Category Archives: Leadville

Things to do in Leadville on Labor Day Weekend in Colorado’s High Country

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Leadville CO Things To Do

Things To Do in LeadvilleCO

Check out the activities  in Leadville during the Labor Day Weekend:

24 HOURS OF LEADVILLE MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE Saturday – Sunday, September 3-4
The 12 / 24 Hours of Leadville race course will combine a taste of all the features that have made the Leadville Trail 100 famous    . Come prepared for technical trails, fast double track and a real lung-burning good time.

The Molly Brown Weekend at The Delaware Hotel is Sept. 3-4. Meet Molly Brown: Visit with this figure from Leadville’s history in the Delaware Hotel Lobby, 4 – 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, September 2 – 3.
The Historic Delaware Hotel Celebrates 125 Years as Leadville’s Grand Dame — Built in 1886, the historic Delaware Hotel at 7th and Harrison Avenue is a tribute to Leadville’s colorful past. Events include Victorian teas; presentations on fashion, funerals and Colorado madams; storytelling; a Cowboy Ball and birthday party; and weekly tours and entertainment. Please call, or visit the website or the hotel lobby for a complete list of events.

Ride the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville and visit mines of the historic Colorado high country.

Take a Train Ride on the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad – what a way to see the high country. It begins in Leadville and reaches up into the Continental Divide through hairpin turns following the Arkansas River Valley. Views of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, the two tallest peaks in Colorado.

 

Leadville CO things to do summer events

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Old West Weekend at The Delaware Hotel

By vailwhattodoinfo July 22-24
Join Soapy Smith, Carrie Nation and other characters from the past at The Delaware Hotel Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Nationally renowned reenactors and shooting experts will make the Old West come alive through skits, activities and competition shooting demonstration.

Weekend Schedule
Friday, 7/22 11am – 2: Miss Daisy instructs Victorian Hat making.
Learn the basics of making your own Victorian Hat. Materials provided. $10.

Saturday, 7/23 11 – noon Comedic portrayal of mining in the 1800s.
Outside The Delaware Hotel. (free)
2 – 3 Stage Stop portrayal of characters of the Old West
Location: Hotel lobby (free)
3 – 5 Soapy Smith teaches Farro in the hotel Lobby (free)
4:30 – 5:30 Hotel Open House & tour, refreshments (free

Sunday, 7/24 noon – 2 Fast Draw competition
7th St., outside The Delaware Hotel
Weekend activities are part of The Delaware’s summer series of events celebrating the hotel’s 125th anniversary this year. All activities are open to the public on first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 719-486-1418.

July 30
Wildflower Special Train Ride

No Moon Night Golf
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Enjoy No Moon Night Golf at Mount Massive Golf Course in Leadville. Call 719-486-2176 for details.

Aug. 5 – 7
Leadville’s Annual Boom Days, which takes place the first weekend in August, has been honored by the United States Congress as a Local Legacy Event. This three-day celebration of the area’s mining heritage offers entertainment for people of all ages and interests, from mining competitions, motorcycle games and a rod and gun show, to live music, a craft fair and parade. The 21-mile Leadville Boom Days International Pack Burro Race — the second leg of Pack Burro Racing’s Triple Crown — is always a crowd favorite.

Aug. 6
Vonnie’s Voice 5 K

Aug. 13
Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race

Aug. 20
Just Pure Laughs at The Tabor Opera House
Dan McGowan provides a great combination of music and comedy during this great family performance. Adults, $15 Children under 12, FREE
The Tabor Opera House
308 Harrison Avenue
Leadville, Colorado
719-486-8409
www.taboroperahouse.net

Leadville Trail 100 Run

Aug. 24
USA Pro Cycling Challenge travels through Twin Lakes

Sept. 11
World of Molybdenum Exhibit

Leadville and Twin Lakes CO Road Trips and Things To Do on Your Summer Vacation

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Leadville and Twin Lakes CO Things To Do

Things To Do in Leadville and Twin Lakes CO

Do you need reasons to spend a Colorado vacation in Leadville and Twin Lakes this summer? Here are a few: affordability, to-die-for views, history, trails for hiking and biking, high-altitude training and competition, and relaxing off the beaten path. Travelers can also find a great selection of antique stores, and enjoy entertaining and educational events this summer in Leadville, North America’s highest city. With an average 310 days of sunshine a year and average high temperatures in the 70s during the summer months, it’s easy to plan a week of fun:

Affordability — It’s easier to relax when the vacation stays under budget. Leadville and Twin Lakes have lots of free and low-cost ways to enjoy a week in the Colorado mountains, along with affordable places to stay and to eat. Visitors can enjoy nature trails, tour the Leadville National Fish Hatchery, and enjoy the Heritage Walking Tour in downtown Leadville for free. A passport to visit all six area museums is just $30 per adult (ages 13-16), $25 for seniors (ages 62 and better) and $14 for children (ages 5 – 12). 888-532-3845

Trails for hiking and biking — Whether hiking the strenuous nine-mile trail to the top of Mt. Elbert—Colorado’s highest Fourteener—and back or taking the family on a bike ride on the paved Mineral Belt Trail that loops through forests and historic sites as it makes its way around the town, hikers and bikers enjoy the vast network of trails that crisscross the county. The trail to the historic Interlaken Hotel in Twin Lakes provides hikers with the chance to take in the scenery and visit one of the area’s most popular 1880s resort.

To-die-for views — There are so many beautiful spots in Lake County, it’s hard to pick just one favorite. Turquoise Lake, located in the San Isabel National Forest just outside Leadville, and Twin Lakes, the largest glacial lakes in Colorado, are both surrounded by undeveloped lands, forests and snow-capped mountains. Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, the two highest Fourteeners in the state, create a spectacular backdrop for the Victorian architecture of Leadville’s historic district. Independence Pass, which connects Twin Lakes and Aspen during the summer months and was named one of “America’s Prettiest Fall Drives” by Forbes.com, is spectacular during the summer as well.

High-altitude training and competition — Competing at 10,152’ has become a rite of passage for athletes around the world. With the cool summer temperatures and fresh mountain air, Leadville has also become known as the ideal spot for high-altitude endurance training. Events such as the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike and foot races, the Lap-the-Lake 50 cycling race and the Tri-it-High Triathlon and Duathlon provide athletes with the opportunity to prove their stamina and endurance.

Relaxing off the beaten path — There’s a lot to be said for getting away from it all. Although just a one-tank trip from the Front Range, there’s a relaxed and friendly far-away feeling here that encourages visitors to slow down a bit, take in the views and imagine what it was like to walk these streets back in the days of Doc Holliday and Baby Doe Tabor. There are also many places that are literally off the beaten path to hike, camp, fish and enjoy the more than 35,000 acres within four nationally designated Wilderness Areas.

Experience Colorado history — Not only is Leadville history some of the most interesting in the state, there are countless ways to take it all in: six museums—including the only federally chartered non-profit national mining museum, a walking tour, a driving tour and underground mine tours. Heritage-travel fans can also enjoy both the scenic and historic sites on horseback, on four-wheel drive tours or on board the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad. A new 72-page Heritage Guide is available for $1 at the Leadville Lake County Visitor Center at 809 Harrison Avenue.

Antiquing — For those for whom “antique” has become a verb, the Victorian-style streets of Leadville are the perfect destination. Anchored by the 1881 Western Hardware store which now houses a two-story antique mall and three floors of antique furniture and accessories at the Delaware Mercantile, antiquers also enjoy the Mad Hatter, the gift shop at the Tabor Opera House, and Antique Accents. Bookstores, bike shops, and specialty stores offering Western fashions and accessories, gifts, souvenirs, sporting goods and apparel, accents for the home, and several galleries featuring the works of local and regional artists, provide additional shopping opportunities.

Events and entertainment — Leadville’s summer calendar includes an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration on July 4; the 61st annual Boom Days festival to celebrate the area’s mining heritage Aug. 5-7; musical, magical and comedic performances at the Tabor Opera House; and educational and entertaining events all summer long celebrating the 125th anniversary of The Delaware Hotel. In addition, the Lake County Recreation Department sponsors programs and activities year-round.

Collecting superlatives — There’s a group of people out there who like to be the first, the best, the fastest. For these superlative seekers, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America, and along with that, the home of the highest golf course, the highest bed and breakfast, the highest train, and so on. Within Colorado, Lake County includes the state’s two highest peaks, Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert—both reaching more than 14,400 feet, more museums per capita than any other city, and more lakes than any other county.

Located in the geographic center of Colorado on U.S. Highway 24, Leadville is approximately 103 miles west of Denver and 129 miles northeast of Colorado Springs. Just 15 minutes from Leadville, Twin Lakes is located at the eastern gateway to Independence Pass, just an hour from Aspen during the summer months. 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. At the historic Twin Lakes village, travelers will find B&Bs, lodges, cafés, gift shops and art galleries.

http://vail.whattodo.info

LEADVILLE CELEBRATES WINTER WITH 62nd ANNUAL SKI JORING, AND CRYSTAL CARNIVAL, MAR. 4-6

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Highlights include horse-drawn skiers racing over jumps on snow-packed streets; tethered hot air balloon rides; Nordic, sled dog and mountain bike races; and broomball games

Hoof beats will once again echo through the streets of historic downtown Leadville, Colo., during the 62nd annual ski joring competition. Held in conjunction with the Crystal Carnival Mar. 4-6, Leadville ski joring is where the cowboys come to play in the winter. One part old West, one part extreme sports, this wild and wacky weekend offers the highest incorporated city in North America a chance to really strut its stuff, with horse-drawn skiers racing over jumps on snow-packed streets; Nordic, sled dog and mountain bike races; a paintball biathlon; and broomball games. New this year, tethered hot air balloon rides will be available as well and should provide spectacular photo opportunities.

Leadville has been hosting ski joring competitions since 1949. Ski joring, which entails a horse and rider pulling a skier down a snow-packed road over jumps while spearing rings in a timed competition, draws teams from all over the country. This year’s event will include four classes on Saturday and again on Sunday: the Open Class, for experienced competitive teams; the Sport Class, for beginners; the Legends Class, for experienced teams who are getting a little long in the tooth for the Open Class; and, new this year, the Snowmobile Class. The Open Class will feature a $1,000 added purse each day; the Sport and Legends Classes will each feature a $500 added purse each day. The entry fee is $70 per team in the Open Class, and $60 per team in the Sport and Legends Classes. Skiers must prequalify to compete in the Open Class. On Saturday morning at approximately 10:30*, kids can also try their hand at ski joring behind a snowmobile for just $5 a ride. More details are available at http://www.leadvilleskijoring.us.

The Crystal Carnival, which commemorates the original winter sports festival held in Leadville in 1896, offers winter fun for the entire family. All events are free for spectators; some require fees for participants.

Schedule of Events

Friday, Mar. 4
6:30 p.m.                      Harrison Avenue Knock-Out Nordic Sprints — 400-meter sprints under the lights, with cash prizes (http://www.leadvillenordic.org) $3 entry fee

Saturday, Mar. 5
All Day                        Free sledding on Dutch Henry Sledding Hill — Bring your own sled or rent
a tube for $5 per hour (snow permitting; tube rental available 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
7 – 11 a.m.                   Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Advocates of Lake County (Elks Lodge)
8 – 11 a.m.                   Ski Joring — Registration at the Elks Lodge
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  3rd Annual Mt. Massive Mush — Presented by Mount Massive Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club (http://www.rmsdc.com/new-site/race-info.html)
10 a.m.                         Kids’ Parade — Children (ages 5 – 12) are welcome to join in and will receive a free balloon
10 a.m.                         4th Annual Leadville Biathlon — Kids’ 1K at 10 a.m.; 5K at 11 a.m.; 10K at Noon (Tennessee Pass Nordic Center; http://www.leadvillenordic.org)
10:30 a.m.                    Kids’ Ski Joring — Kids can try ski joring behind a snowmobile for $5 a ride
11 a.m.                         Tethered hot air balloon rides at the bottom of Dutch Henry Hill on Hwy. 24 (weather permitting; $7 per person)
11 a.m.                         Ski Joring Draw, Calcutta and Competition — Teams draw for time slots, followed by Calcutta Sale. The Sport Class, Legends Class and Open Class competitions will follow in the afternoon.*
2 p.m.                          Shelter Dog Shuffle — Ski, snowshoe, run or walk with your dog in this one-mile race at Mount Massive Golf Course to benefit the Leadville/Lake County Animal Shelter and Planned Pethood Assistance
2:30 p.m.                      Tethered hot air balloon rides at the bottom of Dutch Henry Hill on Hwy. 24
3:30 – 9 p.m.                Lake County Ice Skating Rink — Admission $2.25; skate rentals are $1 for kids; $2 for adults
7 p.m.                          Mineral Belt Mayhem — An 11-mile loop on Leadville’s Mineral Belt Trail; registration and check-in at 5 p.m. at Cycles of Life, 309 Harrison Ave.; race starts at 7 p.m.; part of the Winter Mountain Bike Race Series

Sunday, Mar. 6
All Day                        Free sledding on Dutch Henry Sledding Hill —Bring your own sled or rent
a tube for $5 per hour (snow permitting; tube rental available 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
7 – 11 a.m.                   Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Advocates of Lake County (Elks Lodge)
8 – 11 a.m.                   Ski Joring — Registration at the Elks Lodge
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  3rd Annual Mt. Massive Mush — Presented by Mount Massive Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club
10 a.m.                         Broomball Game “The Guns vs. The Hoses” — Policemen vs. the Firemen
11 a.m.                         Ski Joring Draw, Calcutta and Competition — Teams draw for time slots, followed by Calcutta Sale. The Sport Class, Legends Class and Open Class competitions will follow in the afternoon.*
11 a.m.                         Tethered hot air balloon rides at the bottom of Dutch Henry Hill on Hwy. 24
11 a.m.                         Broomball Game — ALCO vs. Safeway
2:30 p.m.                      Tethered hot air balloon rides at the bottom of Dutch Henry Hill on Hwy. 24
3:30 – 9 p.m.                Lake County Ice Skating Rink — Admission $2.25; skate rentals are $1 for kids; $2 for adults

*Exact timing of ski joring events depends on the number of participants. Ski joring competitions usually begin in the early afternoon.

Located in the center of Colorado, 103 miles west of Denver and 129 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, Leadville is known for its rich history, Victorian architecture, friendly small-town atmosphere, and beautiful scenery. The downtown district is lined with specialty shops and antique stores, eateries, museums and inns. Go to http://www.visitleadvillecolorado.com or call 888-532-3845 for more information.

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Note: High-resolution photographs available. Online version: http://pitch.pe/121531

About Leadville and Twin Lakes
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. 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. Visit www.visitleadvillecolorado.com for more information.

About Ski Joring
The sport of ski joring began several hundred years ago in Scandinavian countries as a way to travel during the long winters. Laplanders skied on Nordic skis holding the reins attached to reindeer. Ski joring found its way to North America, where ranchers attached a long rope to the saddle horn of a horse that was ridden at high speeds down a long straight-away. Currently, the sport of equestrian ski joring has become a highly specialized competitive sport, where competitors must navigate a course of jumps, gates and sometime spear rings. Competitive ski joring competitions are currently taking place in more than five states in the USA, and in several countries worldwide. In some parts of the world, skiers are pulled behind dogs, mules and snowmobiles. Whatever the means, the sport of ski joring is growing rapidly, and is just as much fun for spectators as it is for competitors. Courtesy of the North American Ski Joring Association.

About the Crystal Carnival and Ice Palace
During the winter of 1895-1896, local businessmen decided to combat the downturn of the town’s mining economy by building an incredible Ice Palace. Requiring 5,000 tons of ice to be cut from the nearby lakes, the Ice Palace featured life-sized sculptures of prospectors and burros, a skating rink and a “gallery of commerce” with frozen produce, beer and more. A Crystal Carnival, with parade and fireworks, lit up the town and the throngs who came in by train from Denver and around the country. The Ice Palace melted in the spring of 1896.