South Fork, Creede, Lake City / COME TO LIFE 1 A cruise along the Silver Thread Byway is a must. The 117-mile route connects welcoming towns that continue to embrace their Western roots (and plenty of access to outdoor adventure), 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; hook up with an ATV outfitter to see backcountry sites; or hike a portion of the Continental Divide Trail, a 3,100-mile trek between Canada and Mexico. Packed with rugged peaks, translucent alpine lakes and wild woodlands, Weminuche Wilderness also draws adventure-seekers. 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 (3) and Underground Mining Museum for a peek into the lives of miners and entrepreneurs who shaped the town’s history, and wander to Main Street, where businesses are housed in lovely 1890s storefronts. 2 SILVER THREAD BYWAY Many natural marvels lie between Creede and Lake City, including majestic North Clear Creek Falls (2) (and its little sibling South Clear Creek Falls , which you can hike down to) and sapphire-blue Lake San Cristobal , which was formed when the Slumgullion Earthflow naturally dammed the valley just 800 years ago. Trees growing at off-angles are evidence that the landslide is still shifting up to 20 feet per year. Another special spot west of Lake City is American Basin , high-alpine backcountry known mostly for a late-summer explosion of wildflowers. Lake City (1) itself is known for its impressive collection of 1870s buildings, several nearby ghost towns (including Animas Forks , Carson and Capitol City ) and inspiring panoramas of San Juan Mountains. For a fisher, camper or hiker, Lake City is an ideal head-quarters for all kinds of fresh-air exploits. Pick up a ghost tour at the Hinsdale County Museum and see a show at the old-timey Mountaineer Theatre . COLORADO COLORADO MYSTIC SAN LUIS VALLEY MOUNTAINS & MESAS Survey untamed wilderness, uncover mining history and pursue some of the state’s most iconic outdoor activities in South Fork, Creede and Lake City . WINTER FUN T If you’re visiting in winter, Lake City now has more than 100 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and fat biking, not to mention a stellar ice park and local ski hill. South Fork has an outdoor ice rink and local outdoor clubs organizing weekly outings for snowmobiling and snowshoeing. And Creede has plenty of untouched wilderness for snowmobile tours. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: LAKE CITY, CRAIG PALMER; NORTH CLEAR CREEK FALLS, BIG SUN PHOTO TOURS/GENE TEWKSBURY; CREEDE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, MILES/MATT INDEN. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Creede , Del Norte , Lake City , South Fork (page 204) 3 QUICK TIP Quintessential mountain living: 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. COLORADO.COM / 173
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 173
