Downtown Leadville

Some locals say that Leadville really is about 2 miles closer to heaven. At 10,152 feet, it’s the highest incorporated city in North America and is flanked by Colorado's highest fourteeners: Mount Elbert and Mount Massive.

All this natural beauty coupled with the town's Victorian charm makes it easy to see why Leadville was named one of "The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2023" by Smithsonian Magazine.

Things To Do

Culture and History: Leadville has commemorated its rich and wild history through the establishment of eight museums—more museums per capita than any other city in Colorado! With a history steeped in dramatic stories of fortunes made, riches lost, love triangles, outlaws, and controversial madams, there’s so much to tell.

• National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
• Tabor Opera House and Tabor Original Home
• The House With the Eye Museum

Nature and Outdoors: Leadville is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts year round. The Top of the Rockies scenic and historic byway cuts right through the city, providing incredible scenery. Just 20 minutes from Leadville, you can visit Camp Hale — a new national monument dedicated to the alpine camp that served as a World War II training ground.

• Climb 14ers
• Biking
• Paddle Twin Lakes
• Ski Cooper

Food and Drink: Downtown is walkable and full of establishments to eat and drink. Locally loved Two Mile Brewing Co. is known for its malty Camp Hale Pale Ale and toffee-infused Poverty Flats Porter. Treeline Kitchen is another favorite — especially for its rooftop seating. Some of the state’s best homemade Mexican food can be sampled at Casa Sanchez, or you can sip a rich Cuban-style cortadito at Buchi Cafe Cubano. The deep-fried Brussels sprouts from Tennessee Pass Cafe will keep you coming back for more, as will the Margherita pizza at High Mountain Pies. Mineral 1886, located inside the Delaware Hotel, serves chicken and waffles, avocado toast and house-made doughnuts.

Plan Your Trip

Prepare yourself for a vacation full of new adventures and discovery! Whether you’re coming for the outdoor recreation, history, scenic beauty or a mix of all three, you’ll be in your element in North America’s highest-elevation town, right in the heart of Colorado.

When to visit: Each season has the makings of a great escape. We think you should try them all to see which one you like best! See what to do by season in Leadville and Twin Lakes. Check our annual festivals and events and our day-by-day calendar of fun happenings to uncover something that meets your fancy. Winter’s an especially great time to visit North America’s highest city and its abundant snow!

Getting here: Directions to Leadville are easy. Surrounded by Colorado’s highest peaks, we are just 100 miles from Denver and 130 miles from Colorado Springs.

• Drive: Coming from any direction, the Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway is your route into Leadville or Twin Lakes. From Interstate 70, take Highway 24 (Tennessee Pass) or Highway 91 (Fremont Pass) to arrive at our breathtaking destination. In warm weather months, the scenic byway goes to Aspen, on Highway 82, over Independence Pass. The pass is closed in winter, usually from late October until Memorial Day weekend, weather depending. You can rent a car from Hertz at the Frisco Transit Center. Additional car rental agencies are located nearby in Dillon, Silverthorne, and Breckenridge.

• Fly: The Leadville-Lake County Airport is North America’s highest public use airport at an altitude of 9,934 feet! No commercial service is available, but private pilots love its convenience. Denver International Airport has nearly two dozen airlines that serve domestic and international travelers.

• Public Transit and Ground Transportation

  • Leadville Bus: The free Leadville Bus does a through town loop on Mondays through Fridays from 7am to 12pm and 2pm to 7pm. Click here to see stops and to track the bus location
  • Copper/Frisco to Leadville Bus: The Summit Stage has a Lake County Commuter (LCC) Route, a free bus that travels between Leadville and Frisco with stops at Copper Mountain. At the Frisco Transit Center, you can catch free buses to Breckenridge and throughout Summit County. Click here to see Summit Stage routes and times
  • Leadville to Minturn/Vail Bus: The Eagle County Regional Transportation Authority (Eco Transit) buses run morning and evening along U.S. 24 between Vail and Leadville, with a transfer stop at the Forest Service Park and Ride for the Highway 6 and Minturn routes. Click Here to see Eco Transit routes and times
  • Denver to Frisco Transportation : Epic Mountain Express and Peak 1 Express provide airport transportation to Frisco. Summit Express serves both Frisco and Copper Mountain. Bustang is an inter-regional express bus service that stops at the Frisco Transit Center. Its West Line connects local transit entities along the I-25 and I-70 corridors. Bustang also connects to Denver’s Union Station. From there, you can catch the University of Colorado A Line Train to the Denver International Airport.

Where to stay: Choose from cabins and vacation rentals; bed and breakfasts; hotels, motels, and hostels; and camping options.

For more information, please visit Lake County Tourism Panel's website on Leadville and Twin Lakes.