Historic Leadville Colorado

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado lays a small town called Leadville. Historic Leadville, Colorado is rich in recreation opportunities and scenic views. This small town is a must see if you are visiting the Colorado High Country.

Sitting at 10,158 feet Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America. With a population of 2,633 Leadville is one of the smaller mountain towns in the area. Leadville is home to Colorado’s two tallest peaks- Mt. Elbert (14,438′) and Mt. Massive (14,427′). There are so many scenic views and tons of opportunity for recreation no matter the season. Want to take a scenic drive and check out Leadville? Check out the detailed blog here.

Recreation Activities

With so many opportunities to recreate in it can feel overwhelming deciding what to do. A good place to start is with the Mineral Belt Trail. This trail is especially beautiful in Fall and Summer. The Mineral Belt Trail is an 11.7 mile loop around Leadville. It offers many places to stop and check out the scenery. It is available to walk, bike, or e-bike on. In the winter it is open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Users are able to travel the trail in any direction, but as with any trail please be respectful of others. Read more about the Mineral Belt Trail here. Another great recreation opportunity is at Turquoise Lake. At Turquoise lake there is an opportunity for hiking, boating, fishing, and taking in the views.

The historic Leadville Train also still runs through downtown and part way up Highway 91. It is great way to check out the views and learn more about Leadville. To find out more click here. If you just want a relaxing day visitors can walk down historic Harrison Avenue to check out the charming shops and restaurants.

History

Historic Leadville, Colorado is also rich with history. Prospectors first came to Leadville in the early 1860s when searching for gold. When silver was discovered Leadville began booming. Leadville was originally named California Gulch, but the name was changed to Leadville after lead ore was found in the area. Then in 1879 the Tabor Opera House opened and provided top notch entertainment. It has now been restored and is a great place to check out. Another place to check out is Interlaken on the edge of Twin Lakes. It opened in 1879. It is now a great place to go and explore. To get there visitors can either take a boat or hike the 2.2 mile trail. To learn more about the rich mining history check out the Leadville Mining Museum.

No matter what you decide to do, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and recreation opportunities while exploring an area rich with history. We hope you enjoy your visit to this beautiful town!