With altitudes seldom dipping below 9,000 feet, this byway earns its name. Visit historic mining railroad towns en route to historic Leadville, the highest incorporated community in the U.S. Old mining camps attest to the state s rich mining heritage. The route crosses the Continental Divide twice and traces the Arkansas River.

Federal Highway Administration, America’s Byways
Length
75 mi / 120.7 km
Time to allow
2.5 hours to drive or a couple of days to visit the byway
Fees
None

Who looks after this road

  • Leadville/Lake County Chamber of Commerce · 719-486-3900, 800-933-3901 · their site
  • Town of Minturn · 970-827-5645

We publish 10 places that sit on this road, listed in the order you meet them. This is not a route and not a drive time — it is the names, so you can put them into whatever navigation you already use.

“Off” is a straight line from the place to the road, rounded. It is not a driving distance, and the road itself is a simplified centre line, so treat a mile or two as noise.

  1. ButtermilkCO1 mile offSki or bike

    Gentle terrain; X Games venue

    Kind
    Ski Areas

  2. SnowmassCO5 miles offSki or bike

    Largest of Aspen's four mountains

    Kind
    Ski Areas
    Bike park in summer
    Summer bike park

  3. Aspen HighlandsCO3 miles offSki or bike

    Hike-to Highland Bowl steeps

    Kind
    Ski Areas

  4. Aspen MountainCO1 mile offSki or bike

    Rises straight from downtown Aspen; no beginner runs

    Kind
    Ski Areas

  5. BreckenridgeCO3 miles offSki or bike

    Five peaks above Victorian mining town

    Kind
    Ski Areas
    Bike park in summer
    Summer bike park

  6. Dillon ReservoirCO8 miles offLake

    reservoir

    Boating
    Motorized, sailing and paddle craft; trailered boats launch only at the two marinas
    Fishing
    yes - ice fishing when conditions permit
    Camping
    Nearly 350 designated sites, most run by USFS
    Season
    Open year round, 24 hours a day

  7. Copper MountainCO1 mile offSki or bike

    Terrain naturally sorted by difficulty

    Kind
    Ski Areas
    Bike park in summer
    Summer bike park

  8. VailCO4 miles offSki or bike

    Vast front side plus Back Bowls; Bavarian-style village

    Kind
    Ski Areas
    Bike park in summer
    Summer bike park

  9. Vail MountainCO5 miles offSki or bike

    Gondola-served flow trails high above Vail Village

    Kind
    Resort Bike Parks

  10. Beaver CreekCO4 miles offSki or bike

    Upscale village; famous Birds of Prey course

    Kind
    Ski Areas
    Bike park in summer
    Summer bike park