Cloud City

The highest incorporated city in North America.

Leadville was a silver camp of thirty thousand people in 1880 and is a town of two and a half thousand now, with the Victorian main street still standing and the Sawatch Range filling the windshield. It is a working town, not a resort, which is most of the appeal.

Leadville and the Sawatch Range from the air
Summer in the Sawatch

Summer

Mount Elbert, 14,440 feet and the highest point in Colorado, starts about twenty minutes from the door. The Mineral Belt Trail loops the whole town on pavement if you would rather ride than climb.

On the water at Turquoise Lake

Water

Turquoise Lake and Twin Lakes sit minutes from town, ringed by the Sawatch. Rent a board or a boat locally and be on the water before the afternoon wind comes up.

Harrison Avenue in autumn

Winter

Ski Cooper is fifteen minutes north and still sells a lift ticket you can look at without flinching. Copper is under half an hour. In March, the town packs snow onto Harrison Avenue and races horses down it.

Worth planning around

A few dates that fill the town.

Late winter
Leadville Ski Joring. Horses tow skiers down a snow-packed Harrison Avenue over jumps. Rooms in town sell out well ahead of it.
Summer
The Leadville Race Series, including the Leadville Trail 100 run and mountain bike race. Book early, and expect the town to be full and happy.
All year
The National Mining Hall of Fame, the Tabor Opera House and a main street of outfitters, saloons and breakfast places. Our sister property, the Historic Delaware Hotel, is in the center of town on Harrison, a ten minute walk.
Any clear night
There is very little light out here and a great deal of sky. Step into the parking lot after midnight and look up.
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