Lake City, Colorado
Top Spots in and near Lake City
-
Lake City, Colorado
Capture Fall Foliage and Whitmore Falls on Engineer Pass
5.0Just outside of the small community of Lake City, Colorado is Engineer Pass, a dirt road that has amazing views and opportunities to hike, take pictures, and maybe even explore an abandoned mining town. Four wheel drive or all wheel drive is preferable, but the road can definitely be driven by a ...Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Explore Nellie Creek Falls
5.00.8 mi / 300 ft gainNellie Creek Falls is a beautiful little falls, up County Road 23. The waterfall is surrounded by a forest of aspens leading up the valley. To get to the falls take the northern route of the Alpine Loop from Lake City towards Engineer Pass. In about 5 miles you come to Nellie Creek Road on the ri...Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Uncompahgre Peak (14,309')
5.07.3 mi / 2881 ft gainAt 14,309 feet, the summit of Uncompahgre Peak is the highest point in the entire San Juan range, but getting to it requires only good hiking skills, good physical shape, and a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead. From Lake City, head west along the Alpine Loop about...Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Cinnamon Pass OHV Trail
5.028.73 mi / 7431 ft gainCinnamon Pass OHV Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Lake City, Colorado.Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Hike Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks
5.012 mi / 4800 ft gainThe easier drive to the Silver Creek / Grizzly Gulch trailhead is reached by traveling south from Lake City and turning right onto County Road 30. Although parts can be rough and the shelf road around the base of Sunshine Peak may cause a tighter grip on the steering wheel, in dry conditions a hi...Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Drive Cinnamon Pass
5.0Along Colorado’s Alpine Loop, Cinnamon Pass sits 12,640’ above the San Juan Mountains. A high clearance vehicle preferably with 4WD is needed to reach the pass, but the breathtaking views along the challenging journey make it worth the ride. During the gold rush in Colorado, Cinnamon pass was us...Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Backpack to Wetterhorn Basin
13 mi / 3000 ft gainThis trip is for the lover of solitude and the appreciator of the unscathed backcountry. Wetterhorn Basin is in the heart of the beautiful San Juan Mountain range in Southwestern Colorado.With a 4WD high clearance vehicle start at the West Cimarron Trailhead at 10,750 feet (38.1117N -107.5533W),...Read more -
Ouray, Colorado
Drive Engineer Pass
5.0This pass is closed December through May but when opened, does not fall short of views. I drove it on opening weekend and the snow was piled high all around (pictured above) but the views were just as amazing as driving it in late summer. Starting in Silverton, drive east on Colorado 2 through t...Read more -
Creede, Colorado
Photograph North Clear Creek Falls
4.0This 100 ft. waterfall is close to Colorado 149 on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway. To access the falls turn onto FR 510 from the northern entrance and head south for .5 miles. Turn left into the North Clear Creek Falls Observation Site, from there it's a short walk to the falls.Being out in the...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Explore Animas Forks
5.00.25 mi / 40 ft gainThe ghost town of Animas Forks, CO is located in the San Juan Mountains at an elevation of 11,200 feet. There are several original buildings remaining. The best way to explore the region is by Jeep or other high-clearance 4×4. The cabins began being built by prospectors in 1873. Three rivers meet...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Explore Placer Gulch and Sound Democrat Mill
0.25 mi / 50 ft gainPlacer Gulches 4WD trail is a gorgeous route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains and traverses an area rich with mining history. This area provides gorgeous wild flowers in the peak season of late July/ early August. Some of the best preserved mine structures in Colorado can be found...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Drive to California Pass
California Pass’s summit is a jaw dropping 12,960 feet above sea level. A long way from the valley floor, California Gulch, but, as drivers start their trek, the valley floor starts to shrink and gives way to steep climbs and switchbacks. Off road vehicles are needed to reach the top, and drivers...Read more -
Ouray, Colorado
Mineral Creek OHV Trail
14.04 mi / 3307 ft gainMineral Creek OHV Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Ouray, Colorado.Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Explore Hurricane Pass and Lake Como
Spending much of the trek above tree line, Hurricane Pass is situated at 12,730 feet above sea level and offers up views of Poughkeepsie Gulch (a more extreme off-road trail) and sapphire blue mountain lakes, such as Lake Como. One of the most beautiful roads in the lower 48 states, Hurricane Pas...Read more -
Ouray, Colorado
Lower Cascade Falls
3.00.5 miLocated within the picturesque town of Ouray, Colorado, Cascade Falls is what most city parks strive to be. This park and amazing waterfall are located on the edge of town along the longer 5+ mile Perimeter Trail and provides a place for picnics, relaxing, and further days hikes through connector...Read more -
Ouray, Colorado
Backpack to Dragon's Back via Horsethief Trail
5.016 mi / 3520 ft gainThe Uncompahgre Wilderness stretches out through the mountains and forests of southwestern Colorado, with worn trails lingering beside abandoned 19th-century mines and crossing old alpine sheep pastures. Dragon's Back is the unofficial name for Point 12,968', a small but beautiful summit at the b...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Lake City
County Road 868
Alpine Ranger Station
Overview
The Alpine Ranger Station is situated on the Alpine Plateau at 9,600 feet, in a beautiful alpine valley surrounded by aspen, spr...
Powderhorn, Colorado
The Gate Campground
This campground is tucked into the center of the geologic formation known as The Gate, a notch in the rocks carved by the Lake Fork of th...
Gunnison, Colorado
Jackson Guard Station
Overview
Jackson Guard Station is a great destination for anything from a weekend getaway to a week-long hunting trip. The cabin was orig...
Powderhorn, Colorado
Red Bridge Campground
Red Bridge Campground is a short distance off of the Silver Thread National Scenic Byway. You'll find public fishing access to the Lake F...
Creede, Colorado
River Hill
Overview
River Hill is a popular campground on the banks of the Rio Grande River. Situated in a meadow surrounded by willows, campers com...
Ridgway, Colorado
Ouray KOA Holiday
Here along the Uncompahgre River, you're at the gateway to the rugged San Juan Mountains and southwest Colorado's majestic alpine scenery...
