Looking for something fun to do this weekend? How about a trip up to Leadville!
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At over 10,000 feet, Leadville is the highest incorporated town in America. It’s a super cool mountain town filled with great shops, restaurants, old saloons–and it just has a great vibe.There are many great reasons to get up to Leadville this particular weekend. For one, it’s going to be super hot in Denver and Leadville’s at least 20 degrees cooler! Columbines are in full bloom right now. Oh, and the Horseshoe Market will be happening outside of the History Colorado’s Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin! We’ll have over 25 artists, crafters and antique collectors setting up shop, selling their amazing wares on Saturday, June 23rd from 10 am-5 pm!
Want a little guidance on getting up there–what to see on the way or while you’re there? We’re thrilled to have partnered with Colorado Culture–a website dedicated to all the weird, wacky & wonderful things that make Colorado unique –roadside attractions, quirky events, ghost towns & deals. They have created a really great road trip guide to Leadville! Check it out below. See you Saturday!
Day Trip to the Horseshoe: Leadville
Sometimes in Colorado it’s easy to get stuck in a travel rut. You motor so often along I25 or I70, people tend to forget all the hidden gems housed not far off the beaten path. Leadville, Colorado is one such place. The highest incorporated town in the U.S., Leadville is packed full of Colorado history and fascinating day trip adventures. It’s the perfect location to draw you from the comfort of the Front Range to the first Horseshoe Market location when Horseshoe Hits the Road.
Located a mere two hours from Denver, Leadville is a history buffs dream. Just ask History Colorado; they had the idea of making history by asking the Horseshoe Market to host an event on the grounds of the Healy House and Dexter Cabin. Not only will the market be packed full of goodies you can dig through – it is in a mining town after all – there are lots of great things to make this a perfect Day Trip to the Horseshoe: Leadville.
Unfamiliar with what a day trip to Leadville may entail? Let us entice your imagination with tips on how to maximize your trip and a sample itinerary. Fair warning: you may be tempted to turn this particular day outing into a memorable overnight event.
View of the mountains from the grounds of the Healy House. Photo courtesy of History Colorado.
How to Plan a Day Trip to the Horseshoe: Leadville
Step One: Determine how much time you have. Do you have a few hours, a whole day or an entire weekend to explore? Make sure to plan a minimum of 6 hours to explore the bounty of the Horseshoe Market and some of the historical gems in the Leadville area. Personally, we think you’ll need more, but that’s up to you!
Step Two: Have a general idea of where you are going and what you want to do. The “what you want to do” part is probably the most important – there are so many options in that area! You may want to pack an overnight bag in case you decide to spend the night.
Step Three: Go off with a sense of adventure, a willingness to explore and a desire to experience all Leadville and the Horseshoe have to offer! Be prepared that a single day trip may not be enough – Leadville may be somewhere you decide to visit again and again.
The ideal itinerary for a Day Trip to the Horseshoe: Leadville looks something like this…
6:00am: Roll out of bed as your alarm goes off, excited about your outing. After a quick shower and some coffee to shake you awake, pack a bag complete with a sweatshirt, camera, sunscreen, water bottle and any other goodies you may need to make your outing comfortable and complete. Consider an overnight bag… just in case.
Tip: Bring some extra cash for all the special purchases you decide to make while at the Market – we guarantee there will be something you can’t live without!
7:00am: Head for the hills! Or at least I70… Decide you need breakfast to hold you over and shoot for the other side of the tunnel. Grab a bit to eat in Frisco at Butterhorn Bakery & Café. Savor some goodies from the griddle, take some pictures of the cool old buildings in the nearby Frisco Historic Park & Museum, and then head back out to I70 to continue your trek.
10:15am: Pull into the distinctive mining town of Leadville. Locate a parking spot near the Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin. Decide to wander through the lovely vendor tents of the Horseshoe Market. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the prefect treasure would you?
11:15am: Stash your treasures in your car, and pop into the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. The National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum states they are “a monument to the memory of the men and women who pioneered the discovery, development and processing of our nation’s natural resources.” View dioramas, learn about mines and mining events, and make sure to stop by the Gift Shop and Mother Lode Art Gallery before heading back out. This won’t be your average museum experience!
Tip: Entrance fees are only $7 for adults – and you can buy your tickets online!
12:45pm: Decide you will forego lunch for the moment and squeeze in a tour of the Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin. See how early millionaires of Leadville lived, stroll through the gardens and check out the Victorian décor as you explore this historic destination. Take your time– this is a great time to relax and enjoy some Colorado history!
Tip: Members get in free. Adult entrance fees will be discounted $5 day of the Horseshoe Market–a deal in our book! All entrance fees with be $1 off!
2:00pm: Time to take a break and get off your feet. Climb aboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad and for two and a half hours; immerse yourself in the wonder of the Rocky Mountains as you travel above the waters of the Arkansas River Valley. Listen to the conductor, your tour-guide-by-default, as they talk about the history of Leadville and surrounding areas while you enjoy the views of Freemont Pass, Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert. Have Fido with you? Guess what – he’s welcome to ride along too! We recommend you book your trip online if you think you may want to partake in this bit of Colorado culture.
Tip: Bring a picnic lunch with you onto the train or tote something in from a Horseshoe Market food vendor!
4:30pm: If you are rested and ready for more, we recommend you finish exploring Leadville on foot. Pull out your downloaded copy of the Historic Walking Tour of Leadville and set off to learn more about this two-mile high town. You’ve seen some of these buildings during your earlier activities, but now is the time to view where Doc Holliday shot his last man, learn more about the famous Tabor family and take plenty of pictures to document your trip!
5:30pm: If you decide you need a little something to hold you over before you head back down to lower elevation, grab some homemade soup or whatever fits your fancy at Callaway’s at the Delaware Hotel. Make sure to check out some of the hotel museum-like displays before you head out for home, satisfied you’ve had a great Day Trip to the Horseshoe: Leadville.
If you decide you want to morph your day trip into a weekend getaway, consider staying at the Delaware Hotel. Self-described as a “Western-Victorian adventure,” the hotel gives you the feeling of sleeping in a museum, complete with antiques and Victorian styling.
After a good night’s sleep, get up Sunday, eat a leisurely breakfast, load up the car and plan to get in some exercise. Run, walk or “ride” the Mineral Belt Trail. It’s a great time to learn more about the historic figures of Leadville while getting your heart pumping between the exercise and the scenery. Then head back to the car and start off for home, but not without a detour to experience the Route of the Silver Kings. This driving tour covers the historic mining district around Leadville and includes multiple stops near mines, ghost towns and mining camps!
Whether you spend one day or two exploring the Leadville area, you can be assured you will go home knowing you had a memorable road trip packed full of Colorado Culture, lucky finds and adventure! We invite you to share your photos from your trip with History Colorado, the Horseshoe Hits the Road and Colorado Culture.
Cassie Bair is the founder of Colorado Culture. A Colorado enthusiast and appreciator of the culturally unusual, Cassie enjoys sharing her favorite Colorado finds with anyone who wants to learn more about this fabulous state. Colorado Culture is a celebration of what makes Colorado unique – the weird, the wacky and the wonderful!
Follow along on her adventures at:
www.facebook.com/coloradoculture
