Getting in and out of Lake City means crossing high passes

Lake City sits deep in the San Juan Mountains, and the road that connects it to the rest of the state climbs over high ground in almost every direction.

The main paved route is State Highway 149, the Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway. Heading south and east from Lake City it crosses Slumgullion Pass and then Spring Creek Pass before dropping toward Creede. These are tall passes, and the grades and weather on them are nothing like driving in the valley below.

In winter this matters a lot. The highway is generally kept open year-round, but high passes can close for hours during heavy snow, wind, or avalanche-control work. Conditions at the top can be very different from conditions in town, and Colorado’s traction and chain rules can apply when the weather turns. Carrying chains or proper tires, and checking the road before you go, is just part of mountain travel here.

Because road status changes fast, do not trust a remembered “it’s usually open.” Check current conditions before crossing the passes, and plan extra time in winter.

For pass conditions and closures, use CDOT and the state’s COtrip road-conditions service before you drive.