Trail Overview
This route follows a maintained gravel county road from Leadville into the historic mining district east of town and is part of the larger Route of the Silver Kings. The road surface is generally wide and well graded, consisting of compacted dirt and gravel with some loose rock along the shoulders. As the route climbs into the surrounding hills, dense stands of pine and fir alternate with more open areas heavily altered by historic mining. Large tailings piles, excavated slopes, old mine workings, wooden structures, and other remnants of the district’s mining past can be seen along the way. Mountain and forest views open up between the mining sites. Much of the land bordering both sides of the road is privately owned by the City of Leadville or mining companies, so remain on the designated route and do not enter, disturb, or remove anything from the surrounding properties.
Difficulty
This is a maintained, wide gravel road with a mostly smooth and well-graded surface. Drivers may encounter small loose rocks, minor washboarding, and occasional shallow ruts, but there are no major obstacles or technical sections along the route.
History
Leadville's surrounding mountains are heavily connected to Colorado's mining history. Mining booms beginning in the 1860s transformed the area, with gold, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and other minerals driving development over different periods. Many roads and routes throughout the mountains originated as access to mines, claims, settlements, and other industrial sites. Remnants of this history can still be found throughout the area, including mine workings, foundations, structures, and old transportation corridors. Leadville was also once home to the Unsinkable Molly Brown, who lived in the city during its mining boom and met and married J.J. Brown there. Doc Holliday also called Leadville home during the 1880s, spending time in the city's saloons and gambling halls during one of its most colorful periods. Leadville itself is recognized as a National Historic Landmark District.
