Lincoln Lake is located 5.3 miles from Echo Lake Campground in the Mt Evans Wilderness. It lies in a steep, narrow bowl on the east side of Rogers Peak, just above the Lincoln Lake and Resthouse Meadow burn areas. While the burn areas are seemingly barren, they’re in fact recovering well and offer a unique aesthetic. Elk now graze in newly formed meadows, while mountain goat and bighorn sheep are common at higher elevations.

The Resthouse Trail begins at Echo Lake Campground; the Chicago Lakes Trail is also accessible here

Charred trees offer a unique aesthetic, and chance to witness a critical point in the natural fire cycle

Fire returns nutrients to the soil, which accelerates the propogation of grasses and wildflowers

Lincoln Lake's north shore is ringed by healthy bristlecone pine, which grow well on dry, south-facing slopes over 11,000'

Bighorn sheep have a 9-stage digestive process that enables them to maximize lower quality food

Skeletal remains of spruce, fir and bristlecone pine line the Lincoln Lake Trail

A short scramble through leads down to more accommodating open space along the lake's outlet

Aster (derived from the Latin word for 'star') were among the first perennial flowers to occupy the burn area

Elk now graze in these newly formed alpine meadows 4.15 miles from Echo Lake Campground

Anglers are limited to just a few flat, open areas along the outlet area

The willow-lined Vance Creek corridor is a good place to find moose in these otherwise dry and unsuitable slopes

The columbine genus arrived in North America 10,000 - 40,000 years ago from Asia over the Bering land bridge

Lincoln Lake drains into Bear Creek, which forms at Summit Lake (12,830') below Mt Evans

Standing dead trees are highly susceptible to blow downs, and a threat during periods of high wind

The trail fades on a crest over the basin, where hikers may have to improvise down to the lake