Leadville Colorado, How to spend a Four day weekend
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Looking to check out a hidden Colorado area that has lots of cool outdoor recreation and history? Although places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Crested Butte, and Telluride are amazing, it’s always nice to visit somewhere new that still has a lot of cool activities to offer. Less than two hours from Denver is Leadville Colorado a small mountain town with a community feel that has local restaurants, surrounding mountain views, and plenty of outdoor recreation. Leadville Colorado considered the highest incorporated city in North America, stands at 10,158 feet.
Once a bustling mining town, today you can still see lot’s of mining history as you explore the area. In this post I’ll be going over where to stay, where to adventure, and places to eat in your four days in Leadville Colorado. Alright lets doo thissss
Where is Leadville
Pretty close to central Colorado, Leadville sits at 10,158 (highest incorporated city in North America) and is in between Breckenridge and Buena Vista. If you’re coming from Denver or Summit County, you’ll take highway 91 past Copper Mountain and over Fremont Pass. The drive is pretty scenic and make sure to be careful when driving at night as there are a lot of deer. I listed times and distances from major areas. If your driving from Vail you can also go through Minturn to get there.
Denver- 2 hours/101 miles
Breckenridge-50 min/39.5 miles
Vail- 47 min/43 miles
Where to Stay
There are some awesome campgrounds close to the downtown area and also right on Turquoise Lake. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time (months in advance) for spots right on the lake. You can go to recreation.gov to make a reservation. I stayed at the Molly Brown site, and it had everything you needed for camping; a firepit, picnic table, and bathrooms.
If camping isn’t you’re thing, there’s also lodging options within walking distance to downtown. I stayed in a Tiny Home that I booked through VRBO as rates were pretty inexpensive and the units themselves are modern on the inside and a walkable distance to town. They come equipped with all the essentials you would need for a four day trip here.
Leadville also has larger lodging options too, if you have a bigger group, or just want something bigger then a Tiny Home. The Delaware Hotel, right on Main Street has been around since the 1800’s! With units that sleep 3 people all the way up to 9 people.
When is the best time visit
Early June through early October is the best time to visit Leadville. If you do visit in the winter there is Ski Cooper nearby as well as snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.
What should we pack
Rain Jacket- Rain is common in the mountains, especially in the afternoon. I like Burton Rain jackets because they keep me dry and Burton also has cool designs.
Hiking Footwear- If you plan on doing any of the hikes I listed below you’ll want to have really good hiking footwear.
Bug Spray- You’ll need this, especially around Turquoise Lake
Lightweight Puffy Jacket- Temps drop at night at high elevations! If you want a jacket that is packable and doesn’t take up space. Any lightweight down jacket will work great.
Sunscreen- The sun at high altitudes is more damaging to your skin, make sure to always pack this!
Leadville Colorado Day 1 Itinerary
Walk around downtown
Once you’ve checked in to your accommodations, I recommend walking around the downtown area. Downtown Leadville is pretty unique and there is a historic feel as you venture through town.
Grab Dinner at High Mountain Pies
Once you’ve checked out the town a little, head over to the my favorite pizza shop in the mountains, High Mountain Pies. They have a killer back patio in the summer, with live music too on certain nights. The Pizza is incredible, so expect at least a 45 minute wait during busier nights.
Sunset at Turquoise Lake
Located just 15 minutes outside of town, this lake got its name from past turquoise mine deposits. The lake itself has a trail that is 13 miles around the entire lake with different entry points. I liked the entry point near the Molly Brown Campground. Right before you enter the campground there’s a parking lot on the left for the Nature Walk Hiking Trail. This trail will take you right to the lake with some pretty awesome views of Wildcat Mountain, Lyle Benchmark Peak, and Galena Mountain!
The beached areas are great for exploring around or just grabbing a blanket to watch the sunset. During the day the lake is also home for activities such as fishing, boating, kayaking, and Stand UP Paddle boarding. Make sure to pack bug spray if you catch a sunset at the Lake!
Leadville Colorado Day 2 Itinerary
Grab Coffee at City on a Hill
Located right on main street, Uphill has a variety of coffee and espresso options as well as some baked goods and breakfast items too. It has a cool ambience on the inside and you can expect the inside to fill up with coffee enthusiasts and working professionals throughout the morning and afternoon. They also have a location in Canon City Colorado.
Take a Mining Tour
There’s a few places in Leadville that you can do a tour of the Mining history in Leadville. The Matchless Mine is Located right in town and they offer self guided tours or guided tours. During the late 1800’s most of the Silver in the world came from Leadville as well as the Matchless Mine;
Originally discovered by a man named Horace Tabor, the Matchless Mine was producing 25 tons of Silver/Day with a profit of $1,000 dollars in the late 1800’s ($254,000 today) . You’ll take a tour of the mining area including the Matchless Mine itself as well as the home of Baby DOE, who was the mistress of Tabor.
Ride the Leadville Train
A great activity for families or couples, the Leadville train runs year round. In the summer they offer am and pm times (mid June-Mid August), with times being more limited into the fall and winter. The train will take you through Prospect Mountain with views of the Sawatch Mountain Range including 14ers Mt Elbert and Mt Massive. They offer indoor and outdoor general seating as well as your own private lounge car if you want to pay more. The ride in total is about 2-2.5 hours with concessions on board too.
Grab Dinner at Treeline
Open Wednesday through Sunday from 3:30-9, Treeline is locally owned and has been around since 2017. They offer a wide variety of starters and entrees with local Colorado ingredients as well as a full cocktail, beer, and wine menu. You can make a reservation ahead of time for outside or inside dining and make sure to check out the rooftop patio that overlooks downtown Leadville.
Leadville Day 3 Itinerary
Hike the Timberlake Trail
Close to ten Miles west of Leadville, just past Turquoise Lake, this trail is awesome to hike early in the morning before people fill up the small parking lot at the base of the trailhead. I would pack sandals with you as there is a point in the trail where you have to cross a creek and your hiking boots will get wet. You’ll start the hike off by walking through the Holy Cross wilderness and about halfway to the lake it will open up and you’ll have some awesome views of Galena mountain on your right.
Once you get to the top, either find a place to hang out and relax or you can walk around part of the lake. You’re also allowed to fish at the top, just make sure to have a registered Colorado fishing license. Overall the hike is pretty moderate and doesn’t take very long, which is what I liked about it. Below I listed some trail details.
4.3 Miles out and back
869 Feet of elevation gain
Dogs allowed, but on leash
Best time to hike it is June-October
Takes about 2.5 hours to complete
Grab coffee at Zero Day
Originally started by two backpacking enthusiasts who met on the Colorado Trail, the name is derived from the term Zero day, which means a rest day if someone is backpacking a trail. The two eventually decided to buy the coffee shop and provide a place for locals to hang out in. It’s honestly a perfect spot to post up and get some work done if you need to. They also sell a small amount of outdoor gear in the shop which is pretty cool.
Along with coffee there are also baked goods and breakfast burritos. Friday-Sunday the bar is open with beer and wine options from 5-9. The shop has a cool local vibe and I would def recommend checking it out if your in Leadville.
Check out the shops downtown
Like many Colorado mountain towns, Leadville has a number of cool shops to check out. One being Melanzana, a local outdoor clothing brand that is made and started in Leadville Colorado. In order to shop here, you must schedule and appointment months in advance! Although, you are still allowed to walk around and check out what they have to offer, including the factory process of how their stuff is made.
Also make sure to check out local small businesses Galena and Elevation goods. Galena is a local outdoor clothing company and Elevation goods will have locally made home goods (soaps, candles, blankets) as well as Colorado Mountain Apparel. If your looking for an outdoor gear specific store, go to Leadville Outdoors and Mountain Market. They’ll have packs, camping gear, backpacking gear, footwear, and outdoor clothing.
Lunch at Golden Burrow
A staple in downtown Leadville, The Golden Burrow has a classic diner look on the inside with diner items that are all plant based. The restaurant was purchased in 2020 by locals Marcee and Dan who renovated the inside but kept the same old school feel. Their goal is to make a better planet by providing opportunities for their employees as well as cutting out meat consumption. The food is honestly great and the service is awesome. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner depending on the time of year, just make sure to check the hours ahead of time before you show up!
Hike Mayflower Gulch in the evening for Sunset
This is one of my favorite hikes I’ve done in Colorado because it isn’t too hard, yet takes you to some amazing historical cabins with surrounding mountain views in all directions. Because this is a popular hike, if you go in evening, there will be a lot less people on the trail. Pack some snacks, bring a headlamp, and enjoy the trail.
This trail will be off of highway 91, about 20 minutes from downtown Leadville with a pretty decent size parking lot. The trail starts off with a slight incline through the woods and then ends up at the old mining area. Straight ahead is the Iconic Fletcher Mountain and if you turn around, you’ll be able to see Tucker Mountain and Jacque Peak.
The best part about this hike are the old mining cabins as you get above tree line. This is my favorite area to walk around and catch golden hour. I listed some trail stats below.
Trail Stats
Route Type: Out and Back
Elevation Gain: 1,548 Feet
Length: 6.1 Miles
Dogs Ok
Time: About 3.5 Hours
Best time to hike: Year round however in the winter you’ll need snowshoes and understand that you can’t snowshoe past the cabins without proper avalanche knowledge and gear!
Leadville Day 4 Itinerary
Fly fishing
Start your morning off with Colorado Fly Fishing Guides, whose shop is located right in downtown Leadville. You’ll get set up with waders, boots, and a reel/pole for the day. The guides are very knowledgable and down to earth. You’ll go out with a guide and they’ll be able give you plenty of pointers to catch fish on the river.
They offer 2 hour, half day, and full day sessions. I went with half day as it is a good amount of time to get a feel for fly fishing. If you’re a complete beginner they will give you a casting lesson at a local pond spot. A good way to understand the basic fundamentals of fly fishing!
Once you do a casting lesson, the guide will take you to a river spot in the Leadville area and you’ll wade through the river, casting and searching for fish. It’s a pretty fun experience catching fish with mountain backdrops.
Lunch at Buchi Cafe
After fly fishing grab lunch in downtown Leadville at Buchi Cafe. Open until 3 pm their menu is inspired by Cuban Cafes. Enjoy the outside patio in the summer or grab a window seat at the High Top table inside. Another recommended lunch spot in town is Tennessee Pass Cafe.
Check out the Mining Museum
For $15 you can check out Leadville’s Mining history as well as the history behind mining in the surrounding area. They have exhibits on the tools used, minerals, old mining towns, and the overall history of Mining in Colorado and out west. Sometimes you get rain in the mountains and this is a cool activity to do indoors.
Walk the Mineral Belt Trail
An easy walkable path around the town of Leadville as well as some old mining spots, this is a path that can be walked, ran, or biked on. It’s about 12 miles total on a paved path, but I parked my car just past the Matchless Mine on the right and started walking at Mile marker number 2. You don’t even have to go the whole way. It’s nice to just walk two or three miles in the evening. Mount Massive, Elbert, and Prospect Mountain will all be in the background as you walk the path mixed with old mining structures.
Grab a drink at Two Mile Brewery
End your trip at Leadvilles only Brewery, Two Mile. It has a local hangout feel and they also have small menu if your hungry for classic bar food. With the nights being longer in the summer it’s nice to grab a seat outside and have a cold one at high altitude.
Other Activities in Leadville Colorado
Monarch Mine
This was probably one of my favorite things to check out in Leadville. Monarch Mine is just outside of the downtown area surrounded by other old mines. The road can be a little rocky and steep so I would recommend having AWD. It took me about 30 minutes, but I’m a slow driver lol. I recommend going in the evening when the light is golden a few hours before the sun sets.
Fish hatchery
Located on 3,072 acres, the fish hatchery ensures that Colorado has healthy trout populations! The hatchery is open Monday-Friday from 7am-3:30am. There are also hiking trails nearby along with areas to fish, hunt, and picnic if you chose to.
Bike the Mineral Belt Trail
Rent and E-bike or regular bike at one of the bike shops downtown and bike the Mineral Belt trail that I mentioned earlier. Bike shops in town include; Leadvelo Bicicasa, Cycles of Life, and E-Bike Leadville. I rented a bike at Leadvelo for 4 hours, which is about the time it took to Bike around the entire Mineral Belt trail with breaks in between.
Silver Dollar Saloon
Opening in 1879 a lot of the original building is still intact today. As you walk in, it’s like a walk through time with pictures and old memorabilia. Even if you don’t drink it’s worth checking out.
Hike Mt Elbert
If you’re ok with waking up at 4am and hiking the tallest Peak in Colorado, then this is for you. Depending on the route you take, Elbert can be a challenging hike but with very rewarding views thoughout. Just make sure to start early due to afternoon thunderstorms! For a complete guide check out the blog post I did on Mt. Elbert.
That’s it for a four day trip to Leadville and if you have any questions or info to add leave a comment below. It’s always cool to connect with other people looking to get outdoors! Looking for other Colorado trips? Check out Twin Lakes not too far from Leadville, for hiking, camping, hanging out at the lake, and kayaking.
