Lake City
Lake City is one of Colorado’s most remote county seats: a pocket of Victorian storefronts in Hinsdale County where Highway 149 meets the Alpine Loop, Lake San Cristobal and some of the wildest high country in the San Juans.
Lake City, Colorado: Alpine Loop Gateway Town
Silver Street and Gunnison Avenue still read like a mining-camp Main Street, anchored by the 1877 Hinsdale County Court House and a National Historic District of wooden false fronts and churches. The town sits along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, a few miles below Lake San Cristobal—Colorado’s second-largest natural lake—and at the doorstep of the Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway toward Engineer and Cinnamon passes.
Summer brings jeep trails, hiking, fishing and historic walking tours; winter turns the valley quiet, with snowmobile and backcountry access depending on conditions. Many travelers arrive via Creede and the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, or continue toward Ouray and Silverton when high passes are open. Stop first at the Visitor Center at 800 Gunnison Avenue for current road and pass reports.
Insider tip: Cell service is limited. Download maps before you leave Gunnison or Creede, and treat Alpine Loop side trips as high-clearance, fair-weather adventures unless you are fully prepared.
Photo Gallery
Photo credits: Lake City, Silver Street by Falk Werner (CC BY-SA 4.0); Lake City, Hinsdale County Court House by Falk Werner (CC BY-SA 4.0); Colorado Route 149 Along Lake Fork River, Near Lake City, Colorado (14203628664) by Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0); Lake Fork Gunnison River by Jeffrey Beall (CC BY 4.0); Confluence of Henson Creek and Lake Fork Gunnison River by Jeffrey Beall (CC BY 4.0); Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway by Jeffrey Beall (CC BY 4.0); Baptist Church in Lake City, Colorado by Tim Engleman (CC BY-SA 2.0); Lake City Volunteer Fire Department by Jeffrey Beall (CC BY 4.0); Lake City Community School by Jeffrey Beall (CC BY 4.0). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
News & Events
Lake City/Hinsdale County Visitor Center winter hours (Oct. 1–June 14) are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; summer hours (June 15–Sept. 30) are Monday–Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 970-944-2527 or see lakecity.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lake City, Colorado?
Lake City is in Hinsdale County in southwest Colorado on Highway 149, about five to six hours from Denver via Gunnison, and roughly an hour and a half from Gunnison itself.
What is the Alpine Loop near Lake City?
The Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway is a rugged high-country jeep route linking Lake City with Ouray and Silverton over Engineer and Cinnamon passes. High-clearance four-wheel-drive is typically required; passes are seasonal.
Is Lake San Cristobal near Lake City?
Yes. Lake San Cristobal is a few miles south of town and is Colorado’s second-largest natural lake, popular for fishing, paddling and shoreline views.
Where is the Lake City visitor center?
The Visitor Center is at 800 Gunnison Avenue. Winter hours are Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; summer Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Call 970-944-2527.
What else is near Lake City?
When mountain passes are open, Ouray and Silverton make classic San Juan loop destinations via the Alpine Loop or longer paved routes through Gunnison and Durango.
Lake City/Hinsdale County Visitor Center, 800 Gunnison Ave., Lake City, CO 81235. Call 970-944-2527 or visit lakecity.com.