Lake City

If Lake City were a stage, its backdrop would be splendid. Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountain Range just minutes from the spectacular San Cristobal Lake, this place is an ideal vacation spot year-round. Activities here include hiking, camping, boating, fly and ice fishing, horseback riding and mountain biking over the many spectacular mountain trails. The city also offers hunting, mine tours, mini golf, rafting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and historic tours.

The only skyscrapers in Lake City are natural ones: the San Juans. Whether you are sightseeing, shopping, dining or indulging in your favorite outdoor pursuits, you'll discover there are more mountains and fresh air per square mile here than just about anywhere in the state. In the winter, check out the Lake City Ski Hill. Opened in 1966, its four runs are served by one lift, and the hill prides itself on affordability and a fun, family atmosphere.

In 1874 Alferd Packer,  Lake City's most notorious resident, was jailed for killing and eating five fellow gold prospectors when their group became trapped in a blizzard atop nearby Slumgullion Pass. After his release from prison, he allegedly became a vegetarian. Visit the massacre site, and then go to the Hinsdale County Museum to view the skeletal leftovers from the meal.