Motorcycle Rider News Road Trips
Colorado Scoot: Leadville and Twin Lakes
By: Diana Rowe
Bikers can make it a day scoot or spend the night in Leadville, North America’s highest city, without breaking the bank! Breathtaking scenery, charming and historic small-town ambiance makes this town a must-stop for bikers.
“A visit to Leadville and Twin Lakes offers summer travelers a surprising number of choices, from a scenic day trip to an action-packed weekend of hiking and biking, to a relaxing week-long mountain getaway,” said Gail Dunning, Lake County Marketing Action Committee.
Leadville, the highest incorporated city in North America, is located in the geographic center of Colorado, 103 miles west of Denver and 129 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, on US Highway 24, part of the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Leadville is close enough to be a nice day scoot, or you can make it a weekend getaway. With an average of 310 days of sunshine a year and average high temperatures in the 70s during the summer months, Leadville is the perfect ride from Denver.
Once one of America’s richest, longest-lived and bawdiest mining boomtowns, 70 square blocks of the downtown area has been designated as a National Historic Landmark of Victorian architecture. Activities include skiing, fishing, camping, golfing, hiking, whitewater rafting, four-wheeling, biking, museums, historical tours and train rides. Nearby Twin Lakes, located 15 minutes from Leadville at the eastern entrance to Independence Pass, is also a National Historic District and a popular summer destination for camping, boating, hiking and fishing.
Take a moment, stretch your legs, and enjoy the sights. The Historical Walking Tour of downtown Leadville and the Route of the Silver Kings provide visitors with the chance to enjoy Victorian architecture and the historic mining district. Leadville and Twin Lakes are located on the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway, making the journey itself a treat. The Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad takes riders on a two-and-a-half hour journey between downtown Leadville and Fremont Pass, following the headwaters of the Arkansas River, with views of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, mine camps, incredible scenery and wildlife.
Leadville is home to six museums: the Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin, the Heritage Museum, the Matchless Mine, the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, the Tabor Home and Tabor Opera House. A Passport to the Museums of Leadville will be available at the Leadville/Lake County Visitor Center at 809 Harrison Avenue from May 28 through Labor Day and will include one visit to each museum anytime during the summer. The price will be $30 for adults (ages 13-16), $25 for seniors (ages 62 and better) and $14 for children (ages 5 – 12).
Leadville features antique and specialty shops, restaurants, galleries, and coffee shops, along with lodging options ranging from an elegant Victorian hotel, inns and B&Bs to lodges, cabins, campsites and vacation rentals.
Just 15 minutes from Leadville, Twin Peaks is located at the eastern gateway to Independence Pass an hour from Aspen. Twin Lakes Village has also been designated a National Historic District. It features a general store, hotel, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse and the world-famous Interlaken Hotel, accessible by trail or boat. At the historic Twin Lakes village, travelers will find B&Bs, lodges, cafés, gift shops and art galleries.
For those that like to rough it, there are hundreds of campsites in Lake County, ranging from private RV parks, cabins and campsites in and around downtown Leadville to developed campgrounds and dispersed camping at numerous scenic areas through the National Forest Service.
Before you go: I’m a huge fan of scoping out the place before you throw your leg over the bike. It’s really simple -- log on to http://www.VisitLeadvilleColorado.com to find vacation ideas or request a free Insider’s Guide. Call 888-532-3845 or go online for lodging information.
Thanks to VisitLeadvilleColorado.com for providing details for this article.
TIP: The Pastime Bar is located off Main Street (120 W. 2nd Street, 719-486-9434) and serves the best burgers in town. The beer is cold and the service is over-the-top! This bar has been owned by the same family since 1938. Roy Seme bought it from his father in 1977. Now Jerry & Roy Seme run it with the very capable help of their daughter Lorinda! You can stop by anytime, but when you do stop, make sure you tell 'em that Diana at Motorcycle Rider News sent you!
Originally Printed in the June 2010 Issue