One Day in Leadville, CO: 9 Things To Do

Welcome to Leadville, Colorado! What was once a huge mining town with a population of over 60,000 people is now a small mountain town with more than enough fun activities, nature, and historic sites to fill a day. Plus, it’s the highest town in the United States, sitting at an elevation of 10,152 feet!

Although Leadville lacks the classy, upscale vibe of nearby mountain ski towns, it’s charming in a gritty sort of way and worth 1/2 to a full day if you are on a Colorado road trip.

I’m Cheryl, and my husband, Matt, and I have been writing travel guides to our favorite places in the West since 2020. We’ve spent 5 weeks exploring Colorado, doing all the drives, hikes, and activities. We always pay our own way so we can give you our unbiased opinions. Here are our favorite things to do in Leadville, Colorado.

1. Ride the Leadville Railway

The Leadville Railway was originally built in the 1800s and was a huge deal because it transported minerals from the mines to nearby cities. During the mining boom, Leadville had a population that ranged from 60,000 to 80,000 people! When mining slowed down, the train went out of commission from the 1960s until 1989, when it began running again as a passenger train.

Today, the regular train ride travels about 21 miles total, out and back, and lasts 2 hours. Passengers see views of Leadville and the valley from about 1000 feet above. Tickets cost ~$60 per person for regular seats and go up from there. It runs year-round, and we think it would be especially beautiful in the fall because there are lots of aspen trees along the ride.

We wouldn’t describe this as a fancy train. The railway is a standard track, and the train is pulled by a 1959 diesel engine and travels 10-12 miles an hour. There are a variety of cars to choose from, from standard open-air to lounge cars where they serve food.

We were glad we picked an open-air car and sat on the left side (when facing the front of the train) because we had views of the canyon the whole time and could smell the cedars! We also really appreciated the great narration and that the train had a good sound system so we could actually hear it (believe it or not, this is a problem on most trains!)

GOOD TO KNOW: You are allowed to bring two special things on this train: your own food and… your dog!

2. Mineral Belt Trail

The Mineral Belt Trail is a 12-mile, paved, loop trail that goes through the historic mining area of Leadville. Along the way, you see remnants of mines, including equipment, mining structures, colorful mounds of mined rocks (purple and red!), and even pools of water that are now rust colored from the leftover minerals. You also have views of the mountains and valleys, and it’s nice to be among the aspens and cedar trees too! There are also signs along the trail that teach you about the mining history.

GOOD TO KNOW: The best sites of the Mineral Belt Trail are between miles 3-6. There is a parking lot in this area, and you can walk to these sites if you would like.

Although you can drive to some of these mining sites, we chose to rent e-bikes! It was one of my favorite rides because of the variety. The trail takes 2 hours to e-bike and 4 hours on a regular bike. We rented from EBike Leadville. Our rental was ~$100 for 3 hours. Cycles of Life rents regular bikes for about half as much.

We were glad we did it via e-bike because there are some challenging climbs in the last few miles of the trail. Plus, it allowed us to do the entire trail in the time we had. We had fat bikes, which have wider tires and better suspension for a more comfortable ride. Highly recommend!

One major highlight was seeing some wildlife, including deer and a bear!

HANDY TIP: The guy who rented us our bikes recommended skipping the complete loop because the last mile has you crossing a bunch of roads and isn’t the most scenic. Instead, he recommended turning around and going back the way we came. This was possible because we were on an e-bike, which let us do 22 miles total.

3. Learn About Mining

The mines of Leadville produced silver, lead, zinc, and even gold. They are really proud of their mining history, and there are a few tours and museums you can go on to learn more.

National Mining Hall of Fame. This is the biggest of the museums in town and has walk-through mine replicas, historic mining equipment, dioramas, more than 1,000 minerals/gems, fluorescent minerals, gold-mining exhibits, and displays about the nearby Climax molybdenum mine. My husband did this tour and said it was ok. It’s a two-hour activity for most people, and you can learn more at the National Mining Hall of Fame.

Matchless Mine Historic Site. We haven’t done this tour yet, but you can see the mine they give you a tour of from the Mineral Belt. There was a scandal that happened at the Matchless Mine between Horace Tabor (who owned the silver mine) and Baby Doe (his mistress). You get to see what is left of the mine, but it might be worth doing just to hear more about the scandal. Learn more at the Matchless Mine Historic Site.

GOOD TO KNOW: There is no shortage of mining tours and museums of Colorado. I’ve done a few, and my favorite is the tour of the Argo Mill and Tunnel in Idaho Springs.

4. Explore Main Street

Leadville has a main street that goes through the center of town for a couple of blocks. It’s not manicured and filled with flowers like many of the mountain towns in Colorado (Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge…), but the storefronts are interesting in a gritty sort of way.

If checking out Main Street is interesting to you, here are a couple of spots to check out.

Tabor Opera House

This historic building was built in 1879 in just 100 days! It’s the fanciest place in town. What is special about it is that it continues to be a place where performances and events take place because the town has no movie theaters, community center, or dedicated places for performances.

They also offer 45-minute tours where you can see the stage, backstage, museum, and hear all the fun stories!

Check out Tabor Opera House to book a tour or see any performances going on during your visit.

Antique Shopping

Of all the Colorado towns, I think Leadville has the most antique stores. In fact, there are 7 of them if you include thrift shops. Whether you are in the market or not, it’s fun to see their cool collections.

Silver Dollar Saloon

This may be Leadville’s oldest surviving saloon. It opened in 1883 and was where the miners liked to hang out. When you go in there, it feels like little has changed. They have an ornate, old-fashioned counter, a player piano, and really cool old decorations. There is tons to look at, and it’s really fun to see.

We haven’t eaten here yet. The Google reviews say the food is ok, but I would at least try to take a peek inside. You can learn more about it at Silver Dollar Saloon.

Melanzana

This is a unique Colorado clothing brand… and it’s so exclusive that you need an appointment to shop here (for most things). They use merino wool and make soft, thin-yet-warm outerwear that people just love and affectionately call “Mellys.”

It really is surprising how many people you see wearing these around Colorado once you know what a Melly looks like. I once met a couple of travelers who made a special trip to Leadville just to pick out their Melly. You can learn more and make an appointment for yourself at Melanzana.

One other thing you may notice as you walk or drive around Leadville is that the houses are really cute. They are Queen Anne–style Victorian houses and have fish-scale shingles on the front. They are often colorful and I think they are really fun to look at. Other Colorado mountain towns have similarly styled houses.

5. ATV Ride

My husband LOVES ATVs and UTVs because he can get high into the mountains without having to hike a single step!

Leadville ATV Tours has a unique offering from most tours where you get to drive your own machine but still have a tour guide with you. You get to an elevation of 12,000 ft and see unobstructed views of the two tallest peaks in Colorado.

We haven’t done this yet, but it’s on our list, and you can learn more at Leadville ATV Tours.

6. Top of the Rockies Zipline

The Top of the Rockies Zipline is the best zipline course our family has ever done, and our kids still talk about it.

After you’ve got your helmet and harness, they drive you high up the mountain in an old, open-air army vehicle. It is so cool! This is different from most zipline courses that are just platforms in not very scenic places.

From there, you do 6 different ziplines with names like Leap of Faith, Train Wreck (goes over the Leadville Train!), Top of the World, Honeymooner, and Grandma. Many of the zipline platforms had two lines so you could go at the same time with one of your buddies. So fun!

They tell you to plan on 2 hours, but ours was only 1 1/2 hours because we had a smaller group. They cap groups at 18 people, and there are a couple of guides who go out with you. They told us “dad” jokes and made it a lot of fun, but I could also tell they took our safety seriously.

This costs ~$150 per person, and you also have the option to book a package that includes the Leadville Train.

Leadville Colorado Travel Guide: 10 Things You Need to Know

The next activities listed aren’t in Leadville but are close enough that you could easily visit them during your stay or while you are driving in or out of town.

7. Hike Mayflower Gulch

Mayflower Gulch Trail. This is a moderate, 3-mile, out-and-back trail that takes you to an old mining ghost town in an amphitheater with beautiful views of the mountains and valley. This is on the way from Frisco to Leadville, and it’s on a dirt road that is passable in 4×4 high-clearance vehicles during parts of the year, though it wasn’t when we visited in August.

The trail is a dirt road covered with rocks, which I did not like, and the views were not great on the way up. You’re in a pine forest, so it smells great, but all you can see is pine trees the whole 1 1/2 miles up to the cabins.

However, the ghost town is so cool– a photographer’s dream. Mountains, grasses, and wildflowers in the valley with a little stream going through it. It’s so pretty. The cabins have the largest logs I’ve ever seen in a ghost town. It has a different feel than most hikes, and my husband describes it as “the essence of Colorado.”

8. Drive Independence Pass

This is one of the highest roads in Colorado and takes you above 12,000 ft above sea level. You can take this route on your way to Aspen if that’s on your list of places to visit in Colorado. It’s pretty intense with steep drop-offs, but we think it is so beautiful and loved driving it! The surrounding terrain is tundra, and you have pretty views of the snow-capped mountains almost the entire year. We think it would be even cooler in the fall! Our favorite stops include:

• Weller Lake Trailhead/overlook. It is a beautiful view of the cascading Roaring Fork River (which actually cascades a lot!). It’s a 15-minute stop
• The Grotto. This short stop has ice caves! There is also a gorgeous cascading waterfall that anyone can enjoy. Parking is sparse, so it may be full. If you cross the bridge, you’ll have a 0.6-mile loop that will take you to the ice caves as well as the best, up-close views of the cascade.
• Ghost town of Independence. The buildings are mostly dilapidated and boarded up with no interpretive signs, but we still like it! You’ll most likely have the place to yourself, and it has the prettiest views of the mountains. They are steep and filled with big, healthy pine trees (no pests or fires) and Aspens. It takes 20-30 minutes to hike there; the trail is packed dirt and easy but not accessible.

9. Twin Lakes

This is a tiny town on the way to Leadville that has Twin Lakes Inn & Saloon (kind of like the Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville), which was built in the 1800s. There are also some log cabins around Main Street you can check out. We mostly consider this a pretty drive-through town, but think it would be really nice to walk around the lakes and look at Mount Elbert.

Getting To and Around Leadville

Leadville is located on Highway 24, high in the Colorado Rockies at more than 10,000 feet in elevation. It is about 45 minutes south of Vail, 45 minutes north of Buena Vista, and about 2 hours from Denver. It’s situated between Copper Mountain and Twin Lakes, along the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway.

Leadville is a small town, at only about 1 square mile. Most of the stores, restaurants, museums, and historic attractions are right along Harrison Avenue and the surrounding downtown blocks. There is plenty of parking, so it’s easy to leave the car and walk around.

CHECK OUT: One Perfect Day in Aspen, Colorado: Maroon Bells, Walking Tour, and Independence Pass

Where to Stay

We actually don’t recommend staying in Leadville for two reasons. First, it’s a very small town with not a lot of options. This often means paying top dollar for places that aren’t very nice. Second, nearby Frisco and Silverthorne have so many options from hotel chains, locally run inns, and Airbnbs and VRBOs. It’s also centrally located, so you can visit other cool mountain towns like Vail, Breckenridge, Georgetown, and Aspen.

We’ve stayed at a couple of places in the area, and our favorite was The Block Hotel and Commons (book here). Although our room was small, it was clean, and there were great places to gather throughout the hotel. It also had a nice outdoor area and a hot tub on the roof.

THE TRUTH ABOUT LODGING IN COLORADO: It’s expensive and often not very nice. We have stayed at plenty of dives AND paid a lot for them. Be incredibly judicious when booking your hotel. Our guides already have good suggestions for you.

Know Before You Go

• You may experience altitude sickness. Leadville is the highest-altitude city in the United States at over 10,000 ft. Symptoms include: weakness, headache, nausea, and dizziness. It can affect everyone differently, regardless of age or fitness level. Here’s how to deal with it:
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol for the first couple of days
  • Get to lower elevation and give yourself time to acclimate
• You may tire and feel hungry faster than usual. Even if you escape altitude sickness, it’s really common to have less energy and feel hungry; We always do. Also, be aware that even though the air can feel cool on the mountaintops, sunburns can happen if you don’t wear sunscreen.
• Prepare for rain. A Colorado local once told me they prepare for rain every day. If it doesn’t rain, they are pleasantly surprised. The good news is that those afternoon showers usually come and go quickly, within an hour, from my experience.

FIND OUT: Will I Get Altitude Sickness When I Visit Rocky Mountain National Park?

Watch Before Visiting Colorado (Updates, Lodging, Food & Tips)

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Leadville is only one of the many amazing places to visit in Colorado. There are many other mountain towns and national parks in the area that we also love! The hardest part is narrowing down which areas of Colorado are the best fit for you and picking the best home bases to stay so you aren’t driving too much or switching where you stay each night.

It took us hundreds of hours of studying and weeks of traveling through Colorado to figure this all out, and we put it in our Colorado Guide. Check it out if you want to see more on your trip without spending hours planning it.