ledges. This is the roughest part of the road for drivers.
7
Wheeler Lake 12,180' · 3 mi
Wheeler Lake sits in a bowl under the high peaks. Follow the old road along the west shore.
Watch for: Good place to refill water.
8
Gully above the lake 12,450' · 3.3 mi
From the lake, turn west up a large gully. It leads through the rock outcrops to a flatter basin at the foot of Traver, McNamee and Clinton.
9
Upper basin 12,700' · 3.6 mi
The lower basin is a mix of tundra, rock outcrops and talus. Head west-southwest up the basin toward its head.
10
Head of the basin 13,100' · 4 mi
Reach the upper end of the basin. Clinton is up to the northwest. Traver and McNamee sit on the ridge to the south and west.
Watch for: Check the weather before the last climb.
11
Talus slope 13,500' · 4.3 mi
Climb northwest up the talus slope toward the summit. The rock is loose in places. Go slow and take the easiest line.
Watch for: Loose talus.
12
Summit 13,866' · 4.5 mi
The summit gives a view straight down into the huge Climax Mine to the west. A ridge runs northwest toward what is left of Bartlett Mountain. Mount Democrat rises to the south.
Landmarks to know
Montgomery Reservoir and its dam
Magnolia Mill road splitting right at the start (do not take it)
Rock slab step on the 4WD road
Sharp right turn where the road climbs to Wheeler Lake
Wheeler Lake in its high bowl
Large gully west of the lake into the upper basin
The Climax Mine below the summit to the west
Getting down
From the summit, head back southeast down the talus into the basin, then back down the gully to Wheeler Lake. In clouds, do not wander north or west off the summit, where the ground drops toward the mine. Take a compass bearing to the basin before you leave the top.
Once at the lake, follow the road all the way back. The road is long and muddy; stay on it rather than cutting through the willows, which are thick and wet.
If things go wrong
Wheeler Lake and the road below it are your safe ground. If a storm builds while you are in the upper basin, head straight back down the gully to the lake and the road. From the lake it is an easy, if long, walk out. If someone is injured, keep them warm, mark your location, and call 911. The 4WD road sees jeep traffic on summer weekends, which can sometimes help get word out.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
About the last mile is off-trail up the slopes and ridge, with no set trail to follow. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
A climb of this route filmed by Ruggedland. The video belongs to them and only plays when you press play. This video covers several Wheeler Basin 13ers, including Clinton.
Jump to
Other routes
Every way up Clinton Peak we list, with its class.
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Snow, ice, a washed-out road or an afternoon storm can make it a very different climb. Check recent conditions the week you go and turn around when the day tells you to.