Summer and fall tours from Leadville
UTV tours through the mining district and up the high roads.
Three hours in a 4-seat Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo, self-driven or riding with the guide. Old silver mines, aspen groves, creek crossings, and views to two 14,000-foot peaks. From $450 per machine, up to four riders.
Guided UTV Tour
There is no more comfortable way to see the high country than a new RZR 1000 Turbo, and no better place to point one than the roads the silver miners left behind. The tour climbs out of town past headframes and ore chutes, into the aspens, across creeks that still run in June, and up toward the tundra where the whole Sawatch Range lines up in front of you.
Drive your own machine behind the guide, or ride in the guide's machine and just look. Guides stop for photos, point out which mine was whose, and keep the pace to the group.
- Length
- 3 hours, guided and supported
- Machine
- Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo, 4 seats
- Good for
- Everyone. Self-driven or ride along with the guide. Family friendly.
- Winter
- The same RZRs run with heated, enclosed cabs; see the winter UTV tour
Included
- Current model year Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo
- Helmet
- Professional guide
- Fuel and on-trail support
Bring
- Weather-appropriate layers; it can be 30 degrees cooler above treeline
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Camera or phone
- Water
The country
Where the roads go.
Leadville sits between two ranges with a century of mining roads stitched across both. These are the places the summer tours and the guests' own trips point at.
The Leadville mining district
East of town: the Ibex, the Matchless, headframes, ore chutes and cabins from the 1880s silver boom, on roads built for ore wagons. This is the heart of the three-hour tour and the reason the guides talk history.
Mosquito Pass, 13,185 ft
The high road over the Mosquito Range to Alma. UTVs are allowed on the Leadville side. Above treeline it is narrow, loose and exposed, which is exactly the point. Open when the snow is off, roughly July to September. The full guide.
Aspens in September
The mining roads run through big aspen stands. The last two weeks of September are usually peak gold, and the light at 10,000 feet does the rest.
Afternoon storms
In July and August the thunderstorms build after lunch. A morning start is the guides' habit; the planner builds your day the same way.
From the reviews
Our family had the best time! Jason was the best guide. We learned about history and saw beautiful sights.
Kati M., Google, Aug 2025
We had a blast with Cody as our guide. He was informative and very accommodating.
J. Wright, TripAdvisor
Blake did a good job leading us up the high country of the Rocky Mountains. He was knowledgeable of the area and pointed out many of the interesting facts of the Rockies and the city of Leadville. Blake stopped several times to let our family take breathtaking views and family pictures.
J. Gardner, TripAdvisor
Book a UTV tour
Call (970) 930-7027 or send a booking request. Or let the planner match the tour to your group first.
Questions people ask before they book
What is a UTV or side-by-side tour?
A UTV, also called a side-by-side, is a four-wheel off-road vehicle with bucket seats, seat belts and a roll cage. Ours are 4-seat Polaris RZR 1000 Turbos. On a guided tour you either drive your own machine behind the guide or ride along in the guide's machine, so nobody needs off-road experience.
How much is a UTV tour in Leadville?
Guided UTV tours start at $450 per UTV, and each machine holds up to four riders, so a family of four rides for the one price. The tour is three hours, guided and supported, with helmet, fuel and on-trail support included.
Do you go up Mosquito Pass?
Mosquito Pass tops out at 13,185 feet and UTVs are allowed on the Leadville side. It is open only when the snow is off, usually mid-summer into early fall, and the upper road is narrow loose rock with no guardrails. Whether a given day's tour goes high depends on conditions and the group; guests have recorded elevations around 12,700 feet on the tour. Ask when you book.
Can kids come on a UTV tour?
Yes. The RZRs are 4-seaters and families are the most common booking. Kids ride as passengers with a belt and helmet. Ask about the minimum size for a passenger and about driver age when you book.
Is there a winter UTV tour?
Yes. In winter the same 4-seat RZRs run with heated, enclosed cabs on a three-hour route through the snow-covered mining district. It is the warm option for groups who want the scenery without riding a sled.
What should I wear?
Layers. Leadville is at 10,152 feet and the tours climb from there; it can be 30 degrees cooler above treeline than in town, and afternoon storms roll through in July and August. Closed-toe shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen. The high-altitude sun is stronger than it looks.
When is UTV season?
The mining district roads open in late spring; the high passes melt out through June and July and close again with the first big storms in fall. September, with the aspens turning gold, is the month the photos on this page were taken.