I learned my lesson on this trip about how important it is to reserve your campsite in advance. We naively assumed we would be able to find a place to camp on the way to Leadville. Unfortunately, every campground we came to, off the main highway, was full. In retrospect, this should not have been a big surprise for the middle of summer. By the time we found a site, it was well past dark, and we had to travel on some rough gravel roads to get there.
The campground we found, called Halfmoon, was fairly remote, and had no amenities except an outhouse, but to our relief, there were many empty sites.Leadville, North America's highest incorporated city, is a great destination and offers many activities for all ages. The scenery alone is enough to make you keep coming back. We enjoyed a relaxing drive around beautiful Turquoise Lake, just minutes from town. During the summer, Leadville operates an open air tourist train that runs along the top of the valley. The trip lasts about 2 1/2 hours and provides endless photo opportunities.
Downtown Leadville offers many options for antique shopping, visits to old fashion ice cream and fudge shops, and dining at a variety of restaurants and cafes. If you are interested in more athletic activities, Leadville also has sports and bike rentals. Also, hot showers can be found at the local laundromat on the main road into town.
