The town
Things to do in Leadville, Colorado.
A silver-boom city at 10,152 feet with two 14,000-foot peaks out the window, a lake three miles west, and a century of mining roads to ride. A local's list of what to do, in every season.
In every season
What to do here.
Ride with us
Snowmobile tours from the first good snow, UTV and dirt bike tours once the high roads melt out, and a heated-cab winter UTV for the days you want the scenery without the cold. Tours
Mosquito Pass
The 13,185-foot road east of town over the Mosquito Range. Above treeline it is narrow, loose rock, no guardrails, and the reason people come here with a UTV. Usually open mid-summer through early fall. Tours
Hagerman Pass
11,925 feet, west of Turquoise Lake on the old Colorado Midland railroad grade. An easier high-clearance road with the Mount Massive skyline the whole way.
Turquoise Lake
Three miles west of town. Fishing, camping and a paved loop road in summer; a groomed snowmobile corridor in winter.
Mount Elbert and Mount Massive
Colorado's two highest peaks are both day hikes from trailheads south and west of town. Start before dawn; afternoon storms are the rule in July and August.
The Mineral Belt Trail
An 11.6-mile paved loop around the city and through the old mining district. Bikes and feet in summer, skis and snowshoes in winter. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on it.
Harrison Avenue and the Tabor Opera House
Victorian brick storefronts from the 1880s, one block from our shop. The opera house opened in 1879.
National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
On West 9th Street. The story of the silver, gold and molybdenum that built the town.
Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad
A summer scenic train from the old depot up the Arkansas valley toward Fremont Pass.
Ski Cooper and Camp Hale
Ten miles north on Tennessee Pass: a small ski hill, and the valley where the 10th Mountain Division trained for World War II.
Leadville Trail 100
The 100-mile run and the 100-mile mountain bike race, every August, both starting on 6th Street.
Weston and Independence Passes
Weston Pass (11,921 ft) is a gravel road south of town to Fairplay. Independence Pass (12,095 ft) is the paved summer road to Aspen; no OHVs, but the overlook is worth the drive.
Getting here
Two hours from Denver, twenty-five minutes from Copper.
Leadville sits on US-24 at the head of the Arkansas valley. From Denver, take I-70 west to Copper Mountain and CO-91 south over Fremont Pass, about two hours; or US-285 through Fairplay and over Trout Creek Pass. Vail and Breckenridge are about an hour. In summer, Independence Pass connects Aspen in about an hour and a half.
The shop is at 141 E 9th St, Leadville, CO 80461, one block east of Harrison Avenue. Tours meet there.
Leadville questions
What is the elevation of Leadville, Colorado?
10,152 feet. Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States. Mount Elbert (14,440 ft) and Mount Massive (14,428 ft), the two highest peaks in Colorado, are in view from town.
What are the best things to do in Leadville?
Snowmobiling in winter; UTV and dirt bike tours through the historic mining district in summer; hiking Mount Elbert and Mount Massive; Turquoise Lake and Twin Lakes; the Mineral Belt Trail; Harrison Avenue's Victorian downtown and the Tabor Opera House; the National Mining Hall of Fame; the scenic railroad; Ski Cooper and Camp Hale up the road; and the Leadville Trail 100 races in August.
Is Mosquito Pass open to UTVs?
Yes, on the Leadville side. Mosquito Pass (13,185 ft) is a rough four-wheel-drive road over the Mosquito Range to Alma, open only when snow-free, usually mid-summer to early fall. The upper section is narrow, loose rock with no guardrails.
How should I handle the altitude?
Drink more water than you think you need, go easy on alcohol the first night, wear sunscreen and sunglasses, and give yourself a day if you are coming from sea level. The tours are built to be enjoyed at 10,000 feet; the guides carry water and set the pace.
How do I get to Leadville?
US Highway 24 runs through town. From Denver it is about two hours west on I-70 to Copper Mountain and then south on CO-91, or through Fairplay on US-285. Copper Mountain is about 25 minutes, Vail and Breckenridge about an hour, Aspen about an hour and a half over Independence Pass in summer.