Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Hinsdale County OEM – (970) 944-2225 | hinsdalecountyco.gov
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Lake City Community Center; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Southwestern Colorado San Juan Mountains county; Lake City is county seat; one of Colorado’s least populated counties (~800-900 permanent residents); wildfire risk (surrounding San Juan Mountain forests); avalanche risk (significant – the Slumgullion Earthflow, one of the most active landslides in the US, is in this county); flooding (Lake Fork of the Gunnison River; Lake San Cristobal); Alferd Packer (Colorado’s only known cannibal – the events occurred in Hinsdale County in winter 1873-74)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Hinsdale County Roads – (970) 944-2225
Notes: SR-149 (the Silver Thread Scenic Byway – runs through Lake City south to Creede; one of Colorado’s finest scenic highways through dramatic mountain scenery; connects to US-160 at South Fork); SR-149 north through Spring Creek Pass to Gunnison; Lake City is one of Colorado’s most isolated communities – the drive to Gunnison is about 55 miles north; the drive to Durango via US-160 is about 90 miles; Lake City is a destination community, not a pass-through community
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Hinsdale County Planning – (970) 944-2225
Services: Very basic county permits; Lake City (small community)
Notes: Very limited development; vacation cabin construction; Lake City tourism-related development; Alferd Packer historical site draws visitors
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Hinsdale County Veterans Services – (970) 944-2225
VA Medical: VA Grand Junction; VA Albuquerque; both extremely distant; telehealth critical
Notes: Extremely remote; one of Colorado’s most isolated counties from VA services; telehealth is the only realistic VA healthcare access for most residents
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Hinsdale County Library – (970) 944-2527
Address: Lake City
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; San Juan Mountain heritage; Alferd Packer history; Colorado alpine history
Notes: Single library serving one of Colorado’s smallest and most remote communities; important community resource and internet access point; Alferd Packer and San Juan Mountain history are locally significant collections; the library is a genuine community anchor
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lake San Cristobal (Colorado’s second-largest natural lake – created by the Slumgullion Earthflow damming the Lake Fork; beautiful mountain lake; boating; fishing; camping; the Slumgullion is visible on the hillside above the lake – a massive ancient landslide still slowly moving); Slumgullion Earthflow (BLM – one of the most actively moving landslides in the US; 700 years old; approximately 700 feet wide and 4 miles long; the yellow color from sulfur in the moving debris is visible from above; a remarkable geological feature); Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway (4WD route connecting Lake City to Silverton and Ouray through high passes – Engineer and Cinnamon Passes; one of Colorado’s most spectacular 4WD routes; Cathedral and American Basin wildflower meadows (spectacular July); 14ers Handies Peak and Redcloud Peak accessible); Big Blue Wilderness; Powderhorn Wilderness; Uncompahgre National Forest; Alferd Packer Massacre Site (a Colorado historical curiosity – Packer was convicted of murdering and eating his five companions in winter 1873-74; the site is marked)
Notes: Hinsdale County is one of Colorado’s great wilderness destinations for those willing to make the journey; the Alpine Loop 4WD route through Engineer and Cinnamon Passes is one of Colorado’s most spectacular off-road experiences – crossing 12,000-13,000 ft tundra passes with views of 14ers in every direction; American Basin’s wildflower display (July) is one of Colorado’s finest; Lake San Cristobal is beautiful and the Slumgullion Earthflow above it (slowly moving yellow landslide) is a genuinely unique geological sight; Handies Peak is one of Colorado’s more accessible 14ers from the American Basin trailhead
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Very limited; Colorado GIS; USGS topographic maps; Slumgullion Earthflow movement monitoring maps (USGS); USFS maps
Notes: Minimal county GIS; USGS maintains monitoring for the Slumgullion Earthflow; USFS maintains backcountry route maps; Alpine Loop maps through BLM
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Very basic; Hinsdale County Sheriff animal control
Notes: Very small remote county; wildlife (elk, mule deer, black bears, mountain lions, golden eagles, bighorn sheep – all present in the San Juan Mountains); very limited formal animal services
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Hinsdale County – very limited; transfer station
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; Gunnison River Basin Water Conservation District; USFS (Uncompahgre NF); BLM (Slumgullion Earthflow); Lake San Cristobal water quality; historical mining contamination (the San Juan Mountains were heavily mined in the 19th century – Hinsdale County has some mine drainage in higher elevations); Alpine Loop environmental management
Notes: The Slumgullion Earthflow is one of the most significant active geohazards in Colorado – it has been moving at approximately 2 feet per year for 700 years; the movement is monitored by USGS with GPS sensors; the flow is caused by hydrated volcanic ash (bentonite clay) in the hillside becoming unstable when wet; the earthflow created Lake San Cristobal approximately 700 years ago by damming the Lake Fork; the earthflow’s front (toe) is still advancing and has a complex interaction with the lake shoreline; historical silver and gold mining in the American Basin and surrounding mountains has left some mine drainage; the alpine watershed is relatively pristine but the San Juan Mountains’ more intensively mined areas (Silverton-Ouray area to the west) contribute to Animas River contamination downstream; Lake San Cristobal water quality is important for both recreation and the downstream Gunnison River system
About Hinsdale County County
Hinsdale County is Colorado’s least populous county and home of the Alferd Packer story – the most remote and sparsely populated county in Colorado, Hinsdale’s wild San Juan Mountain terrain and the darkly compelling frontier cannibalism case that unfolded on its slopes give Lake City a notoriety and alpine grandeur that draws adventurers and history enthusiasts to one of the most isolated communities in the Rocky Mountains.
Lake City (the county seat, population ~400) is Hinsdale County’s governmental hub and the Alpine Loop’s primary gateway, a small Victorian mining town on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River serving the county’s outdoor recreation visitors and year-round residents.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Hinsdale County Assessor at 311 N. Henson Street, Lake City, CO 81235, phone 970-944-2225. CO assessed at percentage of actual value.
Courts & Legal
Hinsdale County District Court at 311 N. Henson Street, Lake City, CO 81235, phone 970-944-2227, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
317 N. Henson St., Lake City, CO 81235
(970) 944-2225
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Hinsdale County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
No dedicated Hinsdale County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Hinsdale County Courthouse – District Court (Probate Division) 317 Henson Street, Lake City, CO 81235 (970) 944-2227 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Hinsdale is one of Colorado’s smallest counties by population – expect a small, personal courthouse.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Hinsdale County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
Lake City, CO 81235
(970) 944-2291
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
317 N. Henson St., Lake City, CO 81235
(970) 944-2225
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health/Human Services
Lake City, CO 81235
(970) 944-2225
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Limited local health services; Southwest Colorado or Gunnison County regional health
Services: Very basic; immunizations; vital records; clinic in Lake City
Hospital: Gunnison Valley Hospital (55 miles north); very limited local services; helicopter evacuation
Notes: Extremely limited local healthcare; Gunnison hospital for most care; behavioral health in isolated mountain community; the small permanent population has tight community bonds that provide informal social support
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Lake City
Population: 820
Area: 1,123 sq mi
Established: 1874
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Hinsdale County County residents.
