Hiking Trails
Hiking Trails
One of the benefits of being in the most remote county in the lower 48 with 96 percent public lands is that it takes only a few miles by foot or hoof and minutes by bicycle to leave civilization behind. Hinsdale County offers seemingly endless miles of trails, 19 public campgrounds, five fourteeners, and over 20 thirteeners. Hikers and backpackers have a vast amount of options in three National Forests, one BLM district, four national wilderness areas, and two wilderness study areas, all of which have several access points within miles of Lake City. Hinsdale County is not limited to just hikers — many trails are open to horses and mountain bikes as well.
Please note: trail maps are available at the Visitor Center and at a number of local stores. Please stay on marked trails. Mountain bikes are not allowed in wilderness areas. Always check current conditions, weather, and road status before heading out — many high-country roads are 4WD-only and seasonal.
Trails below are grouped by region. Click any column header to sort. Length is round-trip miles; elevation gain is total cumulative gain.
Difficulty key
- Easy Under ~3 mi round-trip with little elevation gain. Family-friendly.
- Moderate Up to ~6 mi round-trip and/or up to ~1,500 ft gain. Some uphill, no technical sections.
- Hard 6–10 mi round-trip and/or 1,500–3,000 ft gain. Sustained climbs, often above tree line.
- Strenuous Over 10 mi round-trip and/or 3,000+ ft gain. Includes most 14ers, 13ers, and multi-day backpacks; may involve scrambling, exposure, or routefinding.
Lake City Area
| Trail | Difficulty | Length (mi, RT) | Elev. Gain (ft) | Type | Best Season | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peninsula Park | Easy | 0.5 | 50 | Loop | May–Oct | Peninsula Park, Lake San Cristobal |
| Ski Hill to Lake Trail | Easy | 3.2 | 800 | Out-and-back | Mid-Jun–Oct | Lake City Ski Hill |
| Thompson Lake | Moderate | 3.6 | 700 | Out-and-back | Jun–Oct | Off CR 30, south of Lake City |
| Waterdog Lake | Hard | 7.6 | 2,500 | Out-and-back | Mid-Jun–Oct | Waterdog TH, east of Lake City |
| Crystal Lake | Hard | 8.0 | 3,000 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Crystal/Larson TH, CR 30 |
| Larson Lakes | Hard | 9.5 | 2,200 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Crystal/Larson TH, CR 30 |
Lake City Area trail notes: Short, flat lakeside loop at Peninsula Park is family- and stroller-friendly. Ski Hill to Lake gives big-picture views over town and the Lake Fork valley. Thompson Lake is a local favorite with good fishing. Waterdog climbs to a timberline lake beneath Mesa Seco. Crystal and Larson both leave from the same trailhead on CR 30; Larson is best as an overnight backpack.
Alpine Loop / Cinnamon Pass
| Trail | Difficulty | Length (mi, RT) | Elev. Gain (ft) | Type | Best Season | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sloan Lake | Moderate | 2.6 | 1,200 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | American Basin TH, CR 30 |
| American Basin to Handies Peak | Hard | 4.6 | 2,448 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | American Basin TH (4WD), CR 30 |
| Cuba Gulch | Hard | 6.5 | 2,020 | Out-and-back | Jun–Oct | Cuba Gulch TH, CR 30 |
| Cooper Creek | Hard | 7.4 | 2,190 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Cooper Creek TH, CR 30 |
| Cottonwood Creek | Hard | 8.2 | 1,370 | Out-and-back | Jun–Oct | Cottonwood TH, CR 30 |
| Cataract Gulch | Hard | 8.2 | 2,570 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Cataract TH, CR 30 |
| Grizzly Gulch to Handies Peak | Strenuous | 8.4 | 3,623 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch TH |
| Cataract Lake | Strenuous | 8.6 | 3,500 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Cataract TH, CR 30 |
| Wager Gulch | Strenuous | 9.6 | 3,100 | Out-and-back / OHV | Jul–Oct | Wager Gulch TH, CR 30 |
| Silver Creek to Redcloud & Sunshine | Strenuous | 11.4 | 3,609 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch TH |
| Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway | Strenuous | 54.0 | 4,000 | OHV loop | Jul–Sep | Lake City (or Silverton/Ouray) |
Alpine Loop notes: The Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway is primarily a 4WD/OHV byway, not a foot trail — included because it has long been a fixture of the Lake City hiking page. American Basin is one of Colorado’s premier wildflower basins with peak bloom in mid-July; Sloan Lake makes a great shorter alternative if Handies Peak is too much. Cataract Lake extends Cataract Gulch to a high alpine lake on the Continental Divide.
Engineer Pass / Henson Creek
| Trail | Difficulty | Length (mi, RT) | Elev. Gain (ft) | Type | Best Season | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitmore Falls | Easy | 0.2 | 50 | Out-and-back | Jun–Oct | Engineer Pass Rd pull-off (CR 20) |
| Fanny Fern Mine Trail | Moderate | 2.1 | 700 | Out-and-back | Jun–Oct | Henson Creek Rd (CR 20) |
| Independence Gulch Trail | Moderate | 4.5 | 1,700 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Henson Creek Rd (CR 20) |
| Round Top Road | Hard | 10.0 | 2,800 | Out-and-back / OHV | Jul–Oct | Henson Creek Rd (CR 20) |
| Camp Trail | Hard | 10.0 | 2,600 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Henson Creek Rd (CR 20) |
| Matterhorn Creek to Matterhorn Peak | Strenuous | 6.6 | 2,790 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Matterhorn Creek TH (4WD) |
| Matterhorn Basin to Wetterhorn Peak | Strenuous | 7.0 | 3,300 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Matterhorn Creek TH (4WD) |
| Nellie Creek to Uncompahgre Peak | Strenuous | 7.5 | 3,000 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Nellie Creek TH (4WD) |
| Alpine Gulch | Strenuous | 12.0 | 3,480 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Alpine Gulch TH (CR 20) |
| Williams Creek | Strenuous | 15.0 | 3,295 | Out-and-back | Jun–Oct | Williams Creek TH (CR 20) |
Engineer Pass / Henson Creek notes: Whitmore Falls is a 40-foot waterfall right off the road with steep, loose footing. Matterhorn Peak (13er) involves Class 3–4 scrambling near the summit; Wetterhorn (14,015′) is a Class 3 climb. Nellie Creek is the most popular Lake City 14er — non-technical Class 2 to the highest summit in the San Juans.
Cebolla / Powderhorn
| Trail | Difficulty | Length (mi, RT) | Elev. Gain (ft) | Type | Best Season | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannibal Plateau | Moderate | 6.0 | 1,400 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Cebolla Trailhead (FSR 788) |
| Powderhorn Lakes | Moderate | 8.0 | 660 | Out-and-back | Mid-Jun–Oct | Powderhorn Lakes TH (FSR 788) |
| Powderhorn Park | Hard | 12.6 | 1,730 | Out-and-back | Mid-Jun–Oct | FSR 788 north of Slumgullion |
| Devil’s Creek | Strenuous | 13.6 | 3,520 | Out-and-back | Mid-Jun–Oct | Devil’s Creek TH (CO-149) |
| Cebolla Trail | Strenuous | 22.5 | 3,500 | Point-to-point | Jul–Sep | FSR 788 (Cebolla Creek) |
| Big Blue Creek | Strenuous | 24.0 | 1,800 | Out-and-back | Jun–Oct | Big Blue TH (Big Blue Creek) |
Cebolla / Powderhorn notes: Powderhorn Lakes is an excellent first backpack — gentle climb to two scenic lakes in the Powderhorn Wilderness. Cannibal Plateau climbs to Mesa Seco with views over Lake City. Big Blue is a long, low-grade trail along Big Blue Creek into the Uncompahgre Wilderness.
La Garita Wilderness
| Trail | Difficulty | Length (mi, RT) | Elev. Gain (ft) | Type | Best Season | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Creek to San Luis Peak | Strenuous | 12.0 | 3,600 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Stewart Creek TH (Cochetopa) |
La Garita notes: Stewart Creek is the most accessible route up San Luis Peak (14,014′) — long but non-technical Class 1.
Upper Rio Grande / Weminuche
| Trail | Difficulty | Length (mi, RT) | Elev. Gain (ft) | Type | Best Season | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weminuche Pass to Continental Divide | Hard | 9.0 | 1,900 | Out-and-back | Mid-Jun–Oct | Thirty Mile CG (FSR 520) |
| Heart Lake via Lost Trail | Hard | 10.0 | 2,000 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Lost Trail CG (FSR 520) |
| Wetterhorn Basin via West Fork | Hard | 10.0 | 2,000 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | West Fork TH (Cimarron) |
| Canon Infierno | Hard | 12.0 | 1,780 | Out-and-back | Jul–Oct | Off CO-149 / FSR 520 area |
| Pole Creek Trail | Strenuous | 14.5 | 2,500 | Loop / multi-day | Jul–Sep | Pole Creek TH (FSR 520) |
| West Lost Trail | Strenuous | 18.0 | 3,000 | Loop / 3-day | Jul–Sep | Lost Trail CG (FSR 520) |
| Grizzly Creek Trail #814 | Strenuous | 19.4 | 3,500 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Thirty Mile CG (FSR 520) |
| Lost Trail #821 | Strenuous | 22.0 | 3,200 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Lost Trail CG (FSR 520) |
| Rio Grande Pyramid & The Window | Strenuous | 24.0 | 4,500 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Thirty Mile CG (FSR 520) |
| Ute Creek Trail #819 | Strenuous | 26.4 | 2,200 | Out-and-back | Jul–Sep | Ute Creek TH (FSR 520) |
Upper Rio Grande / Weminuche notes: Several Weminuche and Upper Rio Grande trailheads start in Hinsdale County via FSR 520. Strong hikers can do many of these as long day-hikes, but most are best as multi-day backpacks. Rio Grande Pyramid and “The Window” is an iconic backpack to a 13,821′ summit and dramatic notch on the Divide.
Continental Divide / Slumgullion
| Trail | Difficulty | Length (mi, RT) | Elev. Gain (ft) | Type | Best Season | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Clear Creek Falls Overlook | Easy | 1.0 | 0 | Out-and-back | May–Oct | FSR 510, off CO-149 |
| CDT Segment 22 (Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle) | Strenuous | 17.2 | 2,312 | Point-to-point | Jul–Sep | Spring Creek Pass (CO-149) |
Continental Divide / Slumgullion notes: North Clear Creek Falls Overlook is wheelchair-accessible — paved walk to a 100-foot waterfall with picnic tables and restrooms. CDT Segment 22 traverses high country over Coney Summit (13,271′) — the highest point on the Colorado Trail.
Additional resources
www.14ers.com includes photos and regular updates from hikers for all of Colorado’s 14ers, including the five in Hinsdale County (Handies, Redcloud, Sunshine, Wetterhorn, Uncompahgre) and San Luis Peak just to the east.
