(LEADVILLE, COLO, February 24, 2022) – Spring Break is right around the corner. Leadville, Colo., offers a variety of family-friendly activities to enjoy throughout the months of March and April. Surrounded by Colorado’s two highest peaks, Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, children will enjoy the area’s majestic beauty, western history, and bragging rights at school after visiting North America’s highest incorporated city sitting at an elevation of 10,152’.
Leadville Ski Joring: Leadville Ski Joring and Crystal Carnival Weekend, the signature winter event in historic Leadville will take place March 5-6, 2022. Spectators will be able to watch from the sidelines as horse-and-rider teams pull skiers over jumps down Leadville’s snow-packed Harrison Avenue. Kids can get in on the action too and try ski joring behind a snowmobile. Visitors can also join mountain bike and Nordic ski races, a paintball biathlon, dancing, live music, and parties. It’s the perfect weekend to enjoy Leadville’s gritty, extreme spirit while having a good time.
Ski Cooper: Ski Cooper is a ski “resort” without the pretense. Just 15 minutes north of Leadville, the ski destination is a great place to escape the crowds and take a much-needed break in the mountains, surrounded by majestic beauty. There are no lift lines, high prices, high-rise condos, or hard man-made “snow.” Cooper boasts wide-open spaces in a family-friendly and affordable environment. There are 62 ski runs at Cooper, including 16 double-black diamond and 3 black diamond runs available in Tennessee Creek Basin. This year, skiers can hop on a snowcat ski tour to Chicago Run to float down backcountry slopes in fresh powder. A Chicago Ridge ticket costs $59 and provides a two-consecutive run of the ridge. The snowcat will run each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through March 20, weather and snow conditions permitting. Cooper has a new family skiing area called Leprechaun Lane with a fun Irish theme. Cooper has also added a new 21+ pub in the base area called the Timberline Taproom featuring Colorado microbrews.
Winter Activities: Just because it’s spring break doesn’t mean winter has to end. Twirl under the sun or stars at the Huck Finn Ice Rink (weather dependent). Or Nordic ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile across Leadville’s nearly 100 miles of groomed winter trails near the town and at the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center. The Mount Massive Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Trails, located at the Mount Massive Golf Course, offer 16k of mostly flat, groomed trails for $10/day. The annual Equinox 24 hour Ultra Ski is taking place March 19-20 from 10 a.m.-10 a.m. This cash prize event is an all day and all night ski on a 10k loop with stunning views of Colorado’s highest peaks. The Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Race Series will also be taking place this spring with the Mineral Belt Mayhem on March 5 at 6:15 p.m., Fatty Patty 50k on March 19 at 9 a.m., and East Side Epic on April 9 at 9 a.m.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: On Thursday, March 17 at 4:30 p.m., there will be a St. Patrick’s Day parade led down historic Harrison Avenue. The Mount Massive pipe band will play festive Irish music, and Two Mile Brewing Company, America’s highest brewery, will serve Irish red ale.
Experience Western History:
To learn more, visit www.leadvilletwinlakes.com.
Photo Credit: Casey Day