Top 10 Reasons to Visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, CO, This Fall

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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, CO, This Fall

(LEADVILLE, COLO, August 25, 2021) – Leaves change first in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado. At elevations around 10,000’, the aspen usually peak mid- to late September, surrounding scenic drives, hikes, bike rides, and train rides with golden leaves. Here are ten reasons to visit Leadville and Twin Lakes this fall.

SCENIC DRIVES AND RIDES

National Scenic and Historic Byway – Autumn Roads– All roads into Leadville follow theTop of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway, an 82-mile route that reaches 12,000’. The route offers spectacular views of golden aspen groves and large glacial lakes. The section from Twin Lakes to the summit of Independence Pass is especially brilliant in the fall.

Leadville Scenic Train –TheLeadville Colorado & Southern Railroad rides up into the San Isabel National Forest, where the mountains are ablaze with yellow, orange, and red. One to two trains run daily through Oct. 8, 2021. The train leaves on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. from Oct. 9 to Oct. 31, 2021. Reservations are required, and it is encouraged to book in advance.

Ride through Alpine Scenery–Halfmoon Packing & Outfitting offers horseback rides, wagon rides, stagecoach rides, and overnight wilderness pack trips, featuring some of the most spectacular mountain views in the area. They also offer a complete range of hunting services, including fully guided hunts, drop camps, game retrieval, and pack services.

OUTDOOR FUN

Fall Hikes –1.) The East Ridge ofMt. Elbert, Colorado’s tallest mountain at 14,433?, offers a trip through an expansive aspen grove—and a chance to look down on those glowing leaves from above. 2.) The Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail offer gorgeous scenery with golden aspens. 3.) Hope Pass at 12,600? offers stunning views of soaring 14ers in the Sawatch Range, Twin Lakes from on high, and the picturesque Arkansas River Valley.

Fall Bike Rides –1.) Leadville’sMineral Belt Trail, an 11.6 mile paved loop around the historic city, goes through a large aspen grove that is brilliant in the fall. The trail offers views of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, and remnants of 1880s silver mines. The section between 5th Street and Toledo Street/California Gulch has jaw-dropping leaves. 2.) The trail to Interlaken passes through a lakeside aspen grove on the way to a turn-of-the-century ghost resort on the shores of Twin Lakes. Mt. Elbert is in full view across the lake, with its lower slopes yellow with aspen.

Soar High Above the Fall Foliage –Visitors can soar high above the valley on theTop of the Rockies Zipline to experience fall foliage at an elevation of 11,200’ with views of Colorado’s highest peaks. Open year-round, except late fall and early spring.

Play One More Round of Golf Before Next Season– TheMt. Massive Golf Course, North America’s highest course, offers reasonable prices and is surrounded by scenic 14ers. The course is usually open until the second week of October.

WESTERN HISTORY

Ghost Town and Tours; Perfect for Halloween –1.) TheEast Side Mining District is home to the remains of Leadville’s silver mining boom days, from looming headframes to creaky ore houses that once bustled with miners. Visitors can download a Heritage Guide for a map of the driving tour Route of the Silver Kings. 2.) Leadville’s Cemetery, Ghost, and Safari Tours offer a new view on Leadville’s history and its past residents. Tours run on weekends through Sept. 25, 2021.

Discover Mining– TheNational Mining Museum and Hall of Fame offers replicas of caves and mines, a world-class collection of sparkling gems, and the stories of the people who’ve run American mines for decades.

Experience Western History through a Museum Tour– 1.) TheHealy House Museum and Dexter Cabin are two of Leadville’s earliest houses showcasing what life was like in a booming silver-mining town. 2.) The Heritage Museum houses Leadville memorabilia highlighting the city’s history. Call (719) 486-1878 for hours after Labor Day. 3.) The Temple Israel, built in 1884, is the oldest of the area’s frontier synagogues. It serves as a museum and research institute that documents the lives of Jewish pioneers during Leadville’s mining boom era.