Kite Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville
Mount Democrat
Photo: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 4.1 mi
- round trip
- 2,085 ft
- climb
- 14,155 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Mount Democrat open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
National Forest Service Road 8 closure
Agency alert covering South Park Ranger District · Order 02-12-10-26-13 · USFS · South Park Ranger District
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Turquoise Lake Road (County Road 4) Closure
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Mount Democrat is a moderate out-and-back hike in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests, within the South Park Ranger District. The trail starts at Kite Lake Trailhead and climbs from about 12,016 feet to the summit at 14,155 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,085 feet over a route of about 4.1 miles. The peak sits among a cluster of high points. Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross both lie about 0.1 mile away, and Kite Lake Campground is about 0.3 mile off, making this a natural base for exploring the surrounding summits. The Forest Service manages the land. For timing, late summer is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 75°F with lows near 40°F, while September cools to highs in the mid-60s. The Middle Fork South Platte River, about 4.4 miles away, offers canoeing, and the Fremont Pass climbing area is about 4.5 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsPlazak, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMatchless Mine
Attraction
In town
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Plazak, CC BY 3.0 (commons)
More in LeadvilleGo with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkNexPM AI · $25 per person · 10 mi away
- Lostfork Basecamp27 mi away
- Mount LincolnHikingPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
- Mount BrossHikingPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
- Kite Lake CampgroundCamping0.3 mi
Middle Fork South Platte RiverCanoeingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)4.4 mi- Fremont PassRock climbing4.5 mi
- Cecilville Slab aka Cecil RockRock climbing4.5 mi
East Fork Arkansas RiverCanoeingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)6 mi- Fourmile CampgroundCamping8.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Mt Bross TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mount EvansHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
London MountainHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
BemroseHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Pennsylvania MountainHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Mount SilverheelsHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: ikewinski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mount ArkansasHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Trail near Fletcher MountainHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Hunter Lode RoadHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: TerryDOtt, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Red MountainHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: Kevin R Foote, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Also worth it near here
Route details
- Distance
- 4.1 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 2,085 ft
- Starts at
- Kite Lake Trailhead (about 12,142 ft)
- Summit
- 14,148 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Getting there
Park at Kite Lake Trailhead.
Questions about this route
How long is the Mount Democrat on Mount Democrat?
About 4.1 mi round trip from Kite Lake Trailhead (about 12,142 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Mount Democrat?
About 2,085 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Mount Democrat?
It is rated moderate.
Where does the Mount Democrat start?
Kite Lake Trailhead (about 12,142 ft).
Conditions and forecast on Mount Democrat
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
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