2016-12-22 05:48:21
SOUTH SUNLIGHT LAKE IN THE WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS, GLENN RANDALL Opportunities to survey untamed wilderness, uncover mining history and pursue some of the state’s most iconic outdoor activities — including hiking, rafting and fly-fishing — make a cruise along the Silver Thread Byway a must. The 117-mile byway connects South Fork, Creede and Lake City, welcoming towns that continue to embrace their Western roots, and ends at beautiful Blue Mesa Reservoir west of Gunnison. Start your journey in South Fork, where show-stopping views and outdoor fun abound. Drop a line in the Rio Grande River, which boasts 20 miles of Gold Medal waters for primo trout fishing; or hike a portion of the Continental Divide Trail, a 3,100-mile route between Canada and Mexico. Encompassing nearly 500,000 acres of rugged peaks, translucent alpine lakes and wild woodlands, Weminuche Wilderness (1) also draws adventure-seekers from near and far. WHEELER GEOLOGICAL AREA, KENNAN HARVEY A late 19th-century silver boomtown, Creede boasts a small-town ambiance and many reminders of its rich past. Stop at the Creede Historical Museum and Underground Mining Museum for a peek into the lives of miners, homesteaders and entrepreneurs who shaped the town’s history, and wander to Main Street, where businesses are housed in lovely 1890s storefronts. Just outside of Creede, Wheeler Geologic Area’s (2) otherworldly rock spires offer insight into the area’s volcanic past for experienced off-roaders. LAKE SAN CRISTOBAL, LAURENCE PARENT. Several natural marvels lie between Creede and Lake City, including majestic North Clear Creek Falls, and sapphire-blue Lake San Cristobal (3), which was formed when the Slumgullion Earth Flow naturally dammed the valley just 800 years ago. Trees growing at off-angles are evidence that the peculiar landslide — a result of unstable soils that shift up to 20 feet per year — is still at work. Lake City is known for its impressive collection of intact 1870s buildings and inspiring panoramas of San Juan Mountains. Whether you’re a fisher, camper or hiker, the city is an ideal headquarters for all kinds of fresh-air exploits. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Creede (page 200), Del Norte, Lake City (page 207), South Fork (page 212) QUICK TIP You don’t even have to leave town to get on a trail in Lake City! Families love strolling creek- and riverside, where encounters with deer and smaller mountain critters happen frequently.
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