Leading You to Leadville
Standing at an impressive 10,152 feet, surrounded by the Sawatch mountain range, with a laid-back feel; I introduce you to Leadville Colorado. A destination to consider if beautiful scenery, endless hiking, and a place of rich mining history are your thing. Located just over two hours southwest of Denver, it is a place I still smile thinking about.
How did I stumble on this gem you ask? Well, I just picked a place I had not been to before. I knew most destinations in the mountains of Colorado would have many places to explore and the opportunity to take beautiful pictures. I traveled at the beginning of October and was lucky to catch the autumn leaves.
I ventured to so many wonderful places on my trip. But, my favorites in and around the area were Mayflower Gulch Trail, Twin Lakes, Turquoise Lake, and the drive on Independence pass. On some days I drove around with no plan taking pictures from the side of the road, and that was equally as rewarding.
Mayflower Gulch Trail:
This trail had one of the most spectacular views, I have ever seen. At the end of the hike, you will find yourself immersed in a view of Mount Fletcher towering at your feet, along with the remnants of abandoned mines and cabins. It is truly a photographer’s dream. This trail is located about 20 minutes from the center of Leadville. It is direct drive north on CO-91, with a parking lot to the right just after Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir. Search Mayflower Gulch Trailhead in your phone’s GPS and it should pop right up. The All-Trails app is a great resource to use for all your hiking needs. Mayflower Gulch is a moderately classified trail. It is 6.1 miles round trip and has an elevation gain of 1,548 feet. The trail is challenging as it’s a continuous uphill climb, but if you take your time and hydrate you should be okay. You do have the option to drive up close to the abandoned cabins, but you must have a 4x4 SUV and you will be sharing the dirt road/trail with the hikers making their way up.
Helpful Links:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/mayflower-gulch-grand-traverse
Twin Lakes:
Located about 21 miles southwest of Leadville is Twin Lakes. A beautiful recreational area, with a backdrop of some famous fourteeners (14,000-plus in the elevation mountain peaks) and two pristine glacier lakes. Twin Lakes is a place for great hiking, biking, fishing, and water activities. One trail I recommend is The Interlaken trail, which takes you along the lake’s south side. Nestled among the beautiful lakes you will find what was once the thriving Interlaken Hotel. Built in 1879 it is now unoccupied along with other structures that have been preserved. The trail is an easy 4.6 miles round trip. Make sure to clarify the location of the trailhead as Apple maps will not pull it up correctly. Instead, use Google Maps and search “Twin Lakes Interlaken Trailhead”. On the north side of the lakes off CO-82, you will come across the small historic town of Twin Lakes and the Twin Lakes Visitor Center. Here is where you will find more historic buildings and nice walking trails as well.
Helpful Links:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/interlaken-trail
Independence Pass:
This is a beautiful scenic drive to Loveland Pass, a viewpoint at 11,990 feet on the Continental Divide. It is approximately 36 miles from Leadville and takes a little over an hour. Along the way, there are many scenic spots and places to hike and take pictures. You will be driving through three different ecological zones: the montane, subalpine, and Alpine. It’s really interesting to take notice of the changing environments the higher you get and the wildlife you may encounter. Since Independence pass can be quite dangerous to drive, it closes usually the first week of November and reopens around Memorial Day Weekend. Check the Colorado department of transportation website for information on the pass. For someone who is from Florida and not used to mountain driving the last couple of miles was a little dodgy. However, the views from the top were breathtaking, so white-knuckling the steering wheel for a few miles was worth it. If you are coming from Leadville you will see the sign Loveland Pass and a parking lot on the left-hand side. Once you take in the views if you continue down the other side of the mountain (heading west) you will reach Aspen.
Helpful Links:
https://maps.cotrip.org/list/events?searchTerm=co%2082&page=1&pageRecordLimit=25
Turquoise Lake
Just 5 miles from the city center of Leadville is Turquoise Lake. An area that has a little something for everyone, whether it be any outdoor activity or just relaxing on the beaches. You can also take a beautiful scenic drive around the entire lake, stopping along the way at its different viewpoints. The drive is a 15-mile loop with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet. One of my favorite viewpoints around the lake was Valley View. The vibrant colors of the changing aspens among the pines were simply breathtaking as if mother nature took out her paintbrush and added some color to the side of the mountain.
Helpful Link:
Places in and around town:
Walking the downtown streets of Leadville is like walking back in time. From the Victorian architecture of the Delaware Hotel built in 1886, to the Silver Dollar Saloon constructed in 1879 the history of this silver mining town runs deep. The charm of this town is undeniable, as you will not find any chain restaurants or stores, but rather locally owned establishments.
Driving south on US Highway 24, just outside of town, is the Arkansas River Headwaters/ Chrystal Lake overlook. Here you will have an awesome view of Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. Did you know, Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet is the tallest peak in Colorado, and the town of Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America? Pretty cool if you ask me!
I hope this inspires you to take a trip and explore Leadville, I promise you won’t regret it!
