From Lake City, drive south on HWY 149, then turn right on CR3 (BLM 3306) to Lake San Cristobal. Continue past the lake, and past the Mill Creek campground to a junction a little over a mile past the CG. Turn left on BLM 3309 and drive on less maintained road to the trailhead for Cataract Gulch. T3318.
At-large camping available in this area, but watch for private property notices.