The Scenic Road to Leadville...and Back

By J.K. Perry

The short road trip to Leadville and beyond offers breathtaking views, picturesque moments and history worthwhile to kids and parents.

The 94-mile trip begins in Minturn, a rustic railroad town along an oldfashioned main street.Turn right off U.S. Highway 24 onto Railroad Avenue for a unique breakfast at the Turntable Restaurant. Minturn holds an outdoor market each Saturday during the summer, with plenty of activities, exhibits and knick knacks.

A short distance south on Highway 24 is Gilman, where men once drew zinc from the Eagle Mine below. The ghost town is off limits to the public, but there are several spots alongside the road to view the town’s vacant, yet colorful homes.Take the curvaceous road beyond to a stunning arch bridge and Red Cliff, a quaint mining town on the upswing.

The next stop is Camp Hale, where the Army’s 10th Mountain Division lived and prepared for World War II combat. The historic site offers camping, hiking and several roadside signs which tell the division’s story. Just down the road — at the Entrance to Ski Cooper — stands a memorial to the nearly 1,000 division soldiers who died during the war.

Next up, Leadville — the state’s highest town and a former mining hub.The Dexter Cabin, Healy House State Monument and Heritage Museum present the story of Leadville, where silver, gold and other metals were extracted from the ground. Enjoy the views at nearby Twin Lakes Reservoir in the shadow of Mount Elbert, Colorado’s highest peak.

Continue north on Highway 91, which climbs Fremont Pass and offers glimpses of Climax Mine.The mine mass-produced the steelstrengthening element molybdenum during World War I and throughout much of the 20th century.

Copper Mountain is the final destination, where horseback riding, go-carts and climbing walls await visitors. But the rustic road ends here, so jump on Interstate 70 and head west back to Eagle County.