You have to want to go to Lake City because it's not "on the way" to anywhere. We think that's part of its charm. It's almost as if you've gone back a few decades in time. In fact, Lake City has no major chains or franchises, no stop lights, and about three stop signs. All of our businesses are family owned, and all of these families work hard at their businesses. No one really cares about what the hot trends or fashions are. You won't find stelletos: you won't find malls; and you certainly won't find lots of people. There's only about 375 of us year-round residents.

What you will find in Lake City are charm, natural beauty, and absolute peace in a place where "hustle and bustle" is trying to make sure that you go slow enough to let all the deer cross the road as they take their time deciding whether they want to cross, or not. Most of our folks are friendly and have an incredibly high-regard for the mountains and the nature that swallows us up with every breath and glance out the window.  

A Slow Start
Ute Indians inhabited the Lake City area well before any European. In 1860, Charles Baker, a well known prospector, traveled through the area following Ute Indian trails up the Lake Fork of the Gunnison river. Baker found some placer gold, which started the interest in the area. In 1871, a survey for a railroad route over the Continental Divide was completed in the area. But it was Enos Hotchkiss, who was tasked with building a road between Saquache and Howardsville, who found gold and stacked a claim, the Hotchkiss Mine, now known as the Golden Fleece Mine. Others quickly followed, and founded the town.

Times of Prosperity
In the 1880s, Lake City became an important entrance into the San Juans and the mining towns in and around the area. Although the city had the traditional rowdies of a mining town, more conservative families also populated the place and consided it a civilized city to raise children, with churches and schools. At one time, Lake City boosted a population of over 4,000 people.

After the Mining to Today
Then came the Sherman Silver Purchase Act repeal of 1893, which no longer required the government to buy a specified amount of silver each month, and the town quickly lost its population. Instead, hunting, fishing, and scenic touring became the choice activities. In fact today, Lake City is primarily a tourist attraction, surrounded by ghost towns and some of the most scenic countryside in America. (Lake City is considered the most roadless county in the lower 48, as designated by the USGS.)

Some of Lake City's more well known attractions include the five peaks that are over 14,000' nearby that can be easily climbed without technical gear (called peak bagging) and over 26-13,000' peaks.  Lake San Cristobal , second largest natural lake in Colorado, is only four miles from the town and the earth flow that created it, the Slumgullion Earthflow , is still moving today and can be easily seen from the road.