The standard way most climbers reach Mount Lincoln's summit — as the high point of a loop that also crosses Mount Democrat and Mount Cameron from the Kite Lake trailhead.
The Kite Lake Trailhead sits at roughly 12,000 feet above the town of Alma, reached via a rough but generally 2WD-passable road. It is one of the highest trailheads used for any Colorado 14er, which shortens the vertical gain considerably compared to most standard routes. From Kite Lake, the trail climbs Mount Democrat's slopes first, then continues over the broad connecting ridge to Mount Cameron and on to Mount Lincoln's summit — the highest point on the loop. Many climbers continue from Lincoln to Mount Bross to complete the full four-summit loop before descending back to Kite Lake, though Bross's actual summit is closed to the public (see permit notes).
From Lincoln, most parties either continue the loop toward Bross and descend via the Bross bypass trail, or retrace the ridge back over Cameron and Democrat to Kite Lake.