Trip Report: Windy Point, Colorado

Basic Information

• What: Windy Point
• Where: Outside of Lake City, Colorado
• Cost: Free
• More Information: US Forest Service website

Narrative

For anyone visiting the beautiful Lake City, Colorado I highly recommend making the short drive up Highway 149 to the Windy Point Lookout located just 8 miles outside of town.  The lookout provides some incredible views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains:

The lookout fortunately has a marker that helps point out the various mountains that can be seen from the lookout:

The lookout also has a marker that explains how Lake San Cristobal below the lookout was formed by the Slumgullion Earthflow 850 years ago:

The most spectacular mountain that can be seen from the lookout is without a doubt the rugged 14,309 foot Uncompahgre Peak:

Here is a closer look at this stunning mountain that was capped from snow from an August snowstorm that blew into the mountains the previous day:

For those looking to learn more about this mountain I recommend reading my trip report at the below link:

• Uncompahgre Peak via the Nellie Creek Trailhead

To the west of Uncompahgre Peak is the 14,015 foot Wetterhorn Peak:

I had planned to climb up Wetterhorn Peak on this day, but the August snow storm caused me to change my plans since I did not want to any rock climbing in icy conditions.  To the south of Uncompahgre Peak I could see the 12,305 foot Red Mountain which is easily seen from Lake City:

The chain of mountains extending from Red Mountain lead to the two 14ers, Redcloud and Sunshine Peak.  However, from Windy Point I could not see the 14,034 foot Redcloud Peak, but I could see the 14,001 foot Sunshine Peak which I had just climbed the previous day:

I could see that Sunshine Peak had a coat of snow on it from the storm that blew in the previous day during my climb up the mountain.  You can read more about my climb up Sunshine Peak at the below link:

• Sunshine Peak via the Silver Creek Trailhead

Conclusion

If visiting Lake City is definitely worth making a short drive to Windy Point to take in these views since most of these mountains cannot be seen from Lake City.  It is also worth making a stop along the way to the lookout to see the Alferd Packer Massacre site located along the highway as well. It is best to visit the lookout during the morning due to afternoon thunderstorms and clouds that can often obscure the view later in the day.