Lake City, Colorado

Lake City, Colorado The Official Tourism Page of Lake City and Hinsdale County, Colorado. The lure is different for each and every one of us . . . American Basin in full bloom.
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Endless vistas of rugged peaks from the top of a “Fourteener” world. Fish-filled mountain lakes, rivers, creeks and reservoirs. Foot, hoof, and motorized treks that promise treasured memories and spur further exploration. Encompassing more than one thousand square miles of untamed beauty, Hinsdale County stands unrivaled when outdoor recreation, unique geology, wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and historic significance come into play. An endless list of “ah-factors” includes 96% public land, five Colorado Fourteeners, four wilderness areas, two national byways, breathtaking waterfalls and four-wheel drive roads, ghost towns, year-round trails, a backcountry haute route and yurt system, and one of the most authentic national historic districts in Colorado. Staying true to its late 1800s “mining boom” status as the area’s supply and service center, Lake City is now the everything-you-need hub for amazing hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting, boating, four-wheeling, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, and sightseeing adventures. With its special welcoming, pioneer-town feel, Lake City is also a vacation destination on its own, featuring family-oriented celebrations and year-round festivals, theatrical performances, historical tours and presentations, in-town trails and recreation, and shopping enhanced by the wares of many talented local artisans. Official tourism website: www.lakecity.com

Late summer hiking in the San Juans is the best hiking of the year. It can also mean hiking in the snow. Here are some t...
09/04/2026

Late summer hiking in the San Juans is the best hiking of the year. It can also mean hiking in the snow. Here are some tips to keep you prepared:

- Start early. Daylight is shrinking fast, and sunset arrives sooner behind these peaks than the forecast suggests.
- Pack layers. Conditions further up can be drastically different from those at the trailhead.
- September storms are normal up here, and they can leave trails and passes slick or impassable overnight.
- Carry a headlamp, even on a day hike.
- Turn around when the weather says so.

Visit lakecity.com/hiking-trails to plan your adventure.

09/03/2026

Gold is on the calendar. Some of our favorite ways to see the aspen turn around Lake City:

On foot:
Independence Gulch, a 5-mile round trip straight off Highway 149.
Camp Trail #476, south of Lake City on County Road 30, reaches the Continental Divide.
Waterdog Lake, 9.5 miles starting right in town, climbing through aspen to a lake and an old cabin.

By car:
The Silver Thread Byway over Slumgullion Pass.
County Road 20 toward Capitol City, doable in a 2WD, with aspen forest most of the way.
Forest Service Road 520 toward Rio Grande Reservoir, a quieter option with big groves along the river.

Peak usually lands around the third week of September and holds for about a week.

Full guide: lakecity.com/fallfoliage

September is hands down one of the best month to be in Lake City and Hinsdale County. Here is the case.- The Alpine Loop...
08/31/2026

September is hands down one of the best month to be in Lake City and Hinsdale County. Here is the case.

- The Alpine Loop quiets down. Same passes, same views, a fraction of the traffic.
- The aspens are turning.
- The great fishing gets even better.
- Lodging opens up, often at shoulder-season rates.
- Uncorked. The annual W**e and Music Festival takes over downtown on September 19.

Start planning at lakecity.com

Are you and your dog looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend? Lake City has you covered with the Dog Days of ...
08/28/2026

Are you and your dog looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend? Lake City has you covered with the Dog Days of Summer celebration. 🐶

Saturday, September 5
1:00 to 4:00 PM (stick around for Bingo in the Park beginning at 4PM)
Lake City Town Park
Free to attend

On the schedule:
Doggie costume contest, sign-ups at 2:00 and judging at 3:00, lawn games, crafts for kids, lots of vendors with treats, toys, and accessories for your furry friend, bingo with prizes at 4:00, and delicious on-site food and drinks.

Leashes required at all times.
See you in the park! 🐾

Event details at lakecity.com/events

Elevation 8,671 feet. Forecast high: 70s.While most of Colorado runs the air conditioning through late summer, Lake City...
08/26/2026

Elevation 8,671 feet. Forecast high: 70s.

While most of Colorado runs the air conditioning through late summer, Lake City does what it does every summer. Warm afternoons, cool nights, and no AC needed.

Plan your escape at lakecity.com

Fall shows up early in the San Juan Mountains, often weeks before it reaches the rest of Colorado. If you're waiting for...
08/25/2026

Fall shows up early in the San Juan Mountains, often weeks before it reaches the rest of Colorado. If you're waiting for peak color to start planning your trip to Lake City, you're already behind.

One of the best ways to see it come together is a drive along the Silver Thread Byway. Historic mine ruins, North and South Clear Creek Falls, and the Slumgullion Slide are all popular destinations along the route. As elevation changes through the drive, so does the color, giving you a preview of what's coming to the whole valley.

Lodging and campsites fill up fast once the aspens peak, so now's the time to lock in your dates.

📍 Silver Thread Byway, Lake City, CO
Plan your trip: lakecity.com

There's a lot of history packed into Lake City. These four stops turn a weekend trip into a history tour:Friday Ghost To...
08/21/2026

There's a lot of history packed into Lake City. These four stops turn a weekend trip into a history tour:

Friday Ghost Tours: A guided evening walk through the historic district, 7:15 PM (summertime only)

Ute-Ulay Mine walking tour: A self-guided stroll up Henson Creek through the silver mine that built Lake City, with interpretive signs along the way

Old West Cowboy Re-Enactment: Gunfighters and frontier drama take over downtown Saturdays at 1 PM

Hinsdale County Museum: The whole story under one roof, from mining relics to Alfred Packer lore

Plan your weekend at lakecity.com/events.

One month from today! The Lake City Uncorked W**e & Music Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary on September 19, ...
08/20/2026

One month from today!

The Lake City Uncorked W**e & Music Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary on September 19, 2026! Join us for a full day of:

🎸 Live musical acts
🍷 W**e tasting
🍺 B**r booth sponsored by San Luis Valley Brewing
🎨 Artisan and food vendors

Proceeds support community projects through Lake City DIRT, so every ticket helps keep downtown Lake City thriving.

Get your tickets and details here: https://lakecitydirt.org/uncorked

Be bear aware in Lake City and Hinsdale County.Late summer and fall are when our black bears start fattening up for the ...
08/18/2026

Be bear aware in Lake City and Hinsdale County.

Late summer and fall are when our black bears start fattening up for the winter. Drought, wildfire, and a low snowpack have thinned their normal food source, so they're visiting campgrounds and coming into town more frequently in search of calories. Help us keep everyone safe by following the simple steps:

1. Secure trash and recycling, and keep food and coolers out of the open
2. Store food, trash and toiletries in bear-resistant containers or locked in your vehicle, never in your tent
3. Cook away from your tent and clean the grill after every use
4. Keep dogs leashed and pack out every scrap, including apple cores
5. Carry bear spray and know how to use it

See a bear? Watch from a distance, back away slowly, never run. Learn more at https://lakecity.com/dolakecityright/.

Prime 14er season is here. Here are your options for adventure around Lake City. - Uncompahgre Peak via Nellie Creek- Ha...
08/17/2026

Prime 14er season is here. Here are your options for adventure around Lake City.

- Uncompahgre Peak via Nellie Creek
- Handies Peak from American Basin or Grizzly Gulch
- Redcloud from Silver Creek
- Sunshine from Silver Creek

If a summit is not in the cards, some of the best hiking in the county is also nearby. Sloan Lake shares the American Basin trailhead with Handies and is a fraction of the effort. Cataract Gulch, Cuba Gulch, Cottonwood Creek and Wager Gulch are all off CR 30 as well and rarely crowded.

Check current trail status before you go: lakecity.com/hiking-trails

Address

800 N Gunnison Avenue
Lake City, CO
81235

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