About Lake City, Colorado

Lake City is nestled in the heart of the picturesque San Juan Mountains. At 8,756 feet in elevation and with an in-town population of 383, Lake City is unspoiled and abounding in natural beauty. Lake City, Colorado is named because of its proximity to pristine Lake San Cristobal, the second largest natural lake in Colorado (the largest is Gand Lake). Lake San Cristobal was formed by the Slumgullion Mudslide at its lower end. The lake mirrors the Continental Divide to its east and provides excellent fishing and boating.

Lake City, Colorado was founded in 1875. Today, it is a perfect departure point for day trips and an even better place to return to. Likewise, it is the perfect destination from almost anywhere... a great place to end a day of dusty roads and rough trails!

A Historic Tour of Lake City, Colorado

Animas Forks Gold Mines
Once a thriving community in the 1880's and 90's, Animas Forks' major mine was the Gold Prince. The Gold Prince Mill was where the stair-stepped concrete foundations are now seen on the bank of the Animas River, below the Animas Forks. At the base of Cinnamon Pass, you would make an almost 180-degree turn to the left and take the next right turn to visit the townsite. Animas Forks was a terminus of one Otto Mears' railroads that served camps north of Silverton. The Tom Walsh house, with its large bay window, still stands. One of its early residents would later become the owner of the Hope Diamond. Animas Forks can be reached by car from Silverton over a road built on Mears' railroad grade. Return to your route by continuing the loop road through Animas Forks to the intersection with the main road. Turn left and follow the Animas River toward Mineral Point. There are no fish in the river due to its mineral content.

Even though there are no fish in the Animas River near Mineral Point, go ahead and bring your fishing pole. On the East side of Cinnamon and Engineer Pass, there are lots of good fishing spots and places that you can fly fish. So go by Dan's Fly Shop and get all of your supplies. He keeps them in stock.

Capitol City
Capitol City was once envisioned as the site for the capitol of Colorado. Through it was in a rich mining valley, Denver prevailed as the seat of the state government. The major remnant of Capitol City, the log Post Office, is just west of the bridge over North Henson Creek.

Top of Cinnamon Pass and the Tabasco Mine
Top of Cinnamon Pass, the Tabasco Mine, and the Tabasco Mill (which is now in ruins, with a cabin on it) lies along the road just above American Basin. The mill served the Tabasco Mine that is beyond Cinnamon Pass (12,620'), named for the colors in the nearby ridges. The Tabasco Mine is a prominent feature west of the pass. Its ore was carried by tram lines to the mill below. As seen from the pass, the gray mass known as Handies Peak (14,048') rises above the other peaks while the red flanks of Redcloud Peak (14,034') lie to the east. Between the two is Whitecross Mountain. Late in the day this is a striking vista.

Empire Chief Mill
The Empire Chief Mill processed ore from the Empire and Highland Chief claims as well as other properties on the mountain above it. Another silver and gold producer, the mill employed about 50 men during its prime from 1884 to 1924. A stop here will show the enduring soundness of the timbers of the mill.

Engineer Summit and Pass Road
From the base of Engineer Pass near Mineral Point, the road climbs to the 13,100' summit of the Engineer Pass Road. At this point, turn left to the observation area. To the west, one sees Mount Sneffels flanked by Potosi and Teakettle Mountains. Sneffels (14,150') is named for the mountain in Jules Verne's book, "Journey to the Center of the Earth". South and east from here, a dramatic display of the central San Juan's is revealed. Return to the road and drive about one mile east to Engineer Pass (12,800'). The pass itself gave Lake City its first wagon and stagecoach links with Ouray and Silverton. A coach trip over the pass from Lake City to Ouray was a two day adventure. Engineer is one of the higher passes in the area and it gives a fine panorama of the northern San Juan's. To the north, one sees Uncompahgre Peak (14,309'); the highest in the range. A small (13,590') pyramid shaped mountain is named for the Matterhorn Mountain, and to its left is another fourteen-er, the Wetterhorn Mountain (14,015'). Each is a challenge to modern hikers. Uncompahgre Mountain was first climbed by residents of Lake City in 1881 on July 4th.

Before beginning this trip, you need to go to the gas station and make sure that your gas tank is full and that you have a pinic lunch to take with you on the trip.

Gravel Mountain
Gravel Mountain, not one of the highest (13,577'), is named for its texture and colorful peak. Descending Engineer on the east, look to the right. The yellow discoloration seen near the northern extremity is evidence of the two principal veins which transected this mountain, the Ruby and Pearl veins. The many small, yellow prospect pits -- or dumps -- which are so prevalent over these hills, attest to the industry of the early prospectors in their attempts to locate commercial ores. Most were disappointed.

Mouth of Henson Creek
On July 1, 1875, Barlow and Sanderson's stage line began to pack mail and passengers over this road to Silverton three times per week. In 1877, Otto Mears acquired the road and made it into a toll road. A toll gate and a house for wagons and coaches were located at the mouth of the canyon. Snowslides, mudslides, and washouts were common on the early road. A few hundred feet farther and you have completed your journey across Cinnamon and Engineer passes and arrived back in Lake City.

Henson Mining Camp & Ute-Ulay Mine
At its peak, about 80 people lived in Henson, of which little remains. The gold and silver producing Ute and Ulay provided the primary economic basis for the Lake City ore industry. The mill and some buildings are still standing and in good repair.

Hurricane Basin
Hurricane Basin is one of the more scenic high mountain basins or valleys. Hurricane was the site of several mining ventures in the 1890's. Best known was the Golconda. A rich ore producer, the Golconda was unique because its main tunnel passed through and underground glaciers. At the opening to the basin, in the trees, can be seen the red remains of the Chicago Tunnel Boarding House. The tunnel, a promotional venture, was intended to be a cross-cut to intersect the rich Ruby and Pearl veins. It was to continue on to exit in Burrows Park, New Cleveland Gulch, but it was never completed. Flowers of all kinds are abundant low in the valley. Explore this basin on another outing.

Mineral Point Valley
The high Mineral Point Valley near the western base of Engineer Pass was a very active mining area in the 1870's and 1880's. Reached mainly from Silverton, the valley contains many prospects, and a few mines that were once quite productive. By the 1890's, however, it was on its way toward becoming a ghost camp. Mineral Point and Whitecross were among the most isolated of the area camps.

Rose's Cabin
The cabin was named for Corydon Rose, who ran the place as a hotel and overnight stop for the stage line on to Ouray. The stable and part of the original cabin remains. About 50 miners had cabins in the immediate area during the 1890's. By stagecoach, this was a good day's trip from Ouray or Lake City.

Sherman - Ghost Town
The ghost town of Sherman, whose townsite lies on a short spur road to the southwest of Lake City, has a somewhat unique history. Its major mine was the Black Wonder, with a mill in Sherman. Power for the mill was provided by a water flume that ran from a dam above the town. Around 1900, a flash flood broke the dam, flooding the valley with water, sand, and gravel. Fortunately, all the residents escaped injury. It being a Saturday night, most of them were attending a dance in Lake City. However, the flood damage ended Sherman's history. The camp was also unique as it had the area's only fox ranch. Between Sherman and Burrows Park is the so-called Shelf Road, little changed from the original construction. Sometimes clinging to the mountainside, held only by timbers, the road was subject to frequent washouts and rock slides. It is safe only at slow speeds and a trip over is an exciting adventure.

Whitecross Historic Miners' Camp
Whitecross lies in the high valley just beyond Burrows Park and a few cabin ruins remain. The camp was so-named because it lies at the base of Whitecross Mountain, itself named for the natural quartz cross, or X, near the top of its left-most peak. The primary mines were the Bon Home and the Champions, though there were other silver producers. This site provides excellent views of Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks to the east. The camp was active only in the summer months. Winter snows often drifted to depths of 40 feet and slides blocked the access to the valley. The settlement had no mill of note; the ores were carried by wagon to Lake City from which the camp's supplies came. American Basin is a great rugged basin that forms the head of the valley. In mid-summer, the floor of the basin provides a spectacular display of wildflowers seldom equaled in Colorado.

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