Trail Overview
This route continues from Lake County Road 1 and travels farther into Leadville’s historic mining district. The surface becomes noticeably rougher than the maintained county road, transitioning to a mix of packed dirt, gravel, and scattered loose and embedded rock. Whoops, shallow dips, ruts, and areas of water erosion appear along portions of the route. The surroundings alternate between open terrain covered in grasses and low vegetation and sections enclosed by dense pine and fir forest. Throughout the route, large mine tailings and waste-rock piles rise above the surrounding terrain, while collapsed wooden structures and other mining relics remain scattered throughout the district. Open sections also provide expansive views across the surrounding mountains and forested valleys.
Difficulty
This route has a mostly packed dirt and gravel surface with scattered loose and embedded rocks. Expect occasional whoops, shallow dips, minor ruts, and areas of water erosion that create a rougher ride, but there are no major obstacles or technical sections.
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.
