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.
General Information
This recreation region is managed by the Leadville Ranger District.
Passes & Permits
Visit recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 for campground reservations. Campground reservations cannot be made ranger district offices.
Special use permits are required for groups of 75 or more persons and all commercial activities including outfitting and guiding. Visit the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Recreation Special Use Permits page to learn more.
America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes are a suite of annual and lifetime passes that provides U.S. citizens and visitors an affordable and convenient way to access Federal recreational lands. Up to 100% of the Pass program's proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
Complexes
Forest Service Road 390, known as the Clear Creek Road, provides several trailhead accesses into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Please be respectful. Bicycles are not permitted within the Wilderness. Dispersed camping opportunities can be found in the old mining settlement of Winfield, and visitors looking to find a bit of old mining history will find it in Vicksburg.
Trails in the area include:
- Lake Ann Trail #1462
- Missouri Gulch Trail #1469
The Clohesy Lake Cabin was struck by lightning and burned down. It was located near Winfield, Colorado surrounded by the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.
Clohesy Lake/Pear Lake Trailhead accesses Clohesy Lake Trail #1461.A and the Pear Lake Trail#1461.
The cabin will be closed for the 2024 season due to ongoing maintenance issues.
South Fork Clear Creek Trailhead offers access to the Huron Peak as well as the
Vicksburg was founded in 1867 after prospectors from Leadville camping out in the Clear Creek Canyon lost their burros.
The Winfield site has original buildings from the late 1800’s to the 1940’s, the site has interpretive panels and signs. These buildings serve as recreation residence
The Winfield dispersed camping area, just off of FSR 390 with a few flat areas for RVs or tents.
Crystal Lake is a small lake with a fantastic view of the Sawatch Range near Leadville, Colorado. It's location off US Highway 24, makes this an ideal fishing spot for the whole family.
Crystal Lake is a fly/lure lake only. Remember to check fishing regulations before fishing at any body of water. For stocking reports and more information on regulations or fishing licenses, check out the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Crystal Lake is a small, standing lake with a fantastic view of the mountains rising up in any direction. Crystal Lake is a fly/lure lake only.
The lake stocked by the Leadville National Fish Hatchery with rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and cutthroat. Use only artificial flies and lures.
The Frenchmen Creek Area is located northwest Buena Vista, Colorado. This area offers several trails that access the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.
Collegiate Peaks Wilderness was designated by the United States Congress in 1980, and it now has a total of 167,584 acres. Located in Colorado, this wilderness spans the Gunnison, White River and Pike & San Isabel National Forests and is home to eight "fourteeners" (peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation), including Huron Peak (14,005'), Missouri Mountain (14,067'), Mt. Columbia (14,073'), Mt. Oxford (14,153' ), Mt. Yale (14,196'), Mt. Belford (14,197'), La Plata (14,340 ft., the state's fifth highest point) and Mt. Harvard (14,420', the state's third highest point).
Please help keep wilderness wild by following the wilderness regulations and practice Leave No Trace principles. In particular, please refrain from having campfires above 11,000 feet.
Trails in this area include:
- 3 Elk Creek Trail #1455
- Frenchmen's Creek Trail #1457
- Pine Creek Trail #1467
- Wapaca(South Willow Creek) Trail #1486
The Halfmoon Recreation Area along Forest Service Road 110, follows the southern border of the Mount Massive Wilderness. It provides access to several popular campgrounds, as well as two of the most popular trailheads on the Leadville Ranger District, the Mount Massive trailhead and the North Elbert Trailhead. From the Mount Massive Trailhead, visitors can access the beautiful Mount Massive Wilderness.
The Mount Massive Wilderness was established in 1980 which was established in 1980 to preserve its quality, character, and integrity. This area is intended to be a place where the imprint of humans is substantially unnoticed; where natural processes are the primary influences, and human activity is limited to primitive recreation and minimum tools.
Please follow Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics to ensure that this and future generations experience this special place in its natural state.
Trails in this area include:
- North Mount Elbert Trail #1484
- South Mount Elbert Trail #1481
- Mount Massive Trail #1487
- North Halfmoon Creek Trail #1485
Located off the Halfmoon Road (Forest Service Road 110), Elbert Creek is a first-come, first-served campground with 17 sites, adjacent to the Mount Elbert and Mou
Halfmoon East is a first-come, first-served campground, with five sites located off the Halfmoon Road (Forest Service Road 110) near the Mount Elbert and Mount Ma
Located about six miles down the Halfmoon Road, Emerald Lake is a day use picnic and fishing area in a shady lodgepole pine forest. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout.
Located off the Halfmoon Road (Forest Service Road 110), Halfmoon West is a first-come, first-served campground, with 17 sites, near the Mount Elbert and Mount Massive trai
The Willow Creek Trailhead is located at the end of FSR 110A and provides access to the Mount Massi
Mount Elbert is Colorado's highest peak and the second highest peak in the lower 48 states with an elevation of 14,433 feet.
Mount Massive, at 14,421 feet, it is the second highest peak in Colorado at just 12 feet behind its southern neighbor, Mt. Elbert.
Mount Massive Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1980, and it now has a total of 30,540 acres.
The Hayden Gulch Area is in the eastern part of the Leadville Ranger District near Granite, Colorado. This area offers access to the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness.
Buffalo Peaks Wilderness, encompassing 41,232 acres, was congressionally designated in 1993. It get its name from the 13,000-foot Buffalo Peaks located 15 miles southwest of Fairplay, Colorado. Elevations range from 9,200 to 13,326 feet from sea level. This area differs from other surrounding Wilderness areas by virtue of its high potential for solitude.
Please help keep wilderness wild by following Leave No Trace practices.
Trails in this area include:
- Buffalo Ridge Trail #1470
- Low Pass Trail #1518
Buffalo Peaks Wilderness, encompassing 41,232 acres, was congressionally designated in 1993.
The Leadville Ranger District is home to some of the most beautiful peaks in all of Colorado, including the two highest points, Mt. Elbert (14,433 ft.) and Mt. Massive (14,421 ft.). From well-traveled routes to greatly isolated peaks, these fourteeners tower above the towns of Leadville and Twin Lakes below, where their peaks can be seen shrouded in white at any point in the year.
Fourteeners are well-traveled due to their challenging and rewarding nature and many see heavy use. Fourteeners are not to be taken lightly, and visitors should take the proper precautions when visiting these peaks. Along with high altitude sickness, visitors can experience exhaustion and dehydration. Visitors coming from low altitude areas should take some time to acclimatize themselves before attempting the peaks.
Many Fourteeners are located in Wilderness areas where special regulations apply. Wilderness areas are intended to be a place where the imprint of humans is substantially unnoticed; where natural processes are the primary influences, and human activity is limited to primitive recreation and minimum tools.
Climbing is dangerous, even deadly! There are no shortcuts. Check out Colorado Fourteeners Initiative YouTube Channel to learn more about the risks associated with climbing and how to help protect the rare and fragile alpine tundra ecosystems on these peaks.
Safety and ethics
- Review outdoor recreation safety information and be prepared for your trip.
- Follow Leave No Trace principles to help protect our special places.
- Wilderness.net - This multi-agency site works to connect federal employees, scientists, educators, and the public with their wilderness heritage.
Huron Peak is 14,003 feet and is a popular climb accessed at South Fork Clear Creek Trai
La Plata Peak, Colorado's fifth highest peak at 14,336 feet, is accessed via the La Plata Gulch Trail #1474.
Missouri Mountain is the 36th highest peak in Colorado,at 14,067 feet, and is located in the Colleg
Rising from the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness at 14,197 feet, Mount Belford is the 19th highest peak i
At 14,073 feet, Mount Columbia is the 35th highest peak in Colorado.
Mount Elbert is Colorado's highest peak and the second highest peak in the lower 48 states with an elevation of 14,433 feet.
Mount Massive, at 14,421 feet, it is the second highest peak in Colorado at just 12 feet behind its southern neighbor, Mt. Elbert.
Mount Sherman, is Colorado's 46th highest peak at 14,036 feet. This mountain, usually considered one of the easiest of Colorado's 54 Fourteeners, is an excellent
The Colorado Trail is a backcountry multi-use trail connecting Denver and Durango, CO. It is over 483 miles of contiguous trail. The exact mileage for the trail is ever changing as trail segments are changed and re-routed. The project that was to be the Colorado Trail began in 1973 with a grant from the Gates Foundation and was completed in 1987. The trail sees considerable usage from day hikers, mountain bikers (although not in sections in Wilderness), horseback riders, and die-hard thru hikers.
The Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail follow the same path for approximately 200 miles.
The segments on the Leadville Ranger District include:
- Segment 9: Tennessee Pass Trailhead to Timberline Lake Trailhead
- Segment 10: Timberline Lake Trailhead to Mount Massive Trailhead
- Segment 11: Mount Massive Trailhead to Clear Creek Road
- Segment 12: Clear Creek Road to Silver Creek Trailhead
The Colorado Trail #1776 is maintained by the Colorado Trail Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service.
Sitting deep in the forest west of Leadville, Turquoise Lake takes its name from the turquoise mines that produced the semiprecious stone in Leadville's not too distant past. A spot prized for its fishing, camping, and hiking, Turquoise Lake provides some of the most beautiful views on the Leadville Ranger District. The east end of the lake hosts the majority of campgrounds, while the west end of the lake hosts the popular May Queen Campground near the Timberline Lake trailhead, which accesses the Holy Cross Wilderness. To the southwest of the lake rises the Mt. Massive Wilderness, along with such beautiful hikes as Native Lake and Windsor Lake. Snow in these areas can stay well into midsummer and possibly longer.
Turquoise Lake is heavily visited, especially during the summer months. Reservations for the campgrounds on Turquoise Lake that take reservations are often filled early, especially for holiday weekends. Camping is only allowed in developed campgrounds in the Turquoise Lake Area. There is no dispersed camping available.
The standard limit of fish allowed from Turquoise Lake is 4 fish total: 2 lake trout within the 4 fish limit with no size restrictions. Turquoise Lake is stocked with rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout. Turquoise Lake is rated as fair to good fishing.
A valid Colorado fishing license is required. Remember to check fishing regulations before fishing at any body of water. For stocking reports and more information on regulations or fishing licenses, check out the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Trails in the area include:
- Colorado Midland Centennial Trail #1491
- Native Lake/Highline Trail #1489
- Timberline Lake Trail #1495
- Turquoise Lake Nature Trail #1526
- Windsor Lake Trail #1490
Abe Lee Fishing Site is located on the south shore of Turquoise Lake, 6 miles west of Leadville.
Baby Doe Campground is located in a shaded lodgepole pine forest, along the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake, at an elevation of 9,900 feet.
Bear Lake is located north of Turquoise Lake, 1/2 mile within the Holy Cross Wilderness.
Belle of Colorado Campground is a tent-only campground with 19 sites located on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in a shaded lodgepole pine forest.
Father Dyer Campground has 26 sites and is located in a shaded lodgepole pine forest near the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake at an elevation of 9,900 feet.&
Located near the Matchless boat ramp on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake, Maid of Erin is a beautiful area to enjoy a picnic with friends and family.
Located on the north shore of Turquoise Lake among the lodgepole pines, this picnic area has ou
Matchless Campground is located on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake, has 20 sites and can accommodate larger recreational vehicles.
Matchless Boating Site provides the boat ramp for Turquoise Lake. Located on the south-eastern shoreline, Recreation vehicle camping and picnicking areas share th
May Queen Campground has 27 sites and is located at the far western end of Turquoise Lake in a shaded lodgepole pine forest at an elevation of 9,900 feet. It 
Named after the "unsinkable" Molly Brown on the Titanic, this campground is located on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in a shaded lodgepole pine forest
A scenic overlook of Turquoise Lake along the north shore drive along County Road 9.
Printer Boy is located within the Turquoise Lake Recreation Area and is a great campground for larger groups.
This a day use pull out area that has views of Turquoise Lake.
A popular area for fisherman of all ages, the Turquoise Lake Sugarloaf Dam is a good spot to take in the majestic beauty of Turquoise Lake.
Tabor Campground is located along the north-eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in a shaded lodgepole pine forest at 9,900 feet.
This a day use pull out area that has views of Turquoise Lake.
Located nearly in the center of the Leadville Ranger District, the Twin Lakes Recreation Area provides many different opportunities for recreation. Scenic drivers and road cyclists can enjoy the beautiful Independence Pass and view the aspens in fall, which draw thousands of people every year. Hikers can enjoy the nearby Interlaken trail and Big Willis Gulch trail, while also taking in some of the historic sites, such as the Twin Lakes Historic Village and Interlaken Historic Resort.
Twin Lakes also hosts many sites for fishing, camping, and sight-seeing. On either side of Twin Lakes rise fourteeners such as Mt. Elbert and La Plata Peak, and a host of smaller peaks such as Mt. Hope and Twin Peaks. Within driving distance are three wilderness areas; Buffalo Peaks, Collegiate Peaks and Mt. Massive Wildernesses are located close to the Twin Lakes Recreation area.
Twin Lakes sees a great deal of visitor traffic, especially during the summer months. Reservations for the Lakeview and White Star campgrounds fill up early in the season.
Trails in the area include:
- Black Cloud Trail #1480
- Echo Canyon Trail #1479
- Independence Pass Trail #1494
- Interlaken Trail
- Willis Gulch Trail #1473
Big Mac Fishing Site is located on the northern shore of Twin Lakes Reservoir near the Mt. Elbert Power Plant and Visitor Center off of U.S. Hwy 82.
Dexter Campground is located on the northern shore of Twin Lakes Reservoir, adjacent to the Dexter Point Boating S
This is the boat ramp for Twin Lakes. Located on the north shore of the lake just off of highway 82.
At 12,095 feet, Independence Pass is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the United States.
This historic resort is located along the southern shore of Twin Lakes. Built by John A.
Lakeview Campground is a large campground situated in lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and sage habitat at an elevation of 9,500 feet overlooking Twin Lakes Re
This day use site is just east of Twin Lakes with views of Twin Peaks, Hope Pass and Parry Peak and access to fishing on the upper Twin Lake.
Monitor Rock is a popular rock climbing area located on the north side of State Highway 82, approximately 4 miles west of Twin Lakes, Colorado.
This is the only designated picnic area on Twin Lakes. Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings with grates and a vault restroom.
Mountain View Fishing Site is located on the Northeast shore of Twin Lakes.
North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead offers access to Mount Massive Wilderness area via the North F
Parry Peak Campground has 25 first-come, first-served sites. It sits in a shady Aspen and Lodgepole Pine forest along Lake Creek.
Located on the Northwest shore of Twin Lakes that offers allows access to the lake for SUP and kayak use and the Interlaken boat tours take off from this site.
Sayers Gulch Trailhead accesses the Sayers Gulch Trail #1465, a 1.4-mile trail in the Collegiate Peaks
This is a popular, 2.5-mile trail with an elevation gain of 2,670 feet, that takes you to Hope Pass.
Sunnyside Fishing Site is located on the northeastern shore of Twin Lakes Reservoir.
Located next to Colorado's two largest glacial lakes, the Twin Lakes Village began as a stop en-route between the mining districts of Leadville and Aspen.
Twin Peaks is a first-come, first-served campground with 35 sites located west of Twin Lakes Reservoir in a shaded aspen and lodgepole pine forest above the whitewater
Located on the northern shore of Twin Lakes Reservoir east of the Mt. Elbert Power Plant and Visitor Center off of U.S. Hwy 82. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout.
White Star Campground is in ponderosa pine and sage habitat at 9,300 feet on the northern shore of Twin Lakes Reservoir.
Recreation Sites
Abe Lee Fishing Site
Baby Doe Campground
Bear Lake Trailhead
Belle of Colorado Campground
Big Mac Fishing Site
Boustead Tunnel Observation Site
Buckeye Gulch
Buffalo Peaks Wilderness
Butcher Boy Picnic Area
