Founded in the early 1870s, Lake City began life as a mining town but is now more geared to tourism. Summer visitors can explore Jeep trails and ride horseback, while in the Winter there is snowmobiling and hunting. The town itself boasts an assortment of craft and antique shops, all with a distict Western flavor.
Lake San Cristobal, the 2nd largest natural lake in Colorado, is located a quarter mile up the road on the Alpine Loop. There, you can boat and fish for the Makinaw (Lake Trout).
In the Winter of 1873-74, Alfred Packer and five others were caught hiking between where Montrose and Saquache is today. Packer alone walked out of that wilderness alive, reluctantly divulging a grim tale of starvation, cannibalism, and insanity. The Alfred Packer massacre site is located only 1 mile from the property.
Wildlife in the area include geese and ducks, hummingbirds, squirrels, eagles, deer, trophy elk, and black bear. The hummingbirds are a constant summertime fascination to anyone who puts out a container of sugar water for them.
With its clear air and absence of city lights, stargazers and campers can watch the sky as it was in the days of the pioneers, and fall asleep to the sound of the ever flowing river.
Here is a map of where to find Lake City. Zoom in for a closer look. Or Zoom out to see the bigger picture.
