Lake City Switchbacks. Adventure at Every Turn in Lake City, Colorado.
  Lake City Switchbacks
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Things To Do
    • Scenic Drives >
      • Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway
      • Silver Thread National Scenic Byway
      • Big Blue Creek
      • Lake Fork Spur
      • Carson & Old Carson Ghost Towns
      • Cebolla Creek
      • Round Top Mountain Road
    • Outdoor Recreation >
      • Lake San Cristobal
      • Hiking & Backpacking >
        • Fourteeners >
          • Uncompahgre Peak
          • Wetterhorn Peak
          • Handies Peak
          • Sunshine & Redcloud Peaks
          • San Luis Peak
        • Hiking Trails
        • Wilderness Areas
        • Trails in Town
      • Fishing
      • Horseback Riding
      • Stargazing
      • Geocaching
      • Parks & Recreation
      • Mason Family State Wildlife Area
    • Downtown Lake City >
      • Arts & Entertainment >
        • Moseley Arts Center
        • Artists & Galleries
        • Arts & Crafts Shows
        • Live Music
        • Movies
      • Shopping
      • Dining & Food >
        • Restaurants
        • Saloons
        • Coffee Shops
        • Groceries
        • Bakeries
        • Ice Cream
        • Liquor Stores
      • National Historic District
      • Google Streetview
    • Events Calendar
    • Winter >
      • Lake City Ice Park
      • Lake City Ski Hill
      • Hinsdale Haute Route
      • Snowmobiling & Back Country Trails
  • Lodging & Camping
    • Lodging >
      • Vacation Homes
      • Cabin Courts & Historic Cabins
      • Motels
      • Lodges & Inns
      • Guest Ranches
      • Hostels
      • Campgrounds with Cabins
      • Pet Friendly Lodging
    • Camping >
      • Campgrounds, Public >
        • Wupperman Campground
        • Williams Creek Campground
        • Mill Creek Campground
        • Big Blue Campground
        • The Gate Campground
        • Red Bridge Campground
        • Gateview Campground
        • Slumgullion Campground
        • Deer Lakes Campground
        • Hidden Valley Campground
        • Spruce Campground
      • Campgrounds, Private
  • Plan Your Visit
    • How to Get Here
    • Business Directory & Visitor Services
    • Weather & Conditions
    • Tips For Your Visit >
      • Be Prepared: Climate, Altitude, Sun, Survival
      • Tread Lightly! Outdoor Recreation Tips
      • Share the Trail
      • Licenses & Registrations
      • Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search & Rescue Card
  • Relocation & Real Estate
Lake City Switchbacks

Lake City Switchbacks

Exploring Lake City, Colorado
Search the site:

Lake City, Colorado


Welcome!  Lake City Switchbacks is a local's guide to touring and exploring the special places around Lake City, Colorado in the hearty San Juan Mountains.

Lake City is a real place that is, in some ways, untouched by time.  Unpretentious, friendly people have called Lake City their home, or their home-away-from-home, for generations.  You can be a part of it, too.


This is the ideal setting for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. Once you are equipped to take advantage of all of the outdoor recreation that is available you, nothing will be able to hinder your exploratory spirit. 

Switchbacks offers inspiring photos of the area, maps to help you get to all of our magical places, and useful details to help you get the most out of your visit to Lake City.


Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway. Photo by Mary Carkin.

Alpine Loop National
Back Country Byway
North Clear Creek Falls, on the Silver Thread Byway. Photo by Mary Carkin.

Silver Thread
National Scenic Byway

Alpine Trail, near Big Blue Creek. Photo by Mary Carkin.

More Scenic Drives


Historic Downtown Lake City. Photo by Mary Carkin.

Historic Lake City
Wupperman Campground on Lake San Cristobal. Photo by Mary Carkin.

Outdoor Recreation
Relocation to Lake City, Colorado

Relocation & Real Estate



Essential Travel Information

  • Lake City Lodging & Cabins
  • Lake City Campgrounds
  • Lake City Dining
  • Other Services


The Stuff of Your Imagination

  • Scenic Drives
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • Historic Lake City, Colorado
  • Special Events
  • Relocation & Real Estate Information



Where is Lake City, Colorado?

A tiny valley town settled at the confluence of two rivers, Lake City, Colorado is on the eastern side of the glorious San Juan Mountains of the southwest part of the state, in the . 

The elevation of Lake City, Colorado is 8671 feet, or 2643 meters.  Surrounding peaks range up to 14,309 feet (4361 meters).

It's easy to get here--find out more.


View in a larger map



"Nobody can discover the world for anybody else."     
--Wendell Berry
Search the site:



Share this page!







Follow us!
Keep in touch all year long.


  • RSS Feed
  • Our Blog



Colorado Made

  • About Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertise on Lake City Switchbacks



© 2010-2021 Lake City Switchbacks.  All rights reserved.

Proudly powered by Weebly

✕