What Is Winter Like in Lake City, Colorado?

Winter is cold. For the 1991 to 2020 climate normals at the Lake City station, the average January high is 33.8°F, the average low is 1.1°F and the daily mean is 17.4°F, per Wikipedia. Annual precipitation averages 14.27 inches.

What about roads?

Lake City's visitor site says Highway 149 is plowed daily in winter from 5 AM to 7 PM. The county road along the east side of Lake San Cristobal is not plowed in winter and becomes a ski and snowshoe route, while County Road 30 is plowed all winter. See my post on getting to Lake City.

What is there to do?

• The Lake City Ice Park, one block south of downtown, has more than 100 routes of WI3 and up and is open November to March, weather permitting. Climbs are free and donations support the park.
• Hinsdale County has more than 100 miles of groomed ski, snowshoe and snowmobile trails, per lakecity.com.
• Ice fishing is popular on Lake San Cristobal.
• The Lake San Cristobal Brew-Ski and the Ice Climbs Festival are held in February, per Uncover Colorado.

What should I check before buying?

Ask how the road to the property is maintained in winter, who plows it and how the home is heated. Visit in January if you can.

What is the bottom line?

Winter in Lake City is cold and quiet, with real winter recreation and plowed main roads. Visit in January or February before you decide.

How cold does it get in January?

The average January low is 1.1°F.

Is Highway 149 plowed?

Daily, 5 AM to 7 PM, per Lake City's visitor site.

Is there ice climbing?

Yes, at the Lake City Ice Park, November to March.

How much precipitation does Lake City get?

14.27 inches a year on average.

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

Sources: Wikipedia, Lake City climate (1991 to 2020 normals); Town of Lake City, Lake City Ice Park; lakecity.com; Uncover Colorado.