Leadville/Twin Lakes Hiking Trails

Leadville and Twin Lakes are surrounded by trails for hiking, biking, nordic skiing, ATV, snowmobile and even handicapped trails. Below is a brief list of hiking trails. For a comprehensive maps of all trails, visit the Leadville Chamber visitor center right in the middle of town.

Kearney Park Loop
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Intermediate
Notes: There are many junctions as the beginning of this loop. Be alert! Trail enters Mt. massive Wilderness at 1.25 miles.
Getting there: From the traffic light a 6th Street, follow highway 24 south for 3.9 miles. Turn right (west) on State Road 300 and follow it to the Leadville National Fish hatchery. Park at the trailhead parking area located on the left as you enter the fish hatchery grounds. The trail begins just south of the beautiful stone building, which houses the hatching operations.

Highline Loop
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Intermediate
Notes: There are many junctions as the beginning and end of theis trail. Be alert and follow the notes on the profile. The trail enters Mt. Massive Wilderness at 1.25 miles.
Getting There: From the Traffic light at 6th Street, follow highway 24 south for 3.9 miles. Turn right (west) on State Road 300 and follow it to the Leadville National Hatchery. Park at the trailhead parking area located on the left as you enter the fish hatchery grounds. The trail begins just south of the beautiful stone building, which houses the hatching operations.

Mt. Massive
Difficulty: Advanced Expert
Notes: This is a peak ascent trail, please dress appropriately and carry extra clothing, food and water. Dangerous afternoon lightning storms are common. Get an early start and turn back at the first sign of approaching storms. Expect snowfields late in the season.

Continental Divide Trail
(Tennessee Pass to Timberline trailhead)
Type: One way (Hwy 24 at Tennessee Pass to Timberline Lake Trailhead, west end of Turquoise Lake)
Notes: Through Lake County, the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide trail follow the same route.
Difficulty: Internediate
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th Street, travel north on Highway 24 through Leadville. At the intersection of highways 24 and 91, take a left onto Highway 24 and travel northwest 8 miles to Tennessee Pass. Park in the large trailhead parking lot located on the west side of the Highway 24 (across from the entrance to Ski Cooper). Profile shows trail heading south.

Continental Divide Trail
(Timberline trailhead to Halfmoon Creek)
Type: One way (Timberline Lake Trailhead, west end of Turquoise Lake to Halfmoon Road, Forest road 110).
Difficulty: Intermediate
Notes: Through Lake County, the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide trail follow the same route.
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th Street, travel south on Highway 24 to mile marker 177 and turn right onto McWethy Drive/Lake County Road 4 (across from entrance to Colorado Mountain College). Follow Lake County Road 4 for 1.5 miles. Turn left across from the large paved parking lot (Leadville junction). Cross the railroad tracks and the Arkansas River. At the T-intersection take a ight (north) and travel along this paved road for 7 miles to the trailhead for Timberline Lake. Park in this parking lot. So not park along the gravel road.

Continental Divide Trail
(Halfmoon Creek to Inter-Laken Trailhead)
Type: One way (Halfmoon Road, Forest road 110 to Inter-Laken Trailhead, Southside of Twin Lakes Dam.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Notes: Through Lake County, the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide trail follow the same route. A new trailhead is planned for this area, it will be located east of the current trailhead, so you may not have to drive as far along the Halfmoon road as the following description indicates. This is a popular non-motorized multiple use trail. Expect to see mountain bikers, equestrian users and other hikers.
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th Street, travel south on Highway 24 for 3.9 miles. Turn right (west) on State Road 300 toward the Leadville National Fish Hatchery. After 3/4 miles, take a left on Lake County Road 11, the paved road signed for Halfmoon Campground. Follow this road for 1.25 miles and take a right onto Forest Road 110 towards the Halfmoon campgrounds and picnic areas. The Trailhead is located 5.3 miles up this road. The road is very rough but passable by 2 wheel drive vehicle.

Continental Divide Trail
(Inter-Laken Tarilhead to Clear Creek Road))
Type: One way (Inter-Laken trailhead, south side of twin Lakes dam to Clear Creek Road to Chaffee County Road #390).).
Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced
Notes: Through Lake County, the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide trail follow the same route. This is a popular non-motorized multiple use trail. Expect to see mountain bikers, runners, anglers and other hikers. It is especially important that you carry a topographical map of this area. The trail continues south of the county and much of the route does not show on this map. Expect snowfields last in the season.
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th Street, follow Highway 24 south for approximately 16 miles. Turn right (west) on Highway 82 toward Independence Pass/Aspen. Proceed on Hwy 82 for 0.6 mile (pass the Lost Canyon road), turn left (south) onto this unsigned dirt road (across from the little log cabin). Low clearance vehicles should park at the wide turn area just south of the dam, or with high clearance vehicle continue along the left fork at the Colorado Trail sign to the end of the road where another parking area is available.

Black Cloud Trail
Type: Out and back
Notes: This is a peak ascent trail, please dress appropriately and carry extra clothing, food and water. Dangerous afternoon lightening storms are common, get an early start and turn back at the first sign of approaching storms. This is a very popular trail. Please stay on the trail to avoid further resource damage. Expect snowfields late in the season.
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th Street, following Highway 24 south for approximately 16 miles. Turn tight (west) on Highway 82 toward Independence Pass/Aspen. Follow Highway 82 for 10.5 miles. The trailhead is located .7 miles west of the Twin Peaks Campground. Watch closely for the driveway marked with a small sign on the right (north) side of he road. There is not much parking available. You may have to choose not to hike this trail if the parking area is full. DO NOT park along Highway 82, it is a heavily traveled highway, your safety and the safety of others is at stake.

Hope Pass
Type: Out and Back
Notes: Views of Twin Lakes and the upper Arkansas River Drainage. This is the crux of the famed Leadville Trail 100. The trail goes above tree line; dangerous afternoon lightning storms are common. Get and early start and turn back at the first sign of approaching storms. It is especially important that you carry a topographical map of the area. The trail continues south of the county and much of the route does not show on this map. Expect snowfields last in the season.
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th street, follow Highway 24 south for approximately 16 miles. Turn right (west) on highway 82 toward Independence Pass/Aspen. Follow Highway 82 for 8.3 miles. The trailhead is located on the left (south) side of Highway 82. Keep your eyes open; the Willis Gulch Trailhead will sneak up on you. If you do miss the trailhead entrance, continue west along the highway to the entrance for Parry Peak Campground. This is a safe turnaround location.

Inter-Laken
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Beginner
Notes: This trail passes by the turn-of-the-century ghost resort of Inter-Laken. This is a popular non-motorized multiple use trail, expect to see mountain bikers, runners anglers and other hikers.
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th Street, follow Highway 24 south for approximately 16 miles

Windsor Lake
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Advanced
Notes: Although short, this trail is very steep and much more difficult than the distance implies. Expect snowfields late in the season.
Getting There: From the traffic light at 6th street, travel south along highway 24 to mile marker 177 and turn right onto McWethy Drive/Lake County Road 4 (Across from entrance to Colorado Mountain College). Follow Lake County Road 4 to the turquoise Lake Recreation Area. Continue across the dam and along the south side of the lake. Turn left onto Forest Road 105/Hagerman Pass Road. Follow this road for 3.5 miles to first switchback with the wide area for parking. Park here, the trail starts on the left (south) side of the road.