You are entering a remote area!
Welcome to Hinsdale County, Colorado! We hope you enjoy your time here! This may seem trivial to say but you are entering the most remote county in the lower 48 states. With that in mind, the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind you of a few things.
Bottom line, we do not want you and/or your beloved family & friends to be the subject of a serious and potentially deadly search and rescue effort.
- Our emergency responders (while being top-notch) are limited in how quickly they can respond to any given emergency. Our terrain is the most limiting factor. If it took you 4 hours to hike into an area, you can expect at least that much time for any responders to arrive, probably longer.
- Altitude is no joke. Even if you’re in great shape, please understand all our adventures begin at 8,661 feet, and it’s uphill from there. If you can, plan for at least a day of acclimation before adventuring. If you have cardiac or respiratory issues, talk to your doctor and make a plan for how you can best enjoy your time here.
- Drink lots of water. And take more than you think you will need when leaving your base camp.
- Weather can change on a dime. It may be beautiful at 8am, but the weather changes fast and it can be a lot colder a few thousand feet higher.
- Communications are limited. If you leave town, there is a good chance your phone will not work. Look into satellite-based communication systems (SPOT beacons, etc.) if you are going to venture outside of Lake City.
- Do NOT go alone. Always adventure in a group or with a partner, and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back. Be generous with your return time, it will more than likely take longer than you think.
- Plan your route ahead of time, know where you are going and what you’re getting into.
- Self-rescue might be you best or only option. See above points 1 and 5.
- Education and preparedness are your best friends.
- Please see our Search and Rescue page for additional information.
- Thanks for visiting Hinsdale County! Be prepared and stay safe.