Leadville, CO – A Colorful Gold Mine

Situated 24 miles off the I-70 from Copper Mountain, this incorporated municipality in Lake Country, Colorado is a must detour for any history fanatic, color lover, and adventure seeker. With a huge gold rush history, 1,000’s of miles of nature trails, and numerous colorful buildings, this is an off-the-beaten-path city that any roadtripper would be foolish to miss.

The Leadville area was originally established in 1860 when gold was found in the nearby California Gulch, which brought in 10,000 settlers. It wasn’t until 1877 when the Silver Boom was in full swing that this town was at the height of its civilization with over 30,000 individuals residing there. Famous residents included outlaw Doc Holiday, conman Soapy Smith, and brothel owner Mollie May. Today however, only 2,600 people still live full-time in the highest incorporated city in the United States.

Source: HomeAway

WHAT TO DO IN TOWN

I would recommend 2 days to explore all that Leadville has to offer. With 50 historical structures, 8 museums and several walking tours, there’s plenty to do right in the heart of town.

Spend your first day walking down Harrison Ave, the Main Street in Leadville, admiring all the old western buildings and relics of the past. A trip to Leadville is not complete without stops at the Tabor Opera House and Healy House.

Grab a coffee at City on a Hill and a bite to eat at High Mountain Pies before wandering around the neighborhood, admiring all of the colorful historic buildings. You’ll find every color of the rainbow and more as you walk up and down these small town streets. If viewing these beautiful buildings from the outside isn’t enough for you, don’t fret, many of these old victorian homes are available to rent for the evening. Try the Morning Star Victorian Mansion for example.

WHAT TO DO OUTSIDE OF TOWN

Day 2 of your trip to Leadville should be dedicated to exploring the vast outdoors that surround this quaint mountain town.

SUMMER

1. For those visiting during the summer, take your 4-wheel drive or ATV up to Mosquito Pass. If the name doesn’t scare you away, it’s definitely worth the trip to see some of the oldest mines in the world as well as fossils still fortified in the sandstone nearby.

2. No 4-wheel drive? No problem. You can jump on the 2.5 hour Leadville Train that winds through the picturesque mountain range. This is a great activity to do with the kids as your chances for seeing wildlife are high, so keep your eyes peeled!

3. There is also Turquoise Lake just 5 miles outside of town if you’d prefer to spend your day boating, fishing, and relaxing at water’s edge.

WINTER

While summer’s are absolutely stunning in Leadville, the true gem can be discovered during snow capped winters. Just 10 miles north of Leadville off the US-24 is the recluse ski resort, Ski Cooper.

Ski Cooper has a unique 75-year history that dates back to 1942 when the U.S. Army situated their World War II ski training camp here to prepare the famed 10th Mountain ski troopers for invasion into Europe by 1945. After the war, the mountain was open to the public. Today, there are 39 trails and 400 acres of skiing purity without the froufrou of other big mountain resorts.

If vertical ascension doesn’t meet your fantasy, you should definitely set out on the historic Tennessee Pass. If you’re looking for that once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can cross-country ski, snowshoe, (or hike during summer) from the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center located at the base of Ski Cooper to the Cookhouse and Sleep Yurts about 1-mile in.

 Yup, you heard that correctly. You can rent a 6-person yurt stocked with full-linen beds and complimentary coffee/tea and spend the night surrounded by nothing but the sounds of nature.

Or, you can just do an out-and-back hike to grab a gourmet lunch/dinner at the Cookhouse located next to the yurts. Both are open during winter from Thanksgiving to mid-April and summer from June 26-October 4. Reservations may be required.

SMALL TOWN EVENTS

In more recent years, Leadville has become famous for its Race Series, an extreme 100-mile trail running or mountain biking race that take place on consecutive weekends in August. Racers from around the world traverse the most extreme Rockies terrain between 9,200 – 12,600 feet of elevation. If you’re an extreme adventure seeker, you might consider putting your luck to the test by entering the lottery for either of these races. You’ll have to commit quickly though as registration for each lottery closes on December 31st.

If you’re looking to get a nice buzz going, I’d recommend checking out Leadville’s BBQ & Brews Festival at the end of June. When drinking at 10,200 feet above sea level, all it takes is one or two freshly brewed beers to start feeling a little tipsy. Watch and taste as some of the best pit masters from around the country cook up delicious BBQ in hopes of winning the $10,000 cash prize. That’s an event sure to satisfy anyone’s belly and thirst.

Another unique event to check out in Leadville is the Ski Joring Festival the first weekend in March. If you’re thinking what the heck is ski joring!?!, just imagine horses pulling skiers at super fast speeds down Main Street over jumps and gates. Talk about small town fun!

Source: Leadville Twin Lakes

Shanelle’s top Leadville picks: Coffee Shop: City on a Hill Coffee & Espresso. Lunch: pizza at High Mountain Pies. Dinner: steak at Quincy’s Tavern. Bars: unique ambience at Silver Dollar Saloon or microbrews at Periodic Brewery