Barbara and I have spent two days in the Leadville, CO area enjoying the area. Leadville is the nation's highest in elevation at a stunning 10,000 feet. The days here have been topping out in the low to mid 60's with lows in the lower 40's. We have been staying at The Sugar Loafin' RV campground just outside Leadville, CO. The first night we camped out here we had a evening thunderstorm roll through with heavy rain and some hail. We had to abandon our campfire that night as we waited out the storm in our trailer. One our first day we visited Turquoise Lake a beautiful mountain lake nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. We drove the loop around the lake marveling at the views from the many points of interest along the way.
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| Our Campsite at Sugar Loafin' campground near Leadville, CO |
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| Our camp neighbors Wade and Deutch from GA who are competing in a mountain bike event in Leadville, CO |
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| Turquoise Lake dam near Leadville, CO |
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| Turquoise Lake taken from a mountain side overview trail at over 10,000 feet in elevation |
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| The City of Leadville, CO nestled high in the Rockies |
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| Turquoise Lake |
Later on in the afternoon we spent some time in Leadville, CO enjoying the shops and admiring the the old buildings that go back to a time when this town was a busy mining community. For the most part the mines have closed and the local economy is know based on tourism.
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| Downtown Leadville, CO |
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| Muriel's made by Leadville artists |
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| The Silver Dollar Saloon dating back to 1875 |
On our second day in the area we drove up to Independence Pass on our way to Aspen, CO to tour the area. The paved mountain pass road is the highest road of it's kind in North America. From the peak you can see the surrounding mountain peaks from a elevation of 12,000 feet. Up here is tundra with many mountain wildflowers and stunning views of the Rockies. At times the pass road comes down to a single lane making a thrilling ride even more adventurous. No vehicle either with a trailer or without a trailer can traverse the pass that is over 35 feet long. There is a 1,500 dollar fine for those who try and are ticketed.
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| Views from the Summit |
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| Views of the drive up to the Summit |
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Twin Lakes
On the other side of the pass we visited Aspen, CO with all it's mountain charm and beauty. Aspen is famous for it's winter sports and summer mountain bike trails attracting many visitors every year. The following images depict Aspen's many interesting sites and historical structures that make this place so special.
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We finished our day by taking the bus out to Maroon Bells, one of the most visited places in the Rockies. We marveled at the views of the lake with the peaks of the Maroon Bells towering over the valley. It was a perfect end to a delightful day.
