In Lake County, high-mountain scenery and mining history meet experiences on lakes and rivers. Mount Elbert, Victorian buildings in Leadville, and Twin Lakes reveal different sides of the destination—from grand landscapes to traces of everyday life in times gone by.
Peaks, Trails, and Wide-Open Landscapes
Mount Elbert is Colorado’s highest mountain and the second-highest in the contiguous United States; its elevation is 14,433 feet. The Mount Massive Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1980 and covers 30,540 acres. The North Elbert Trail #1484 offers a specific measure for planning: it is 4.3 miles each way and has 4,400 feet of elevation gain. Another trail leads 1.1 miles to Windsor Lake in the Mount Massive Wilderness.
The Top of the Rockies Byway passes through a landscape of high peaks, wide valleys, and large lakes. Bighorn sheep may be spotted along the way; seasonal wildflowers bloom in spring and summer. The trails also vary in length and character. The approximately 11.6-mile Mineral Belt Trail runs through the center of Leadville and is considered a scenic, historic recreational trail. In winter, it is groomed for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking.
For a different perspective on mining history, the Route of the Silver Kings is a self-guided driving tour through the historic mining district around Leadville. The area covers 20 square miles; the route is 21 miles long and has 14 stops. At its final stop, it climbs to 11,700 feet. In the East Side Mining District, views from above the tree line extend to the surrounding mountains; roads, trails, and mining ruins also shape the landscape. In summer, visitors can ride bikes, hike, or drive the county roads there.
Water and Trails Through the Seasons
At Twin Lakes, activities include kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding, as well as guided boat tours. The Red Rooster Boating Site on the northwest shore offers stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking on the lake. The landscape also tells an older story: Twin Lakes served as a transportation route for supplies and ore between the mining towns of Leadville and Aspen. Interlaken, an abandoned resort and National Historic Site on the shore, is accessible only by trail or boat. Among its original buildings is the two-story Interlaken Hotel, built in 1879.
West of the Red Rooster Visitor Center, Mount Bump is a stargazing site with benches and a level area for a telescope. Stairs and a ramp lead up to it. Those more interested in rivers than lakes can find designated Gold Medal Trout Waters and habitat for wild brown trout on the Arkansas River; there are also extensive public access opportunities for fly fishing. Fishing is allowed at Rock Creek. The creek is about a one-mile walk from the Leadville National Fish Hatchery grounds.
Long-distance trails also offer a variety of options: the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail share a route through much of Lake County. Both are open to bicycles, except in the Mount Massive Wilderness; some sections are used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Seasonal offerings therefore range from summer activities on the water and trails to groomed winter routes.
Leadville: Architecture, Railroads, and Local History
Leadville’s Historic District spans 70 square blocks of original Victorian architecture and includes 50 buildings dating from around the turn of the century. Healy House and Dexter Cabin are among the city’s earliest homes. The historic furnishings include Victorian furniture, along with a Victorian garden. The Heritage Museum is housed in Leadville’s first library. The Tabor Opera House offers another glimpse into the city’s architectural history: silver baron Horace Tabor had it built in 1879 in just 100 days. Private tours are available by advance appointment.
The Leadville Railroad is the last remaining section of the original Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad. It offers historic train rides departing from 326 E. 7th St. in Leadville. The Leadville National Fish Hatchery also connects history with a look at a specific field of work: founded in 1889, it is now the second-oldest federally operated fish hatchery still in operation. Visitors get a firsthand look at how fish are produced.
Dinner, Lessons, and an August Festival
The Tennessee Pass Cookhouse pairs a multi-course dinner with a remote setting. The one-mile journey there can be made on skis, snowshoes, or on foot. Those who want to learn snow sports can take lessons in alpine skiing, telemark skiing, and snowboarding at Ski Cooper’s Ski and Snowboard School.
Leadville Boom Days takes place on the first full weekend in August. The program includes burro races, mining skills competitions, and a street fair with more than 100 food and arts and crafts booths. Together with the historic sites and varied trails, the festival offers a distinctive way to experience mining history—this time through competitions and community events.
Discover more destinations: Leadville, Alamosa County, Gilpin County, Washington County, San Juan County, Las Animas, Eagle, Mesa.
For the broader travel overview: Colorado.
