Summer of 2020 in Leadville and Twin Lakes
May 15, 2020[Updated June 2, 2020]
This summer, things will look a little different in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado. We’d like to tell you what to expect—and how you can enjoy Leadville, Twin Lakes, and our miles of forests, mountains, and sparkling waters.
Plan to Come See Us, Safely
We continue to reopen slowly, within safety guidelines, and are excited to continue our tourism-based economy this summer. Please come see us when the time is right!
We are following State of Colorado travel guidance, as we continue on our steady, thoughtful path to reopening our tourism economy. Some of our businesses are beginning to reopen in a phased approach, using social distancing and safety guidelines from the Lake County health department.
- Lodging – Lodging reopened on June 1st. Please check directly with lodging to make a reservation.
- Restaurants – Restaurants are open for takeout and delivery and dine-in. Please check with the restaurant directly to learn of its current service.
- Shops – Some retail shops have reopened.
- Colorado Fly Fishing Guides – Open for guided trips, with social distancing measures in place.
- Elk Mountain Adventures – Open for ATV rentals; please fill out waivers and pay online.
- Leadville Train – Opens for the season, with open-air cars, limited passenger numbers, and extra capacity.
- Matchless Mine – Open for surface tours of the legendary mine Tuesday-Saturday until the fall. Everyone is asked to maintain social distancing and wear a face covering, for everyone’s safety.
- Mt. Massive Golf Course – Advance tee times are required, walk ups are not allowed at this time. Everyone is asked to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing.
- Twin Lakes – While Independence Pass will open June 1st, the Twin Lakes Inn & Saloon (takeout meals) and the Twin Lakes General Store are open.
- Leadville Visitor Center – In June, it will be open Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Lake County is asking everyone to please wear a face covering when in a local business. All businesses, attractions, and lodging properties must receive approval from Lake County Public Health Agency before reopening. Please contact local businesses directly to check their status.
Fire Restrictions
Campers, here are the current fire restrictions, updated June 1, 2020:
- Lake County properties have no fire restrictions currently.
- National Forest land under Stage 1 fire restrictions.
- Bureau of Land Management land remains in Stage 2 fire restrictions.
Start Planning Summer and Fall Visits
Get ready now to explore all the fun things to do in the area, as soon as it is safe to do so. Here are just a few ideas!
- Bike, hike, and run on our trails.
- Fly fish on the Arkansas River.
- Boat or paddle on Turquoise and Twin Lakes.
- Ride the Leadville train and take history tours.
- Visit the museums.
- Take the kids and a picnic to the National Fish Hatchery.
- Go camping, and stay up late stargazing at our dark, clear skies.
- Check out North America’s highest golf course, because your ball flies farther at altitude.
- Take a horseback ride or fishing and pack trip high into the wilderness.
- Plan to fly on a high zipline.
- Shop for local art, antiques, and more in downtown Leadville.
- Discover the quiet, scenic, and super-friendly village of Twin Lakes.
- Hang out and watch the sun set behind Colorado’s two highest peaks. Get up early for a mountain sunrise in the crisp morning air.
For more ideas, check out our online Visitor Guide.
All attractions and businesses will be following social distancing and safety guidelines, so the setup may look different than before.
Summer Events
Lake County agencies have made the difficult decision to cancel all large events through September 2020. This includes our mining heritage festival Leadville Boom Days and the iconic Leadville Race Series, including its world-famous 100-mile run and 100-mile mountain bike races.
The decision respects Leadville’s limited hospital and medical resources, which cannot assume the risk of widespread outbreak of COVID-19. It follows State of Colorado event requirements, which are expected to strictly limit participant numbers through the end of the summer. And it considers the limited capacity of community resources needed to support large events.
While we sincerely wish we could welcome you to events this summer, everyone’s safety is our top priority.
Welcoming Community and Breathtaking Lands
The good news is the warm community that supports our events, and the land on which those events are held, are part of what makes them so special. And our welcoming locals, sparkling lakes, and hushed forests (perfect for social distancing) are here to stay!
We hope to see you here this summer and fall!
When you see us again, we’ll greet you with huge smiles and a warm Leadville and Twin Lakes welcome. We hope you’ll join us in sharing our community spirit and strength, made all the stronger by the challenges of the past two months. And we hope you’ll find solace here, among the towering mountains and clear waters.
Be safe, be well, and we hope we can see you soon.
