by During our cross country tip in our motor-home there was one stop that I absolutely had to go to, Lake city Colorado. This little mountain town had stuck with me for nearly 20 years and I was determined to visit it again. When I was 15 years old I stayed a summer at the now closed “Camp Red Cloud” located a few miles south of Lake City. In my teen years I grew up in a rather large suburban area just south of Minneapolis in the city of Burnsville. That town had it all, malls, parks, huge high school, and the Mall Of America just a few miles down the road. Not knowing much about the world I thought this was the life, until I saw the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
The Drive
Lake City is nestled in the southwest corner of the state and is 255 miles from Denver, If you are an experienced RVer you know a run like this normally doesn’t usually take very long and is pretty much an average days drive, but to get here you have to pass some of the most beautiful mountain roads with spectacular views, whenever you turn a corner you just gotta say “wow!” at the beauty the rocky mountains holds. You can easily expect 6 plus hours driving this short distance due to the steep inclines and declines leading up to Lake city.
We entered the city from the north west as we came through Denver, during our adventure to this spectacular destination we came through some of the most stunning views and memories that won't fade any time soon.
Arriving in town
Once you finally arrive at this perfect little town, you will surely cross the river that is fed from near by Lake San Cristobal (pictured on the top of this page). When you first arrive you will see the gorgeous architecture that seems like time forgot. All through the town there is a feeling of nostalgia with wood facade shops that surround the board walk, nestled around the centrally located town park, with a large grassy field to throw a football or play Ultimate Frisbee (pictured below)
On the other end of the park is a playground where children can play and enjoy. Backdrop to this little town is a large mountain that butts right up to this perfect spot. In the Evening hours you may even see the several dozen tame deer that meander throughout the town.
Note: We arrived just a week after major flooding due to the summer rains, hence the sandbags in the background.
Where we stayed
During our visit we stayed at Elkhorn Rv Resort, it was located right in town and within walking distance to local shops and the river. Linda (the park owner) was so friendly and kind to us, she even took the time to talk about the town and make us feel at home. They offer side by side and Jeep rentals as well if you want to explore the nearby trails. If you plan on heading out I highly recommend this park for your stay. Just a heads up you may want to call well in advance as they do pretty much stay filled in the summer months, we got really lucky that they had a site for us.
Things to do
This little town has much to offer for just about anyone, if you have a thirst for adventure you can take your 4 wheeler or side by side through the mountain trails that is guaranteed to thrill. you can see a great list of trails here at alltrails.com
When we first arrived we weren’t totally prepared to go out in a POV (Passenger Offroad Vehicle) so we opted to explore the town on foot, come to find out not only is this place gorgeous but it has a lot of history. Like most western mountain towns Lake city was first created as a hub for silver and gold miners in the area. While walking around you can still see the remnants of this old history with antiques of mine shaft carts scattered through the town.
One of the things I love to do when visiting new places is to find local coffee shops and try something new. While taking in the sights of this rustic mountain town I found “Lake City Cafe.” It was a nice little shop with friendly staff, and they had several mountain themed choices to choose from, I went with a “Milky Hippie” it was a nice complement to the atmosphere of the town.
We also had the opportunity to head to Lake San Cristobal. Being raised in Minnesota and currently living in North Carolina lakes and water is nothing new, but seeing the crystal clear waters surrounded by snow capped mountains was absolutely breathtaking. My only wish is that I had a better camera to enjoy and remember the sights (Note: All pictures here were taken on my cell phone).
Off to our next adventure
After our stay was over we started heading out of town and found a site just a few miles from the center of town called the “packer cannibal” so naturally we had to stop. According to the sight marker this was the site of “Americas favorite cannibal” its even remembered as the “Colorado Cannibal” according to the placard, Alfred Packer was traveling through the mountains with his friends when a sudden snow storm hit and the men were stuck in the mountains just out of town, as the days went on and the food ran short, the men started to pass from lack of food and, you guess it, Alfred decided to eat the dead fiends to survive. Oh the things you find when exploring the open road.
Note: While in the higher elevations we did need to check out tire pressure frequently to ensure proper PSI while traveling, I HIGHLY recommend having a quality air compressor for thin air environments to make sure you have the proper PSI for your RV, see 10 must haves for any trip for a great air compressor idea.
Your adventure is out there, you just have to take the step and go find it. Believe me, I know trying new things is scary, but I promise once you started traveling, you will never want to stop!
Do you have a Hidden Gem that we need to check out? What places do you want to know more about? let us know in the comment section below.
