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

48 hours left to grab your Lake City Uncorked tickets online. 🍷🍂Online sales close Friday at 6 PM, and advance pricing g...
09/17/2026

48 hours left to grab your Lake City Uncorked tickets online. 🍷🍂

Online sales close Friday at 6 PM, and advance pricing goes with them. Pick up your tickets early at 9 AM on the day of the event and skip the lines when gates open at 10 AM.

This is one of the best weekends of fall in Lake City. Historic downtown, live music, w**e, local b**r, food, and artisan vendors with peak fall color as your backdrop. It's hard to beat.

Grab your tickets before Friday at lakecitydirt.com/uncorked.

Locals call it the postage stamp. It's a square patch in the aspen field on Round Top Mountain that turns gold before an...
09/15/2026

Locals call it the postage stamp. It's a square patch in the aspen field on Round Top Mountain that turns gold before anything else on the hill. It's at peak right now.

That's the signal: fall has started in Lake City. From here we've got about three weeks of color, and it will carry into October. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, blue skies.

Come take a leaf drive. Or a hike. Now is a good time to be in Lake City. Plan your visit at lakecity.com.

National Scenic Byway Day is September 22, and Hinsdale County has two of the best.The Silver Thread Byway runs 117 pave...
09/11/2026

National Scenic Byway Day is September 22, and Hinsdale County has two of the best.

The Silver Thread Byway runs 117 paved miles from South Fork through Creede and Lake City to Blue Mesa Reservoir. Along the way: North and South Clear Creek Falls, the Slumgullion Earthflow, Windy Point, and the Lake San Cristobal Overlook. Mid to late September is when the whole route turns gold.

The Alpine Loop Byway climbs out of Lake City over Engineer and Cinnamon passes to Ouray and Silverton, 63 miles of high alpine terrain, ghost towns, and mine ruins. This one needs four-wheel drive and high clearance, and the passes close after the first serious snow of the fall.

Two byways, one town, and a good excuse to take the long way home.

Plan your drive at lakecity.com

Ten days out. The 25th annual Lake City Uncorked W**e and Music Festival takes over historic downtown on Saturday, Septe...
09/09/2026

Ten days out. The 25th annual Lake City Uncorked W**e and Music Festival takes over historic downtown on Saturday, September 19.

Six acts on the stage, from Colorado Americana to award-winning bluegrass to a Johnny Cash tribute to a horn-powered funk band closing out the night. Bruce Hayes, the Jimi Hendrix of the mandolin, fills every break. Add w**es from across Colorado, a b**r booth from San Luis Valley Brewing, and a lineup of artisan and food vendors you will not find anywhere else.

Early ticket pickup at 9:00 AM, gates open at 10:00 AM. Online sales close the Friday before, so do not sit on this one.

Proceeds support community projects through Lake City DIRT.

Tickets and details: lakecitydirt.com/uncorked

Rutting season runs late September and into October, and it's when elk and moose are are at their most unpredictable. Bu...
09/09/2026

Rutting season runs late September and into October, and it's when elk and moose are are at their most unpredictable. Bull elk are focused on their herds, and bull moose are famously short-tempered this time of year. A few things worth keeping in mind:

Give them room. If an animal changes what it is doing because of you, you are too close. With moose, double it. They look calm right up until they are not.

Zoom in with your lens, not your feet.

Keep dogs leashed. A loose dog reads as a predator, and moose in particular will charge a dog and follow it straight back to you.

Slow down at dawn and dusk, especially along Highway 149 and around Lake San Cristobal.

Never step between a bull and his herd, and never imitate a bugle or a cow call to draw one in.

Watch, listen, and keep your distance. See the Do Lake City Right link in bio for more info.

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

Address

800 N Gunnison Avenue
Lake City, CO
81235

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