Part or all of this operation is conducted on public lands under special permit from the US Bureau of Land Management & US Forest Service. Outfitter #1920 and Permit # CO16003-06004.
1. How much advance notice do you need for a reservation?
2. How do I make a reservation?
3. What are your booking policies?
4. What is your cancellation policy?
5. Can I change my hike date?
6. Do you operate hikes year-round?
7. When and where do guided hikes start?
8. How many people can go on a hike?
9. Do we have to go on hikes with people we don't know?
10. Can we still hike if we're not used to the altitude?
11. What's the weather like there for hiking?
12. Are your hikes suitable for people who are afraid of heights?
13. Are we allowed to stop and explore during breaks?
14. What should I bring and wear?
15. Do you have lunch on your hikes?
16. Can we bring kids and dogs on hikes?
17. What is a customary tip?
If we have openings in our schedule, you can walk-in and go on a guided hike that day. However if you are planning your vacation and want a guided hike on a specific day or set of days, then at least a two-week notice is suggested. Keep in mind that the summer months, especially July, can book up as early as March. Our best advice we can give for making reservations is to call and book your hike as soon as you know the date or dates you want. You can always change the date with a two-week advance notice, or later if we have openings. We always try to accommodate your schedule and schedule changes if we can.
Feel free to call us (970-944-2526) or or use our online reservation form (
reserve now
) email us (info@lakecitysportsman.com
3. What are your booking policies?
We normally charge you half the cost of the guided hike at the time of booking as a deposit. At the end of the hike, you arrive back at the store and we charge you for the remainder of the trip. We accept cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
4. What is your cancellation policy?
If you cancel at least two weeks in advance of your guided hike date, we refund your deposit in full. If you cancel after the two-week deadline, we retain the deposit in full. However if you have an emergency, we try to work with you as best we can. If you simply need to change the day, we do our best to accommodate your schedule changes.
6. Do you operate guided hikes year-round?
If you have a scheduled hike and need to change your date, we do our best to accommodate your needs. Keep in mind that during the summer, especially July, we do book up quite quickly.
As a Colorado licensed outfitter, we offer guided hikes from April 1 through October 31 of any year, given conditions. In early spring and late fall, some of our hikes might be impassable due to snow, so we cannot always operate all of the hikes. Every season is different, so we're happy to work with you to determine the best hike for the conditions.
7. When and where do guided hikes start?
Full-day and half-day guided hikes begin at 8 am of the booked day. For some hikes, we might suggest an earlier start. We'll work with you to determine the best start time. Half-day hikes normally end around 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Full-day hikes typical end between 5 to 6 pm.
All hikes begin and end at our store - The Sportsman. We can pick you up and drop you off at other Lake City locations. Let us know when you reserve the hike if this is something you want to do.
8. How many people can go on a guided hike?
As many as you like! If you have more individuals than is safe for one guide to handle (usually about six people), we take more than one guide.
Not unless you want to. Generally, we book only those individuals in your party to a guided hike. If you state that you want to share the hike, then we'll see if anyone else wants to.
Lake City is situated at an elevation of 8,671 feet (2,643 meters), with most of our hikes going up from there. We recommend that visitors acclimate: allow yourself a day or two to get used to the altitude. Always stay properly hydrated, drinking plenty of water and avoiding excessive intake of alcohol and tobacco.
Not everyone will feel the effects of the high altitudes but some visitors will experience nausea or lightheadedness, and headaches. Know yourself, give your body time to adjust, and never over exert yourself. We take the hikes as slowly as you need, but will not compromise your safety if you want to continue hiking and we feel that your health is at risk.
11. What's the weather like there for hiking?
In the summer, our town daytime temperatures range from 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) to occasional highs into the low 80s (27 degrees Celsius). Be aware that those are our temps in town. As you hike up, you can get cooler and cooler. Even on days when the temperatures are in the 70s, the higher altitudes can be downright nippy cold. We hike rain or shine, and it often rains every afternoon in the summer. Remember to layer your clothes so that you can be comfortable, no matter what the weather. If the weather gets dangerous, we will take cover or terminate the hike.
970-944-2526
Remember that Lake City is in the mountains, and we mean high up in the mountains. Some of our hikes have few to no elevation views; whereas others will seem as if you are always on the edge of an incline. If you are afraid of heights, please let us know before you reserve a trip. We will work with you to find a hike that is as edge-free as possible. However only you can tell whether a hike makes you feel fearful. If so, please let us know and we will end the trip. We never risk your health to complete a hike.
We highly encourage it! It's a great way to experience the mountains and the many ghost towns we have in the area. If you don't know good places for ghost towns, we make recommendations. And remember, we stop when and where you want. Remember we keep in mind that we follow Leave No Trace principles, which means we do not create trails and pathways where they do not already officially exist.
Full-day hikes always include lunch and beverages. Half-day hikes include beverages only; however, you can add lunches with a $7 per person fee. If you have the time, we recommended extending your trip to include lunch. It's a great way to spend some time in the outdoors.
Guide tips are not included in the hike fee and are discretionary. We recommend that you tip your guide because it is customary. If you do tip, a standard amount is to provide at least 20 percent of the total hike fee for your group.
Of course! Keep in mind that minors under the age of 18 will require adult supervision, so you'll want to make sure that you have an appropriate number of adults for the group. Also dogs are welcome, but they need to stay on leash. To ensure the safety of others and for the dogs, we want to make sure that your dogs are by your side. The last thing we want is for a dog to run after the wildlife and get lost in the woods.
