10 WAYS TO ENJOY WINTER WONDERLAND

Visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado, for all kinds of holiday and winter fun. Plan a weekend escape or longer vacation, and treasure your time at the top of the Rockies.

Photo: @RoadhouseTwinLakes


1) CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH US

Start your new year a little closer to the stars! You are cordially invited to these great parties, all on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.


Gatsby New Year’s Eve Party at Silver Dollar Saloon
7 p.m. / 315 Harrison Avenue, Leadville
Come to the historic Silver Dollar Saloon dressed to impress and ready to “party like a Gatsby.”


Twin Lakes Inn New Year’s Eve Celebration
7 – 11 p.m. / 6435 E. State Highway 82, Twin Lakes
Toast the year gone by and welcome 2024 in historic Twin Lakes Village. Enjoy a holiday buffet that includes prime rib, grilled chicken kabobs, veggie kabobs, plus appetizer and dessert. Enjoy music from Oro City String Band!


Horizon Line Live at Scarlet Tavern
9 p.m. / 326 Harrison Avenue, Leadville
Horizon Line returns to their hometown Leadville, CO to ring in the New Year at Scarlet Tavern! Don’t miss out on this rowdy celebration with a full night of Rocky Mountain Rock & Roll, along with tons of New Year’s Eve festivities.


New Years at the Pastime Saloon
9 p.m. / 120 W. 2nd Street, Leadville
TWO DJs, ONE free champagne toast, and ZERO bucks to get in! Join us on New Year’s Eve at the historic Pastime Saloon.

Photo: @happytravelerco


2) TENNESSEE PASS COOKHOUSE & SLEEP YURTS

Open through April 16
Dinner Served Daily
Lunch Served Saturdays and Sundays


For a special celebration during the holidays and all winter long, enjoy a delicious meal at a candlelit yurt. You’ll ski or snowshoe a mile to a tasty dinner or lunch, for a unique experience! Up the adventure quotient and spend the night in a luxury yurt, complete with a comfy bed and a woodstove. By day, glide over the Nordic Center’s scenic trails.


Photo: Train at left by @estovez_gilhoulie


3) LEADVILLE RAILROAD HOLIDAY EXPRESS

Open through Jan. 21
Check the schedule for times

326 E. 7th St., Leadville


Climb aboard the Leadville Railroad for a magical, fun-filled adventure! Travel through the snowy Colorado mountains on a train decorated with lights. Enjoy our three heated lounge cars with comfortable booth seating and large windows. Bring the whole family and make great holiday memories!

4) SKI COOPER

Enjoy the uncrowded slopes and family-friendly vibe at Ski Cooper! Only 9 miles from Leadville, Cooper has 64 trails served by five lifts, spanning 480 lift-served acres. Trails are covered in all-natural snow. Season passes are on sale now for the 2023-2024!


Your Cooper Season Pass (Ages 6-74) allows you to ski three free days at each partner resort. New this year, Cooper has joined with 20 new Powder Alliance partners, all great ski resorts across the West! That gives you approximately 60 partner resorts to choose from!


5) DOGSLEDDING

See the sights from a dogsled! Make new furry friends and enjoy this quintessential winter activity at the top of the Rockies.


6) EXPLORING GROOMED WINTER TRAILS

Enjoy Nordic skiingfat bikingsnowshoeing, and snowmobiling on the area’s network of groomed winter trails.


7) ICE SKATING

Skate under the sun or stars on Leadville’s open-air Huck Finn Ice Rink. (As weather allows; usually opens in December)


8) SLEDDING

Zoom down steep and fast Dutch Henry Hill! Bring the kids or bring out your inner child. (As weather allows; usually opens in December)

9) SNOW ZIPPING / WINTER ZIPLINING

Fly on a zipline above the snowy landscape, with a birds-eye view of surrounding peaks. What a rush! It’s an unforgettable experience.

10) SNOWMOBILING

Need even more of a rush? Zoom through the snow, past soaring evergreens, frozen lakes, and the state’s highest peaks.


Photo in upper left: @zakappleton

February 20, 2025
No matter when you visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, you’ll find yourself two miles above sea level (ok, technically 1.9 miles, but who’s counting?). When you visit in March, you’ll be even closer to the glorious Colorado sun because by this time of year, Leadville and Twin Lakes have typically received around two meters of snow! Yes, meters. Here are some great ways you can enjoy the abundant snow and sun! 1) HIT THE SLOPES AT SKI COOPER Like to ski or ride? Check out Ski Cooper for affordable access to uncrowded slopes. Cooper is open seven days a week through Sunday, April 13, 2025. To learn to ski or board or to improve your skills, sign up for lessons for the whole family. 2) RIDE THE TRAIN Hop aboard the Leadville Railroad Winter Express for a 2-hour train ride through some of the area’s most spectacular scenery. The Winter Express runs until April 13th, departing Thursdays through Saturdays at 1:00 p.m plus daily at 1:00pm during spring break from March 9th through March 29th. This is a popular attraction and reservations are required! Book your seats here . 3) GO SNOWMOBILING Snowmobile and ATV tours are a great way to explore Leadville’s historic East Side Mining District, Turquoise Lake Recreation Area and the surrounding hills. A variety of tour styles are available with options for experienced adventure seekers to beginners and families. Vroom, vroom! 4) GO DOGSLEDDING Want a spring break story that’ll make your friends jealous? Hop on a sled and let a team of energetic, tail-wagging huskies whisk you across the snow! You'll glide through stunning mountain scenery with your new four-legged crew leading the way. Dogsledding is a thrilling, unforgettable adventure—and fun for the whole family! 5) GO SNOW ZIPPING Have you ever wanted to zipline in the winter? Now’s your chance! Experience the thrill of our 2-hour Winter Mountain Zip Line Tour , where you’ll descend not one but six exhilarating zip lines, spanning over 8,000 feet of fun. Extend your adventure with the Zip Line and Snowmobile Combo Tour . Get the full scoop on rates, reservations, and restrictions here !
February 20, 2025
If you love deep snow, bluebird skies, and zero lift lines, the first two weeks of March in Leadville and Twin Lakes are calling your name. While other Colorado ski towns are packed this time of year, this high-altitude haven stays refreshingly quiet—meaning more powder, more solitude, and more space to explore safely. Whether you’re carving fresh turns at Ski Cooper, venturing into the pristine backcountry, or enjoying a peaceful après-ski with no wait at the bar, this is your chance to experience winter without the chaos.  But with all that extra room comes extra responsibility—so before you head into the untouched snow, let’s talk backcountry safety tips.
February 5, 2025
GIDDY UP! March 1-2, 2025 Every winter, Leadville transforms into a high-octane winter wonderland with the annual Leadville Ski Joring & Crystal Carnival Weekend . This two-day event is packed with adrenaline-pumping sports, winter races, and community fun. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a thrill-seeker, or simply looking for a unique winter experience, Leadville is the place to be! This weekend always draws a crowd! Book a place to stay today .
February 5, 2025
In Leadville and Twin Lakes, we want to help you fall head over heels (hopefully not literally) with winter in the mountains. Whether you’re exploring solo, surrounded by family and friends, or with your special someone, come to Leadville-Twin Lakes to spark or rekindle your love of winter.
February 5, 2025
Ah, February. That special time of year when you can’t remember what it feels like to be warm outdoors and spring is still oh so far away. It’s the worst, right?  At Leadville and Twin Lakes, we invite you to turn that February frown upside down and experience how amazing winter in Colorado can be (yes, even in February).
January 2, 2025
Fun in the Snow at Ski Cooper If you're searching for an authentic mountain experience filled with fun in the snow, Ski Cooper near Leadville, Colorado, is your perfect winter destination. Here's why this hidden gem stands out among Colorado's ski areas.
January 2, 2025
Fat biking has surged in popularity over the past decade, and nowhere is this more evident than in Leadville. With stunning mountain landscapes and groomed winter trails, Leadville has become a premier destination for fat biking enthusiasts. Its growing reputation helped bring the Fat Bike World Championships back to Colorado in 2024. This year, the event is staying in Colorado for a second year in a row, returning to Crested Butte (where it all started), marking its 10th anniversary. 
January 2, 2025
Hello outdoor adventurers! Winter fun in Leadville and Twin Lakes starts with knowledge and preparation—let’s make your adventures safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable.
December 23, 2024
While Leadville-Twin Lakes, Colorado, is known for abundant winter activities, it also offers plenty of great things to do inside. When you need a winter warmup, explore these off-the-beaten-path indoors options!
December 22, 2024
This year, be sure to visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado ! Here at the top of the Rockies, you’ll find a wide breadth of things to do outdoors and in our genuine and historic downtowns. While the list of possibilities is nearly endless, here are our top 12 reasons to visit in 2025!
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