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Welcome to Lake City and Hinsdale County, Colorado! Jagged peaks pierce deep blue skies while wildlife teems in rocky canyons and on high valley floors. Crystalline rivers flow from altitude while unique geology promises adventure and spurs endless exploration.
The Best Hikes and Drives for Fall Foliage Near Lake City. Autumn in Lake City shimmers and shines, with changing aspen leaves painting the mountainsides gold. The high peaks see their first dusting of snow, the air grows crisp, and wildlife eases closer to town as the busy summer season winds down.
Explore all of the trip planning options of Hinsdale County and its historic town of Lake City. Encompassing more than 1,000 square miles of untamed beauty, “ah factors” are a constant in this northeastern corner of Colorado’s mystical San Juan Mountains.
Hikers and backpackers have a vast amount of options in three National Forests, one BLM district, four national wilderness areas, and two wilderness study areas, all of which have several access points within miles of Lake City.
The Lake City Ski Hill is a great place to learn to ski or practice your turns, on skis or snowboard. With 14 skiable acres, six trails, and one terrain park, the ski hill isn’t huge. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in price.
With so many dream-come-true possibilities, Lake City summers have something for everyone. With things to do and sights to see filling every summer month, happy energy is contagious in town, on backcountry roads and trails, on summits, at tranquil lakes, and at campfires under the stars.
Here’s a quick guide to hiking the five fourteeners near Lake City, from beginner-friendly to rough and rugged, while protecting their pristine beauty. For more in-depth information and to purchase maps and local guide books, stop in the Lake City Visitor Center. Hiking Handies Peak.
Fourteeners and Thirteeners close to Lake City accessed either off Hinsdale County Road 30 (Lake Fork to Cinnamon Pass) or Hinsdale County Road 20 (Henson Creek to Engineer Pass) are listed below.
Lake San Cristobal. Lake City’s namesake was formed hundreds of years ago by a rare natural earthflow called the Slumgullion Slide, which blocked the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Lake San Cristobal is the second-largest natural lake in Colorado.
Lake City is located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, about 55 miles south of Gunnison on State Highway 149, and 74 miles north of South Fork. State Highway 149, also known as the Silver Thread Byway, is open year-round.
