Top 3 summer hikes in Leadville, Colorado

1- Hagerman Tunnel Trail

This is my personal favorite trail around town. Believe it or not I have actually captured a ghost on camera along this trail back in 2019 while hiking solo with my dog Bay. This trail is full of rich wild west history. The Hagerman Tunnel and the train tracks were built by Italian immigrants back in the 1800’s. They had a big camp built up there called Douglas City. Equipped with a bar, dance hall, brothel, hotel, and more! Up here was the epitome of the rugged wild wild west, where if you had a problem you could fight to the death with no law to step in and break it up. This hike is about 6 miles round trip with around 650 feet of elevation gain. Here is the link to the Alltrails map for more info. This is a hike that rarely has steep incline but an excellent workout nonetheless. This trail features 2 gorgeous alpine lakes, one of which does have some fish. Asside from the lakes, the main attraction is the tunnel itself. It is huge and has a frozen floor year round. It is similar to a gigantic refrigerator. Be sure to take the time to stop and read the very informative signs along the trail for some in depth historic lessons. You will need a high clearance vehicle to make it to the upper trailhead but most cars can make it to the lower trailhead located at the Windsor Lake trailhead.

2- Mt. Elbert

The tallest mountain in Colorado at 14,440 feet! The standard route to this summit is up the north ridge. 10 miles round trip and around 4500 feet of elevation gain. You can expect this hike to take between 4-10 hours depending on your physical condition. I recommend being acclimated for a couple days before attempting this to minimize altitude sickness. Here is the Alltrails link for more info. This climb features pretty spectacular 360 degree views at the summit. Trust me, it is well worth the effort. Some things that will help with your adventure: 1- Drink plenty of water with electrolyte tablets infused ideally (3 liters minimum) 2- Bring hiking poles! They reduce 20% of the weight that goes onto your knees if used properly. I use the Trailbuddy poles, affordable yet sturdy. 3- Bring a protein packed lunch and be sure to eat/hydrate beforehand. Preferably 1 hour before starting the hike. 4- Have the route gps downloaded via Alltrails or Gaia. If using Alltrails i recommend using the Pro version so that you have access to offline maps. 5- START EARLY! In the summer months you should always anticipate lightning storms after noon. My general rule of thumb is to get my booty off the mountain by noon, or at minimum back below treeline by noon. People have died getting struck by lightning above the treeline, so it isn’t something to take lightly.

3- Turquoise Lake

This is the most chill hike in town, with easy access and beautiful views. Miles of pristine beaches line the lake. You have the option to walk the beach or there is a trail that goes for miles through the woods with the lake still visible. Round trip this hike is about 12 miles with only about 450 feet of elevation gain. Usually anytime I go further than 2 miles in, I rarely see anyone. Here is the Alltrails link for more info!