Things to Do
Summer in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado is the best time to explore!
Leadville Boom Days
Leadville Boom Days, which takes place the first full weekend in August, is a three-day celebration of this mining town’s 1880s gold and silver rush heritage. Burro-and-runner teams race through the mountains, miners crack rock by hand, a parade rolls down the avenue for nearly an hour, wild West gunfights break out, and ladies and gentlemen in Victorian costumes roam the crowd.
Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad
Ride the Leadville scenic train, and step back in time to when mining and railroading were a large part of Leadville’s economy. This trip takes you high into an alpine environment with spectacular views of Colorado's highest peaks, wildflowers, and sometimes even wildlife.
Interlaken Resort
Journey to a now-abandoned resort on the shores of Twin Lakes, called Interlaken, that you can only reach by trail or boat. At this National Historic Site maintained by the U.S. Forest Service, you can roam around the original buildings, set amidst pine trees and sage, including the two-story Interlaken Hotel built in 1879 and a state-of-the-art octagonal outhouse.
Mt. Massive Golf Course
Mt. Massive Golf Course is a nine-hole public course near Leadville, Colorado. Set in the open spaces of the Arkansas River Valley near the river's headwaters, ringed by the tallest mountains in the state, surrounded by ranchland and forest, it has a truly spectacular setting.
Leadville National Fish Hatchery
Watch fish swish at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery, built in 1889 and the nation’s second-oldest federal hatchery. Tours, Trails, and Picnics For a close-up view of the fish production process, take a self-guided tour through this brownstone building, with tanks of fish inside and out.
Mineral Belt Trail
On Leadville’s famous Mineral Belt Trail, you can see the tops of the towering Sawatch mountains and remnants of 1880s silver mines, all on a paved, 11.6 mile loop around town.
Camp Hale
Now a popular spot for fishing, mountain biking, and hiking, Camp Hale holds special importance for two reasons. It is the World War II training site of American ski troops who broke through German lines high in the Italian mountains and freed northern Italy, sustaining some of the largest United States casualties in the war. In later years, these veteran ski troopers launched the Colorado ski industry.
Downtown Leadville
Stroll Leadville’s main street, and you’ll be surrounded by ornate architecture, colorful storefronts, and local businesses set in original Victorian buildings. Unlike other Colorado mining towns, Leadville still looks much as it did in years past, with local merchants lining the streets of historic Harrison Avenue and a down-to-earth, local vibe.
Halfmoon Packing & Outfitting
Halfmoon Packing & Outfitting is a four-season wilderness guide and outfitter in Leadville, Colorado. Summer offerings include horseback rides, wagon rides, stagecoach rides, and overnight wilderness pack trips, featuring the most spectacular mountain views in the area. Build a custom trip with fishing, riding, and photography options.
Top of the Rockies Zipline
Top of the Rockies Zip Line is the only zip line in the world to fly over a train and Colorado’s only true backcountry zip line. You’ll jump from an elevation of 11,200′. Imagine the view!
Tabor Opera House
Experience the splendor of this majestic opera house, once billed as the finest theatre between St. Louis and San Francisco. Silver baron Horace Tabor, who made his fortune in Leadville, built this opulent building in 1879 in a mere 100 days.
Colorado Fly Fishing Guides
Colorado Fly Fishing Guides is your genuine small-town fly shop and Leadville’s premier guide service for the Upper Arkansas River Valley. The Arkansas River has been designated Gold Medal water by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Twin Lakes Canoe & Kayak
Canoe rentals, kayak rentals, standup paddleboard (SUP) rentals, fishing tours, and kayaking trips let you travel along the peaceful waters around Twin Lakes, CO. You’ll have access to some of the best fishing in the area.
Museums
Explore the museums in Leadville, Colorado, to learn about mining, life in an 1880s silver mining boomtown, and the lives of Jewish pioneers. Most Leadville museums are open late spring through early fall, with the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum open year ’round.
East Side Mining District
Leadville’s East Side Mining District means above-treeline views of nearby mountains, miles of roads and trails, and the intrigue of mining ruins. Roam this area with wheels or on foot, and you’ll find old mining headframes peeking through the trees, timber ore houses on hillsides, and tall stacks of tailings, the crushed rock that once yielded precious metals.