Leadville, early September?
 

We like the pictures we've seen of the mountains surrounding Leadville. DH and I, in our 60s, are looking for some easy walks with beautiful mountain views. We'd like to stay put for three or four days and just enjoy the scenery and the mountain air. When in Ouray, we had enjoyed the Switzerland of America jeep tour. Is there anything like that available in or near Leadville? For mountain views, pleasant walks and peace and quiet, would there be another town near Leadville where we'd be better advised to stay for that many days?

Although I know others disagree, I am not a fan of the town of Leadville. It has a long legacy of mining and hard times, which has left the town in a less than pristine condition, with junkyards and rundown properties in the foreground, spoiling the views. The views surrounding the city are wonderful, but I feel there are much more attractive destinations that you could explore and find the things you're looking for. You might drive through and have lunch there en route somewhere else. I've stayed in Leadville and wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

Aspen is wonderful, surrounded by incredible views with easily accessible hiking and activities, as well as excellent lodging and dining. Also consider Rocky Mountain National Park (either Estes Park or Grand Lake) for a huge variety of sights and trails. I believe you could find jeep tours in both locations. They, as well as many other towns, are much nicer than Leadville!

Hi Meggies,

I agree with Tekwriter. I like Leadville fine, and it's a good place to see interesting mining history, but it isn't a place I recommend to people who want to spend several days.

Aspen is a great idea. Steamboat Springs is great, too. Both have a wide range of lodging choices and restaurants. Scenery is grand in both. Vail and Beaver Creek are two other places I like to visit. Estes Park isn't one of my favorites, but I know many people love that area.

Lots of choices here.

Leadville is a little small for three or four days but two half days with an overnight would be about right. Leadville has a colorful history and it is still a little rough on the edges. If you like some walking, Leadville does have a jewel in the Mineral Belt Loop. It is a twelve mile paved loop that goes deep into the old mining area. Kind of like a outdoor museum with a plaque every hundred feet or so. It is very well done. It is relatively flat but it is six miles gradually uphill and six miles downhill. Easy to do on a bike, but a lot of people walk. When done, you will have a different understand of the people who lived and worked the mines a hundred years ago or so.

The old Delaware hotel in Leadville is nice place to stay. It's filled with antiques and can't be much different from the days when Doc Holiday used to stay in town.

The Mineral Belt Loop mentioned above is great for snowshoeing and cross country skiing during the winter.

3-4 days might be a bit long, but Leadville is worth a look. It is a real town, inhabited by real people. It's not glitzy by any stretch, so if that is what you are looking for consider Aspen or Vail.

Dissenting voice here - I love Leadville any time of year. There are jeep trails in the area, cool cemetaries, and you can easily head down towards Buena Vista which has hiking trails and hot springs. I find Aspen and Vail both way overdeveloped and commercialized and would rather spend 3 or 4 days in a place that captures the true nature of a mountain town, rusty junkpiles and all. Leadville does that for me.

i lived in leadville for 25 years and loved every day of it. have been gone for 10 and still miss it and the stunning views every day. the town sits at 10,000' and is surrounded by mtns that are 13-14,000'.
the delaware would be optimal to stay or you might consider renting a house. contact the real estate companies or look at vrbo. i went back a few years ago and rented one (maybe 402east 7th)
- ok drove me nuts - i checked its 401 e 7th: http://www.mountainhideaway.com/vacation/1806.htm
this site has lists of houses and real estate offices: http://www.leadville.com/
eat at the grill. best mexican food in the state. all is homemade - they are not quick.
go to paul's sports on the sw corner of harrison ave (the main street) and w 4th for hiking suggestions. if either of you play golf, the highest course in US is there. if you don't play go walk the course anyway. the views are eye-popping.
drive out to the fish hatchery. walk up to evergreen lakes behind. there are hikes of varying difficulty that start from tourquoise lake.
on harrison ave across from the courthouse is the dee hive gift shop - as i recall they can arrange a jeep tour for you. looking at leadville.com i see there is also alpine ski and sport doing jeep tours. http://www.alpineskiandsport.com/jee...er-tours.shtml
there are lots of cool abandoned mining towns and headframes in the hills to see.
i think you could easily fill 3-4 days, especially if you went down to buena vista one afternoon to the hot springs.