Lake City is known for being a quaint mountain community that offers visitors almost every type of outdoor adventure.  In addition to a bunch of cute shops, there are a ton of nearby campgrounds to enjoy your stay at. Lake City, Co is tucked away in the San Juan Mountains and was once used as a mining town.  You can do anything here, from ice climbing to fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping. Lake San Cristobal is just down the street from the city center, Colorado’s second-largest natural lake.

How to Get to RV Camping Lake City CO

Lake City, CO, is located deep in the mountains but is accessible by driving on CO-149, which goes directly through the downtown area.  If you’re planning your trip from Denver, you can expect to be on the road for about five hours.  Driving from Grand Junction to Lake City will take you a little over three hours.

When to Visit RV Camping Lake City CO

The best time of year to visit Lake City, Colorado, is during the summer months.  July and August are considered the high season where temperatures average in the highs of 77 during the day and drop to 44 at night.  Winter is also a very popular time to visit, with many accommodations, restaurants, and stores open year-round in Lake City.  Winter recreation ranges from Ice Climbing to Snowmobiling, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing.  Ice Fishing is also popular on Lake San Cristobal.  Spring and Fall are also great times to visit with fewer tourists overall.

RV Camping Lake City CO

Bear Lake Campground

Is a developed campground that offers excellent lake and stream fishing opportunities.  Both Bear Lake and the Tributaries of Cuchara River run through the campground. In addition, visitors can hike the Indian Creek Trail, located on the campground’s north side and offers access to 23 miles of motorized trails for ATV, motorcycle, bicycle, foot, and horse use.

Elkhorn RV Resort

Elkhorn RV Resort, located in Lake City, Colorado, offers rental RV sites and cabins for adventurous travelers. The campground is located in a quiet residential neighborhood and within walking distance of all the shopping, restaurants, and trails of downtown Lake City. The campground is open to visitors from May 1 to September 30.

Henson Creek RV Park

This RV Park opened in the 1950s in Lake City, Colorado, and has been operating ever since!  Here you’ll find 28 RV sites with full hookups, a game room, bathrooms, and showers.  Enjoy staying at the oldest campground in town while you explore all of the things to do near Lake City.

Hidden Valley Tent Campground

Hidden Valley Tent Campground is a primitive tent camping area that is nestled between the Powderhorn and La Garita Wilderness area.  No reservations are required here as all sites are first-come, first-serve.  This tent camping site is perfect for those that are into hiking and backpacking as it offers excellent access to the extensive trail systems in the area. In addition, you’ll see many spruce, fir, and aspen trees in the area.

Highlander RV Campground

Highlander RV Campground is located in the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.  When you arrive at the campground in Lake City, you’ll be surrounded by the San Juan Mountains.  The campground offers 34 hookup sites and four tent camping sites.  Amenities include showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, campfire rings, and free coffee all day!

Mill Creek Campground

Mill Creek Campground is located near Handies Peak and Redcloud Peak Wilderness Study Areas and provides public fishing access on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The campground features 23 campsites, vault toilets, dumpsters, and pumps for potable water. You’ll find a metal fire ring, picnic tables, and bear food storage boxes at each campsite.

Wupperman Campground

Wupperman Campground is located on the east side of Lake San Cristobal and features 31 campsites that accommodate either RV camping or tent camping. This campground boasts public fishing access to the lake and vault toilets, picnic tables, grills, and fire gates. The park does not accept reservations, so expect first-come-first-serve access to campsites.

Lake City CO Recreational Activities

Fort Collins

Fort Collins is a city in northern Colorado near Denver with a famous Old Town historic district with houses dating back to the 1800s, a vintage trolley, specialty shops, and restaurants. Here you’ll find the Fort Collins Museum of discovery with its many interactive sciences, history, and nature exhibits.  In addition, the Horsetooth Moutain Open Space is an excellent destination for trail hiking. 

Grand Lake

Grand Lake is another quaint Colorado village located on Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake.  While the town is mainly focused on outdoor adventures, there are several restaurants, lodges, and other places to stay.  This is another excellent destination in the area if you want to explore Colorado.

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in North America.  You can find this 14,115-foot mountain in Pike National Forest which is 12 miles west of Colorado Springs.  It is also one of the only mountains that you can actually drive to the summit if you don’t want to hike!

Red Feather Lakes

The Red Feather Lakes are surrounded by Roosevelt National Forest and are a year-round outdoor playground that offers fantastic scenery, unique wildlife, and hiking trails. While the area still shows the remains of the loggers and ranchers who settled in the area in the 1900s, one of the main attractions is the Shambhala Moutain Center, a Buddhist retreat.

Conclusion

Lake City, CO, offers many activities for anyone looking to get out and explore the Colorado Wilderness.  There are a ton of nearby campgrounds and dispersed camping opportunities throughout the National Park system. In addition, Lake City is located close to other major towns in Colorado, such as Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Denver, making it easy to access for a weekend vacation. So don’t miss out on this top destination for your next vacation!