Activities and Things To Do In Leadville, Colorado
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What is there to do in Leadville and Twin Lakes? That's an easy question to answer. Activities range from super adventure to mild & relaxing. All ages & abilities can find great attractions & distractions at their fingertips. Below is a list to give you an idea of what you can spend your time doing in Leadville & Twin Lakes. For more information about trailheads or where some of these activities may be located visit the Leadville chamber or go to www.visitleadvillecolorado.com
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Don't miss these views because your dog isn't ready for the hike
Cold Nose and Warm Heart
Leadville, CO • 719.486.2014
coldnose_warmheart@hotmail.com
High quality pet food. Dog daycare and overnight boarding. Pet grooming. Animal supplies, wild bird seed.
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Our pleasant summer temperatures and pure mountain air may motivate you into something more physically challenging. There are vast networks of trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, horseback riding, off-road 4-wheeling and ATV's.
Trail information and maps for both winter and summer activities are available at the U.S. Forest Service and the Visitor's Center in Leadville.
SummerActivities:
• ATVING
• BIKING & BIKING COMPETITION
• CAMPING
• FISHING
• GHOST TOWN
• GOLD PANNING
• GOLF
• HIKING
• HORSE BACK TRAIL RIDES
• HUNTING
• RAFTING
• RE-LIVE OLD WEST HISTORY
• ROCK CLIMBING
• ROCK HOUNDING
• SCENIC TRAIN RIDE
• TRAIL RUN COMPETITION
• TRIATHLON COMPETITION
The Mineral Belt Trail is for non motorized transportation with the exception of wheel chairs. The Colorado Trail runs North/South along the Sawatch Mountains to the West and goes past Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake along the base of Colorado's two highest mountains, Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive.
Take a day trip and climb one or more of Colorado's fourteeners located in Lake County. Hike to great fishing at one of our many high mountain lakes or streams. Raft the Arkansas River Valley or golf "North America's Highest"course. The opportunities are endless.
Winter Activities:
• DOG SLEDDING
• DOWNHILL SKIING
• ICE CLIMBING
• ICE FISHING
• ICE SKATING (See Lake Cnty Rec. Dist. p. 30)
• NORDIC SKIING
• SKI JORING
• SLEDDING
• SLEIGH RIDES
• SNOW CAT SKIING
• SNOW SHOEING
• SNOWMOBILING
Our abundant snow provides a vast number of activities including, snowshoeing, alpine and telemark skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding and dog sledding.
In the early days, Father Dyer delivered mail by skiing over Mosquito Pass in the dead of winter. Today many of the trails are groomed and well marked with trail markers. The Mineral Belt Trail is groomed for skate skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Sixteen trails, from beginner to expert, are located in Lake County. Trails range in distance from three to sixteen miles and move between 9,000 and 12,000 feet. Beginners trails include Lily Lake Loop with hills, narrow chutes and quick turns. The West Tennessee Lakes Trail has expansive views. Experts can take the Highline Loop through Mount Massive Wilderness to the long and difficult Bear Lake Loop - 16 miles of turns though Holy Cross Wilderness.
Ski Joring is the major event in the winter carnival that takes place the first weekend in March. Skiers are pulled over a series of jumps by horse with rider. Staying on your skis, spearing rings and time determine the winner. There is also a snowshoe race series, Loppet race and dog sledding.
Tenth Mountain Hut to Hut Trail System: The European tradition of hut-to-hut skiing can be enjoyed in the majestic mountains of Colorado. Huts located in spectacular settings, perched high on mountain ridges with magnificent views, provide skiers a cozy shelter at the end of the trail. The Skinner Hut, Uncle Bud's Cabin, Tenth Mountain Division Hut, and The Froelicher Hut are named in honor the men of the Tenth Mountain Division of the US Army who trained at Camp Hale and Ski Cooper during WWII. Fritz Benedict, a Tenth Mountain veteran, architect and designer of Vail Village, founded the first two backcountry huts in 1981. Each of these huts may be reached by a direct route from Leadville.
This is the most extensive backcountry hut system in North America including 30 huts and 350 miles of US Forest Service trails. backcountry ski, snowshoe, mountain bike or hike while staying in a safe, comfortable shelter. Please check www.huts.org for more details about these huts and call 970.925.4554 for reservations.
YearAround Activities:
• BREWERY TOURS
• JEEP & 4-WHEEL TRAILS
• MINING MUSEUM
• SCENIC DRIVES
• SELF-GUIDED TOuRS
• SHOPPING
• SWIMMING
Fishing
Colorado Fly Fishing Guides
711 Harrison
Leadville, CO • 866-908-7547
info@alpineskiandsport.com • www.alpineskiandsport.com
Half day and full day guided fly fishing excursions on the Arkansas & South Platte Rivers, Spinney, Elevenmile & Antero Reservoirs. Beginners to Experts. Flys, accessories & rentals available.
Golf
Mt. Massive Golf Course
259 County Rd. #5 • Leadville, CO • 719.486.2176 • info@mtmassivegolf.com • www.mtmassivegolf.com • "North America's Highest Golf Course" Open May-Oct. Reasonably Priced. Spectacular natural setting. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Grill, Bevs, rentals. Tee times 7 days in advance.
Horseback Riding
Mega Mountain Magic
212 Augusta Dr. • Leadville, CO • Ad: 31 719.486.4570 • megamountainmagic@msn.com • www.leadvillecoloradohorsebackrides.com • Guided horseback rides, breakfast ride, evening weinie roast, full day to overnight pack & fishing trips.
Rafting
Buffalo Joe's Whitewater Rafting
113 N. Railroad St. • Buena Vista, CO
719.395.8757 • 866-Buff-Joe • coby@buffalojoe.com • www.BuffaloJoe.com
Open all summer! Best rafting in Colorado. Two offices in BV & CC offer the best access to Colorado rafting. Steak lunches on all full day trips.
Recreation Facilities
Lake County Recreation Dept.
505 Harrison Ave • Leadville, CO
719.486.4142 • lcolley@co.lake.co.us • www.lakecountyco.com • The Lake County Recreation Department features a 193,000 gallon swimming pool, 150 ft. sledding/tubing hill, 30,000 sq.ft. outdoor ice rink, full court gymnasium, 4 ball fields, 6 parks, 11.6 mile bike trail, rodeo grounds & much more. Open Year Round.
Ski Areas/Nordic
Ski Cooper
9 Miles N of Leadville, CO on Hwy 24
719.486.3684 • 800.707.6114 • info@skicooper.com • www.skicooper.com
Colorado's Premier Family Ski Area. Skiing as it should be, with less crowded slopes, natural snow & a family atmosphere all at an affordable price.
Tennessee Pass Nordic Center
259 CO Rd. 29 • Leadville, CO/Ski Cooper
719.486.1750 • ty@tennesseepass.com
www.tennesseepass.com • 25 K groomed for skating & classic, rentals & the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse. World class dining in our yurt. Dinner 7 days a week. Lunch on weekends. Reservations required.
Snowmobile and Gear Rentals
Cottonwood Country Snowmobile Tours
113 N. Railroad Street • Buena Vista, CO
719.395-8757 •
www.colorado-snowmobile-tours.com •
Come and ride Colorado's coolest backcountry! 1/2 day, full day, performance and overnight trips leave daily. Only 30 minutes from Leadville, one hour from Summit and two hours from Denver.
Leadville Ski Country
116 E. 9th St • Leadville, CO
719.486.1750 •
www.leadville.com/skicountry • Snowmobiles, ski rentals, snowblades, cross country skis, snowshoes, and helmets. Tuneup available. Discount lift tickets for Ski Cooper and Copper Mountain.
