How Do You Get to the Continental Divide Trail From Lake City, Colorado?

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition's Lake City page says the trail is about 18 miles south of town, with the easiest access at Spring Creek Pass. This information comes from that page, so confirm details with the Lake City Visitor Center (970-944-2527) before you go.

What is at Spring Creek Pass?

• East: leads toward Snow Mesa. The edge is just under 2 miles in, and longer hikes descend about 1,500 feet.
• West: leads toward Jarosa Mesa, with a climb of roughly 1,000 feet. The best views begin about 5 miles in.

Is there a trail shuttle?

The page says the volunteer-run Lake City Trail Shuttle operates daily from July 1 to August 31. It departs the Hiker Center (418 Silver Street) at 11:00 AM and Spring Creek Pass at 12:00 PM. The page does not say which year this schedule is for, so confirm it.

What services does the page list?

Wifi, camping and lodging, showers, food, laundry and camp supplies. Named places include the Lake City Hiker Center, The Country Store, The General Store, The Sportsman Outdoors & Fly Shop, the Post Office (803 Gunnison Ave) and the Public Library (206 N. Silver St).

How do I get to Lake City?

See my post on getting to Lake City. Highway 149 is about 55 miles south of Gunnison and 74 miles north of South Fork.

What is the bottom line?

Lake City is a trail town with a summer shuttle to the Divide. Confirm the schedule and conditions before you plan a trip.

How far is the CDT from Lake City?

About 18 miles south, per the CDT Coalition page.

Where is the easiest access?

Spring Creek Pass.

Is there a shuttle?

A volunteer-run shuttle ran daily July 1 to August 31, per the page. Confirm the current schedule.

Where can I resupply?

The page lists several stores in town.

Connect with a great real estate agent in Lake City, Kelsey Loftis with Crystal Peak Properties. Phone: (970) 784-6768 · Email: kelseyloftis@gmail.com · Website: crystalpeakproperties.com

Source: Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Lake City trail community page (reviewed Nov. 1, 2026). Schedules and services change.