About the Owners

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About the Owners

ABOUT THE OWNERS

The North Face Lodge is co-owned by Robin and Ed Charlesworth and Barbara and Hugh Conway, who have been friends for over 30 years. We have a lot in common, including our love for Lake City, and we want The North Face Lodge to reflect what we think is so great about this place. We built our deck with you in mind, so that you could mellow out and look over the town, the river, the mountain peaks and valleys, aspen in the fall, and wildlife and flowers in the spring. We want you to see what we see in Lake City and enjoy it. Come visit!

Where We Are

1223 North Highway 149

Lake City, Colorado

970-944-5200

We are between Alpine Moose and the Lake City Bakery.

US Hwy 50 Bridge Closure – Lake City Visitor Information now on LakeCity.com - see LakeCity.com/us50.

Alpine Loop information can be found at AlpineLoop.info.

OHV’s are allowed on Hwy 149 beginning Friday, June 14 and ending on September 30, 2024.

Reservation Policies

Reservation Policy

The amount for one night’s stay is required for a reservation. One week’s notice is required for cancellation. However, we know things happen, so if you notify us within 24 hours prior to arrival we will apply your deposit to another time within the same year.

Check in/Check out

Check in is 2:00 PM. Sometimes we have every room booked for a group who checks out all on the same day. Please be patient with us as we do our best to “flip” the rooms while meeting our cleanliness standards. Make yourself comfortable on the deck if you are asked to wait while we prepare your room.

Check out is 11:00 AM except for the months of July, August and September when the check-out time is 10:00 am. All you have to do is leave your key in your room and your door unlocked. Safe travels to your next destination.

Special Events/Celebrations

Planning a special event for a large group? We an offer an excellent space for birthday celebrations, wedding events, corporate escapes, fraternity/college/high school reunions, family reunions, and more.

Special Events/Celebrations

Planning a special event for a large group? We an offer an excellent space for birthday celebrations, wedding events, corporate escapes, fraternity/college/high school reunions, family reunions, and more.

SPECIAL EVENTS/CELEBRATIONS

What a grand backdrop for birthday celebrations, weddings or wedding receptions (up to 50), family reunions, fraternity reunions, and corporate escapes! We have 14 rooms which will sleep a minimum of 14 up to 52 maximum guests. With our large deck area and picnic tables, we have an excellent gathering space for friends, families, and co-workers to socialize and rejuvenate. We have two charcoal grills and one small propane grill for guests to use. Some restaurants in town will cater and the bakery nearby can provide excellent options for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Laughter abounds with on deck games such as corn hole and giant jingo. And don’t forget our fire pits under the stars at night!

To help plan your event, a video chat will enable you to see the deck from your home or office. We have two folding tables, two large beverage/party tubs, a cold drink glass dispenser, a 60-cup coffee maker, and a couple of chaving dishes. We have two charcoal grills and a small propane grill available to our guests. Let us know what you need and we may have it.

Our manager will be pleased to work with you on an agenda for your group to keep things interesting, such as fly fishing guides, excursions on the Alpine Loop, entry to the Hard Tack Mine, and additional locations for picnics near Lake San Cristobal, Deer Lakes, or others. Having alternative places for dining may require reservations and advanced planning.

Live music may be booked and we do have extension cords available if needed.

There are no public restrooms available for guests, which is why having guest rooms containing your guests works quite well to simply return to one’s own room to use the facilities.

Alcohol is not sold by North Face Lodge.

We are seasonal and do not offer an indoor backup. In case of rain, a tent may be a solution.

The charge for exclusive use of the deck for an event is $250 which will include trash removal.

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About

Hinsdale County and the Town of Lake City have received a two-year special use permit for 2024-2025 from CDOT (Colorado Dept of Transportation) that allows OHVs and ATVs to travel on a 3.26-mile section of Hwy 149, which connects the entire Alpine Loop Scenic Byway for OHVs and ATVs.

With this special use permit, OHVs will be able to ride on Hwy 149 from CR 30 (MM 69.88) south of Lake City to the Ocean Wave Drive intersection (MM 72.11) on the northern end of Lake City from the Friday before Father’s Day through September 30th. OHVs are not permitted to ride on any other areas of the highway at any time outside the boundaries or dates of the program. Learn more about the program here.

OHVs are permitted on all Town and County roads. The OHV Program only affects travel on the highway.

YES, you can ride from North Face Lodge via special route to connect to the approved route which starts between The Bakery and our grocery store on Ocean Wave Drive. Do not ride down our driveway to 149 and travel the short distance to Ocean Wave Drive or you may receive a ticket.

Hinsdale County and Town of Lake City OHV Regulations

All OHV use on Lake City and Hinsdale County roads must comply with the Colorado State statutes pertaining to motor vehicles and follow posted speed limits.

All OHV’s operators and or passengers must meet the following requirements:

• MUST have a current Colorado OHV permit. Note: Colorado does not recognize permits from other states.

• Operators must have a valid driver’s license in their possession

• Must have proof of current OHV liability insurance.

• Required to wear a restraint/seatbelt if: the OHV manufacturer originally incorporated restraint or child car seats. Child car seats and restraints must be used in accordance with Colorado motor vehicle laws CRS 42-4-236.

• Under 18yrs must wear a DOT-approved helmet unless in a child seat or age-appropriate restraint. Child helmet exception is applicable ONLY for OHV’s designed and manufactured to support a child seat.

• Required to have proper eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, goggles, etc.) OHV’s with windshields do satisfy this requirement.

• May not carry more passengers than designated by the manufacturer. All passengers must be seated in designated seating per manufacturer specifications.

• It is unlawful to operate any vehicle off: designated streets, roads, highways or trails.

OHV’s are allowed on State Highway 149 ONLY in the Town of Lake City, north to the Lake City Bakery and south to County Rd. 30 (Lake Road). OHV’s are NOT allowed to proceed beyond County Rd. 30.

Fines may be assessed from $75, not to exceed $1000

Please contact the Lake City/Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center with any questions or concerns.

For more information, see www.lakecity.com/ohv-regulations.

Pet Friendly

DOG FRIENDLY

The North Face Lodge welcomes dogs large and small as they accompany their family to explore the San Juan Mountains. If your pup loves the water, it is an easy walk across to the river and a short drive to Lake San Cristobal, the second largest natural lake in Colorado. Dogs are welcome on our large deck to socialize with other furry fellows and people - on a leash or under voice control. All rooms are first floor. Dogs may not chase wildlife and we may have deer grazing either in our parking area, adjacent to the lodge, or in view of our deck area. In addition, we are in active Black Bear country. For these reasons, the leash is essential to your pet’s safety. If under voice control, an advanced level to resist the temptation to pursue wildlife is essential.

Two of our guest rooms (Antlers & Ski Hill) offer walk-in showers in case you need to bathe your canine friend during your stay. If you have forgotten essentials for your pet, let us know and we may be able to assist. We have a large dog crate, extra dog bowls, leashes, brushes.

A short walk to town (we are situated on the northern edge of town) will lead you to discover walking trails along the river, dog-friendly patios in some restaurants (Lake City Cafe, Lake City Bakery (summer only) and Cannibal Grill). Dogs may play off leash in the new dog parks by the river, but are not allowed in Town Park.

Our pet fee is $25 per day, or a maximum of $80. As our guest you automatically agree to follow our pet policy. Please read and review it before your arrival. If your dog enjoys jumping on the bed to snuggle, please ask for bed covers to protect our bedding.

Winter in Lake City

Happy Winter from Lake City!

The holiday snow dancing worked and storms blanketed the San Juan Mountains and Lake San Cristobal with snow. We invite you to come visit our quiet and beautiful town this winter.

To entice a visit, we have built an amazing 2024 Winter Whiteout lineup. Every Saturday from February 3rd through March 2nd, we’ll be hosting unique small-town events including:

Lake City Ice Climbing Festival (Feb 3rd)

Lake San Cristobal Brew-Ski (Feb 10th)

Lake City Ice Fishing Derby (Feb 17th)

Cannibal Snowshoe Race (Feb 24th)
Matt Milski Memorial Ski Race (March 2nd)

The Lake City Ice Park

Just one block south of historic downtown Lake City is the Lake City Ice Park, a favorite among ice climbers who prefer small crowds, stellar routes, and a casual, fun atmosphere. Check out Lake City Ice Climbs on Facebook or Instagram for current conditions.

The Town of Lake City manages the ice park and the gorgeous blue ice fed by piped water that comes down via showerheads.

Located, with permission, on public, BLM land, the Lake City Ice Park is FREE to the public and easily accessible. With hardly any lines… especially on the weekdays, this ice wall offers:

Three park sections: Pumphouse Park, Dynamite Shack, and the Beer Garden
50+ routes
60 to 170+ foot pitches
Be ready to extend anchors up to 25 meters.
Mixed grades, WI-3 and up

The Lake City Ice Park is open November to March, weather permitting, is family (and canine) friendly, and has a fire pit and warming hut. As always it is climb at your own risk.

Want to ice climb but don’t have the gear or the experience? Check out the Ice Climbing Guides and Gear directory to find a guide or gear rental.

For an exciting ice climbing experience, check out the annual Lake City Ice Climbing Festival, which takes place each February. Check out our calendar for details. Even during the festival, the ice park doesn’t feel crowded!

For experienced climbers…

If you’ve climbed the Lake City Ice Park and want to challenge yourself on some natural ice climbs, check out the following:

sherman

Sherman falls is a 4-pitch W15 line backcountry waterfall. From Highway 149 just south of Lake City, turn west onto CR 30 towards Lak San Cristobal. Continue about 12 miles and then take the left fork in the road. The Sherman townsite (ghost town) and waterfall will be less than a mile from here.

north clear creek falls

This waterfall is a dramatic drop down from the meadow, just ½ miles from Highway 149 about halfway between Lake City and Creede. There’s a road, parking lot, and overlook. Please note, this is not plowed in the winter. Park on the highway and walk or ski into the waterfall.

Ski Hill and Terrain Park

The Lake City Ski Hill is owned and operated by the Town of Lake City. For current hours, pricing, and other information, visit SkiLakeCity.com. The Lake City Ski Hill is a great place to learn to ski or practice your turns, on skis or snowboard. With 14 skiable acres, six trails, and one terrain park, the ski hill isn’t huge. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in price. For $30 ($20 for kids 17 and under), you can ski all day—gear included! This makes the Lake City Ski Hill ideal for anyone who wants to give skiing a try, young children, or someone who just doesn’t want to spend $100 or more for a day pass elsewhere.

In the wake of the mega ski resort boom, it’s a comfort to know Colorado still has a few local ski hills that remain treasures of their communities.

Lake City’s Ski Hill and Terrain Park is such a place, a ski hill representing what skiing used to be, where prices are low, rentals are free, and a strong sense of community permeates everyone on the snow.

The Lake City Ski Hill is a great place to learn to ski or practice your turns, on skis or snowboard. With 14 skiable acres, six trails, and one terrain park, the ski hill isn’t huge. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in price. The Lake City Ski Hill ideal for anyone who wants to give skiing a try, young children, or someone who just doesn’t want to spend $100 or more for a day pass elsewhere.

Lake City’s Ski Hill has a single Poma lift that was moved from Arapahoe Basin in 1966. It’s the oldest operation lift in the state, and when it came to Lake City, the ski area was operating under its old name, Lake City Winter Wonderland. Today, the lift carries skiers and snowboarders 1000 feet up the hillside (up 247 vertical feet at a starting elevation of approximately 8600 ft). Today, the lift carries skiers and snowboarders 1000 feet up the hillside (up 247 vertical feet at a starting elevation of approximately 8600 ft).

The Lake City Ski Hill represents a fading era of the snow sport. If you’re curious about what skiing used to be and want to have a great day too, look no further than Lake City, Colorado.