Leadville is situated in a high mountain valley near the junction of  U.S. Hwy 24 & State Hwy 91. At an elevation of 10,152 feet, it is said to be the highest incorporated city in the country. Nearest commercial airports are Aspen, Denver International, and Colorado Springs.

The town began as a silver, gold, and lead mining community and was incorporated in 1878. Most of the buildings in the 70-square block Leadville National Historic Landmark District were built between 1880 and 1905. The Leadville area boasts exceptional scenery, crisp mountain air, and pleasant summer temperatures.

Leadville is one of the main gateways to recreation in the 1,109,782 acre San Isabel National Forest and is the northern gateway to the 148-mile long Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. Colorado's highest peak, 14,433 foot Mount Elbert, is 9 miles south via U.S. Hwy 24. The town is an excellent base of operations for exploring the northern sections of the forest and nearby Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake recreation areas.

Historic District
Leadville is one of Colorado’s largest historic districts. It is a National Historic Landmark District consisting of over 70 square blocks and was designated by Congress in 1966. It’s a beautiful and interesting area for a short walk anytime of year.

The Earth Runs Silver: Early Leadville
This is a 30-minute multimedia presentation that traces Leadville's history from the gold rush era to the present.
Fox Theater; 115 West 6th. Street / (719) 486-3900

Healy House & Dexter Cabin Museum
The Healy House, built in 1878 serves as a museum of furniture, clothing, pictures and maps of the late 1800s bonanza mining period. The Dexter Cabin, built by James V. Dexter, one of the state's early millionaires, looks like a log cabin from the outside but is finished inside with fine woodwork and hardwood floors. This museum is part of the Leadville Historic Walking Tour.
912 Harrison / (719) 486-0487

The Matchless Mine Cabin
Visit the Baby Doe Tabor Museum/Cabin and Hoist House. Tabor gained a fortune from the Matchless Mine in 1878 but lost it in the panic of 1893. On his deathbed in 1899, he instructed his second wife, Baby Doe to "hang onto the Matchless." She did, living in poverty until her death in 1935.The museum has exhibits of Baby Doe memorabilia. East 7th Street, 1 1/4 mile east of Harrison. (719) 486-4918

San Isabel National Forests
Leadville is minutes from the San Isabel National Forest. The forest includes scenic and recreational features within its 1,109,782 acres. Nearby Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake recreation areas offer opportunities for camping, fishing, and boating. The recreation opportunities in the forest are countless. Visitors can visit ghost towns or backpack on more than 700 miles of trails. Camping, Fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and snowshoeing are only a few of the activities available. Horseback, snowmobile, mountain biking, jeep, and other tours are available from local vendors and outfitters.

Arkansas Headwaters State Recreation Area
The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Areas is one of the nation's most unusual recreation areas, stretching for 148 miles along one of the West's premier recreation rivers, the Arkansas. From its northern boundary below the fabled mining town of Leadville to the Pueblo Reservoir, the area is a recreation paradise. Opportunities abound for fishing, rafting, kayaking, picnicking, wildlife watching, hiking, camping, mountain climbing and sightseeing among deep canyons, broad valleys, and towering mountains. Buena Vista is home base for many river rafting outfitters operating in the recreation area. They offer a wide variety of rafting, kayaking, and float fishing trips on the Arkansas River