Map of the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville, Colorado
Mineral Belt Trail
Mineral Belt Trail
LENGTH:
11.7 miles
SURFACE:
paved
COMMUNITIES:
Leadville
HIGHLIGHTS:
historic mining district, mine shafts & buildings, views of Colorado's highest peaks, aspen groves, Historic Downtown Leadville
RELATED LINKS:
The Mineral Belt Trail is an 11.7-mile long paved pathway that loops around the historic mining district of Leadville, Colorado. The trail starts in Historic Downtown Leadville then heads uphill to wind through the historic mining district to the east of town. The route includes mining equipment, old rustic mining buildings and the remnants of the mine tailings that were brought to the surface in the mining process.
In addition to the historical artifacts, the route of the trail goes through thick evergreen forests and aspen groves. Trail users can look across the valley to see the highest peaks in Colorado, Mount Elbert at 14,439 feet and Mount Massive at 14,429.
Leadville itself offers a trip into the Old West with its historic buildings lining Harrison Avenue and the many homes that date back to the late 1800s. Leadville was once one of the largest cities in Colorado and was bustling with miners and shop keepers during its hey day. The area had gold and silver mines. More recently, molybdenum was mined in this area for use in the steel industry.
Conditions
The Mineral Belt Trail is paved for the entire route. The trail is open for bike riding and hiking in the summer. In winter, the trail is groomed for cross country skiing. The trail has some steeper grades and starts at an elevation of 10,192 and reaches an elevation of 10,611. Out of town visitors should pace themselves and watch for signs of high altitude sickness.
Communities
The Mineral Belt Trail goes past the following communities: Leadville.
Points of Interest
The Mineral Belt Trail goes past the following points of interest:
| Historic Downtown Leadville |
| Baby Doe Tabor's Matchless Mine |
| Colorado Mountain College |
| Lake County High School |
| Lake County Aquatic Center |
| Lake County Public Library |
| Westpark Elementary School |
End Points
The Mineral Belt Trail makes a loop, so there is no real end point. There are a couple of locations to hook up with the trail within Leadville. Parking is available along Highway 24 to the west of College Road on the south side of Leadville. You can also park in Leadville and catch the trail at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and E. 12th Street.
If you want to drive up to the higher parts of the trail to walk past the historic mining areas, you can drive up E. 7th Street to Road 3 or up E. 5th Street to County Road 1.
Resources
Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville, Colorado.
Tweet