Day hikes near Lake City, Colorado

Published May 5, 2004 12:00AM


Week of August 1-8, 1996 Kayak rentals in Glacier Bay Day hikes near Lake City, Colorado Top picks in Vermont, New Hampshire Peaceful canoeing in eastern New York Michigan’s Porkies, by foot and wheel

Week of August 1-8, 1996
Kayak rentals in Glacier Bay
Day hikes near Lake City, Colorado
Top picks in Vermont, New Hampshire
Peaceful canoeing in eastern New York
Michigan’s Porkies, by foot and wheel


Day hikes near Lake City, Colorado Question: Do you know of any good day hikes, places to camp, and other activities in the Lake City, Colorado, area? Dan Cosper Albuquerque, NM dan@math.unm.edu Adventure Adviser: If your trip to Lake City involves more than just quick in-and-out peak-bagging, base yourself at the Forest Service’s first-come, first-served 21-site Slumgullion Pass Campground, about nine miles south of town on Colorado 149. From there, take a stab at Uncompahgre or Handies peaks, two of the area’s many fourteeners. Both are doable in a day–albeit a long one. Or scout for brown trout on nearby Lake San Cristobal, the state’s second-largest natural lake. The frequently stocked Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, just below Lake San Cristobal, is a good spot for dry-fly fishing. Rule number one if you’ve got fourteeners on your mind: Get an early–and I mean early–start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Rule number two: Bring plenty of energy food. While the distances can be deceptively short, the elevation gain–4,300 feet for Uncompahgre–can be a nightmare. Pick up the trail to 14,309-foot Uncompahgre just northwest of Capitol City, about nine miles west of Lake City via Hensen Creek Road. In Capitol City, take a side road northwest for about two miles up the North Fork of Hensen Creek to Matterhorn Creek. Turn right here and drive about a mile up to the vehicle barrier, where you’ll park. Follow this road on foot, which soon turns to trail and brings you above tree line to a saddle between Matterhorn and Uncompahgre peaks. Follow the right-hand Uncompahgre Trail to the southeast for about a mile and a half beyond the saddle, where it joins a northbound trail before ascending the southeast ridge. Total round-trip distance is 16 miles, but for the most part the climb is long, gradual, and not too strenuous. For a shorter hike, try 14,048-foot Handies Peak; an easy three-mile round-trip trek will get you to the summit and back in under five hours. From Lake City, head south past the lake to the “Shelf Road,” a steep, narrow route toward Cinnamon Pass. Just as you’re about to make the first switchback, take a left on the American Basin turn-off and drive as far as you can up this road. After lacing your boots, take a minute to catch your breath, since the climb begins immediately, moving southeast along a side stream to a marshy area. From there, the route heads northeast and begins its full-court press on the mountain. Most of the ascent from here on is on open, rocky, trail-less tundra. Nonetheless, it’s won’t be hard to pick your way to the top. For more details on Lake City-area hikes, call the Creede Ranger District office at 719-658-2556. For the scoop on fishing, the folks at The Sportsman (970-944-2526) are your best bet.

Day hikes near Lake City, Colorado
Question: Do you know of any good day hikes, places to camp, and other activities in the Lake City, Colorado, area? Dan Cosper
Albuquerque, NM
dan@math.unm.edu Adventure Adviser: If your trip to Lake City involves more than just quick in-and-out peak-bagging, base yourself at the Forest Service’s first-come, first-served 21-site Slumgullion Pass Campground, about nine miles south of town on Colorado 149. From there, take a stab at Uncompahgre or Handies peaks, two of the area’s many fourteeners. Both
are doable in a day–albeit a long one. Or scout for brown trout on nearby Lake San Cristobal, the state’s second-largest natural lake. The frequently stocked Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, just below Lake San Cristobal, is a good spot for dry-fly fishing. Rule number one if you’ve got fourteeners on your mind: Get an early–and I mean early–start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Rule number two: Bring plenty of energy food. While the distances can be deceptively short, the elevation gain–4,300 feet for Uncompahgre–can be a nightmare. Pick up the trail to 14,309-foot Uncompahgre just northwest of Capitol City, about nine miles west of Lake City via Hensen Creek Road. In Capitol City, take a side road northwest for about two miles up the North Fork of Hensen Creek to Matterhorn Creek. Turn right here and drive about a mile up to the vehicle barrier, where you’ll park. Follow this road on foot, which soon
turns to trail and brings you above tree line to a saddle between Matterhorn and Uncompahgre peaks. Follow the right-hand Uncompahgre Trail to the southeast for about a mile and a half beyond the saddle, where it joins a northbound trail before ascending the southeast ridge. Total round-trip distance is 16 miles, but for the most part the climb is long, gradual, and not too
strenuous. For a shorter hike, try 14,048-foot Handies Peak; an easy three-mile round-trip trek will get you to the summit and back in under five hours. From Lake City, head south past the lake to the “Shelf Road,” a steep, narrow route toward Cinnamon Pass. Just as you’re about to make the first switchback, take a left on the American Basin turn-off and drive as far as you can up
this road. After lacing your boots, take a minute to catch your breath, since the climb begins immediately, moving southeast along a side stream to a marshy area. From there, the route heads northeast and begins its full-court press on the mountain. Most of the ascent from here on is on open, rocky, trail-less tundra. Nonetheless, it’s won’t be hard to pick your way to the
top. For more details on Lake City-area hikes, call the Creede Ranger District office at 719-658-2556. For the scoop on fishing, the folks at The Sportsman (970-944-2526) are your best bet.