Situated in the midst of Colorado’s Sawatch Range, the dual CDT Gateway Community of Leadville and Twin Lakes is surrounded by mountains with summits above 14,000 feet — known locally as “14ers.” There are 15 such mountains within an hour’s drive from the two towns. This unique location makes Leadville and Twin Lakes the perfect place to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, biking, horseback riding, camping, and ziplining.

This area was historically home to people of the Ute tribe, Colorado’s oldest residents, until the town of Leadville was founded by white settlers in 1860 following the discovery of gold in the area. Prospectors also found silver, lead (from which the town gets its name), and molybdenum, an important steel hardener. In its heyday, 60,000 people lived in Leadville, and it was at one point considered for the capital of the new state of Colorado. Although the economy has made a recent shift towards outdoor recreation, mining continues to be an important aspect of the town’s identity, celebrated most famously each August during Boom Days.

Twin Lakes, which sits next to its eponymous lakes a few miles south of Leadville, is home to Interlaken Resort, once a popular international vacation destination. When the nearby lake was dammed, the resort lost popularity and the building was abandoned. It has since been restored and is open to the public, and can be easily accessed via the CDT!