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Leadville Ranger District
The Leadville Ranger District is home to the Sawatch Range, the highest mountain range in Colorado. These rugged, glaciated mountains form the crest of the Continental Divide. Mount Elbert, at 14,443 feet, is Colorado's highest peak and one of ten "fourteeners" located on the district.
Leadville was once a booming mining town during the Colorado gold rush and competed with Denver to be the capitol city of Colorado. At 10,152 feet, it is the highest incorporated city in the United States. Leadville is a rustic mountain town rich in mining history and unsurpassed natural beauty.
Large, developed campgrounds and picnic areas at Turquoise Lake Recreation Area and Twin Lakes Reservoir provide abundant recreation opportunities. Fishing, boating, and hiking are popular summertime activities. Because of the district's high altitude, late spring snows occasionally delay the opening of some facilities.
At 12,095 feet, Independence Pass is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the United States. It is here the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide offering motorists breathtaking views of the Rockies and a close look at its rugged alpine tundra habitat. It is also here the Arkansas River begins its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico. There are many opportunities to drive on four-wheel drive roads on the Leadville Ranger District, but OHVs must be registered. See OHV registration Information for the Leadville Ranger District to see how you can register your OHV.
At a Glance
| Operational Hours: | Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays. |
|---|---|
| Reservations: | Visit recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 for campground reservations. Campground reservations cannot be made from this office. |
| Permit Info: | Special use permits are required for groups of 75 or more persons and all commercial activities including outfitting and guiding. |
| Usage: | Medium-Heavy |
| Busiest Season: | June-September |
| Closest Towns: | Leadville, CO |
| Water: | Water fountain in the lobby of district office. |
| Restroom: | Accessible restrooms available at district office. |
| Passes: | America the Beautiful Federal Recreational Lands Passes |
| Operated By: | U. S. Forest Service |
| Information Center: | 810 Front Street Leadville, CO - 80461 Phone: 719-486-0749 |
Activities
Mountain Biking
Areas for Mountain Biking at Leadville Ranger District
Campground Camping
Areas for Campground Camping at Leadville Ranger District
- Halfmoon Recreation Area
- Elbert Creek Campground
- Halfmoon East Campground
- Halfmoon West Campground
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Baby Doe Campground
- Belle of Colorado Campground
- Father Dyer Campground
- Matchless Campground
- May Queen Campground
- Molly Brown Campground
- Printer Boy Group Campground
- Silver Dollar Campground
- Tabor Campground
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Dexter Campground
- Lakeview Campground
- Parry Peak Campground
- Twin Peaks Campground
- Whitestar Campground
RV Camping
Areas for RV Camping at Leadville Ranger District
- Halfmoon Recreation Area
- Elbert Creek Campground
- Halfmoon East Campground
- Halfmoon West Campground
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Baby Doe Campground
- Father Dyer Campground
- Matchless Campground
- May Queen Campground
- Molly Brown Campground
- Silver Dollar Campground
- Tabor Campground
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Dexter Campground
- Lakeview Campground
- Parry Peak Campground
- Twin Peaks Campground
- Whitestar Campground
Group Camping
Areas for Group Camping at Leadville Ranger District
Cabin Rentals
Areas for Cabin Rentals at Leadville Ranger District
Rock Climbing
Areas for Rock Climbing at Leadville Ranger District
Mountain Climbing
Areas for Mountain Climbing at Leadville Ranger District
- Clear Creek Canyon
- Missouri Gulch Trail #1469
- South Fork Clear Creek Trailhead
- Frenchman Creek trails
- 3 Elk Creek Trail #1455
- Frenchmen's Creek Trail #1457
- Halfmoon Recreation Area
- Leadville Ranger District Colorado Trail Segments
- Leadville Ranger District Fourteeners
- Huron Peak (Fourteener)
- La Plata Peak (Fourteener)
- Missouri Mountain (Fourteener)
- Mount Belford (Fourteener)
- Mount Columbia (Fourteener)
- Mount Elbert (Fourteener)
- North Mount Elbert Trail #1484
- South Mount Elbert Trail #1481
- Mount Harvard (Fourteener)
- Mount Massive (Fourteener)
- Mount Massive Trail #1487
- North Halfmoon Creek Trail #1485 (Mount Massive)
- Mount Oxford (Fourteener)
- Mount Sherman (Fourteener)
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Bear Lake Trailhead
- Native Lake / Highline Trail
- Timberline Lake Trail #1495
- Windsor Lake Trail
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Black Cloud Trail #1480
- Echo Canyon Trail
- Willis Gulch Trail #1473
Lake and Pond Fishing
Areas for Lake and Pond Fishing at Leadville Ranger District
- Crystal Lake
- Crystal Lake Fishing Site
- Halfmoon Recreation Area
- Emerald Lake Picnic Area
- Slide Lake Trailhead
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Abe Lee Fishing Site
- Baby Doe Campground
- Belle of Colorado Campground
- Butcher Boy Picnic Area
- Lady of the Lake Picnic Area
- Maid of Erin Picnic Area
- Matchless Boating Site
- May Queen Campground
- Molly Brown Campground
- Sugar Loaf Dam
- Tabor Campground
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Big Mac Fishing Site
- Deception Point Fishing Site
- Dexter Campground
- Dexter Point Boating Site
- Moache Fishing Site
- Mountain View Fishing Site
- Red Rooster Boating Site
- Sunnyside Fishing Site
- Whistler Point
River and Stream Fishing
Areas for River and Stream Fishing at Leadville Ranger District
- Clear Creek Canyon
- South Fork Clear Creek Trailhead
- Crystal Lake
- Crystal Lake Fishing Site
- Halfmoon Recreation Area
- Elbert Creek Campground
- Halfmoon East Campground
- Halfmoon West Campground
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Parry Peak Campground
- Twin Peaks Campground
Ice Fishing
Areas for Ice Fishing at Leadville Ranger District
Day Hiking
Areas for Day Hiking at Leadville Ranger District
- Buckeye Gulch
- Clear Creek Canyon
- Clohesy Lake/Pear Lake Trailhead
- Lake Ann Trail #1462
- Missouri Gulch Trail #1469
- North Fork Clear Creek Trailhead
- Winfield Dispersed Camping Area
- Frenchman Creek trails
- 3 Elk Creek Trail #1455
- Frenchmen's Creek Trail #1457
- Pine Creek Trail #1467
- Halfmoon Recreation Area
- Willow Creek Trailhead
- Hayden Gulch Trail #1470
- Leadville Ranger District Colorado Trail Segments
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 09 Tennessee Pass
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 10 Timberline Lake
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 11 Mount Massive
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 12 Clear Creek
- Leadville Ranger District Fourteeners
- Huron Peak (Fourteener)
- La Plata Peak (Fourteener)
- Missouri Mountain (Fourteener)
- Mount Belford (Fourteener)
- Mount Columbia (Fourteener)
- Mount Elbert (Fourteener)
- North Mount Elbert Trail #1484
- South Mount Elbert Trail #1481
- Mount Harvard (Fourteener)
- Mount Massive (Fourteener)
- Mount Massive Trail #1487
- North Halfmoon Creek Trail #1485 (Mount Massive)
- Mount Oxford (Fourteener)
- Mount Sherman (Fourteener)
- Low Pass Trail #1518
- Slide Lake Trailhead
- Tennessee Pass Trailhead
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Bear Lake Trailhead
- Colorado Midland Centennial Trail #1491
- Native Lake / Highline Trail
- Timberline Lake Trail #1495
- Turquoise Lake Nature Trail
- Windsor Lake Trail
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Black Cloud Trail #1480
- Echo Canyon Trail
- Graham Gulch
- Independence Pass Trail
- Interlaken Historic Resort
- Interlaken Trail
- North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead
- Sayers Gulch Trailhead
- Twin Lakes Historic District
- Willis Gulch Trail #1473
- West Tennessee Trailhead
Backpacking
Areas for Backpacking at Leadville Ranger District
- Clear Creek Canyon
- Clohesy Lake/Pear Lake Trailhead
- Missouri Gulch Trail #1469
- North Fork Clear Creek Trailhead
- Winfield Dispersed Camping Area
- Frenchman Creek trails
- Frenchmen's Creek Trail #1457
- Pine Creek Trail #1467
- Halfmoon Recreation Area
- Willow Creek Trailhead
- Hayden Gulch Trail #1470
- Leadville Ranger District Colorado Trail Segments
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 09 Tennessee Pass
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 10 Timberline Lake
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 11 Mount Massive
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 12 Clear Creek
- Leadville Ranger District Fourteeners
- Huron Peak (Fourteener)
- La Plata Peak (Fourteener)
- Missouri Mountain (Fourteener)
- Mount Belford (Fourteener)
- Mount Columbia (Fourteener)
- Mount Elbert (Fourteener)
- North Mount Elbert Trail #1484
- South Mount Elbert Trail #1481
- Mount Harvard (Fourteener)
- Mount Massive (Fourteener)
- Mount Massive Trail #1487
- North Halfmoon Creek Trail #1485 (Mount Massive)
- Mount Oxford (Fourteener)
- Low Pass Trail #1518
- Tennessee Pass Trailhead
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Colorado Midland Centennial Trail #1491
- Timberline Lake Trail #1495
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead
- Sayers Gulch Trailhead
- West Tennessee Trailhead
Horse Riding
Areas for Horse Riding at Leadville Ranger District
Viewing Wildlife
Areas for Viewing Wildlife at Leadville Ranger District
- Crystal Lake
- Crystal Lake Overlook
- Frenchman Creek trails
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Bear Lake Trailhead
- Turquoise Lake Nature Trail
- Windsor Lake Trail
- Echo Canyon Trail
Viewing Plants
Areas for Viewing Plants at Leadville Ranger District
Viewing Scenery
Areas for Viewing Scenery at Leadville Ranger District
- Lake Ann Trail #1462
- Crystal Lake
- Crystal Lake Overlook
- Frenchman Creek trails
- Frenchmen's Creek Trail #1457
- Hagerman Pass
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 11 Mount Massive
- Colorado Trail #1776-Segment 12 Clear Creek
- Leadville Ranger District Fourteeners
- Mount Massive (Fourteener)
- Mount Massive Trail #1487
- Turquoise Lake Recreation Area
- Bear Lake Trailhead
- Boustead Tunnel Observation Site
- Maid of Erin Picnic Area
- Mosquito View Observation Site
- Shimmering Point Observation Site
- Tabor Campground
- Turquoise Lake Nature Trail
- Valley View Observation Site
- Windsor Lake Trail
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Black Cloud Trail #1480
- Echo Canyon Trail
- Independence Pass
- Independence Pass Trail
- Moache Fishing Site
- North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead
- Weston Pass
Interpretive Areas
Areas for Interpretive Areas at Leadville Ranger District
Picnicking
Areas for Picnicking at Leadville Ranger District
Scenic Driving
Areas for Scenic Driving at Leadville Ranger District
Boating - Motorized
Areas for Boating - Motorized at Leadville Ranger District
Boating - Non-Motorized
Areas for Boating - Non-Motorized at Leadville Ranger District
Skiing/Snowboarding
Areas for Skiing/Snowboarding at Leadville Ranger District
Mushing/Skijoring
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
Areas for XC Skiing/Snowshoeing at Leadville Ranger District