Hiking
Leadville High Country
Leadville, Colorado · 4 days · Challenging
About This Trip
At 10,152 feet, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America — and your basecamp for four days of serious mountain adventure. Whitewater to shake off travel, back-to-back 14ers on the hardest day, via ferrata to close it out.
Highlights
- Mount Elbert (14,440 ft) — Colorado's highest peak
- Mount Missouri and Belford/Oxford options
- Arkansas River whitewater rafting in Salida or Buena Vista
- Via ferrata on day four
- Turquoise Lake — alpine lake circuit at 9,900 ft
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1
Arrival + Whitewater Acclimation
- Arkansas River rafting in Salida — acclimate through activity, not rest
- Buena Vista rafting (closer to Leadville) — shorter drive, same river fun
- Turquoise Lake trail — easy 4 miles at elevation for gentle acclimation
Day 2
The Hard Day — 14er Summit
- Mount Elbert (14,440 ft) — Colorado's highest, 9 mi RT, relentless but doable
- Mount Missouri (14,067 ft) — less crowded, spectacular ridge
- Mount Belford + Oxford traverse — two 14ers in one push from Missouri Gulch
Day 3
Second Peak Day or Recovery
- Second 14er attempt — Missouri Gulch for Belford/Oxford if you skipped day 2
- Turquoise Lake circuit — 9-mile lake loop, gentler recovery option
- Rest day in Leadville — historic mining town, good food, elevation adaptation
Day 4
Via Ferrata Finale
- Guided via ferrata — iron rungs and cables on a mountain face
- Half-day hike to alpine lake — lighter effort before the drive home