Leadville Railroad June 2026

Fri 19 June 2026

Leadville Train

We decided this week to jump on the idea of heading up to Leadville and taking the tourist train.

We found accommodation at the Abbey Inn. An abbey in Leadville was converted into a hotel/hostel

The hotel was rustic, with shared bathrooms, and the guests shared the former church with the family running the place. The bedroom was basic, just a bed - no TV, no amenities, etc. Guests can access the house's huge kitchen. Big enough for guest fridges, appliances, and dining. The accommodation includes a breakfast of boiled eggs, bagels, fruit, cereal, and tea/coffee.

We arrived in Leadville mid-afternoon, after long delays due to construction and blasting on Floyd Hill. We got the kinks out by walking on the Mineral Belt trail. The trail is a rails-to-trails paving of the 11-mile rail loop that surrounds Leadville. We didn't have time to walk the entire circuit, so we just did an out-and-back for 2 hours. We dined at The Famous, an Italian restaurant in a historic downtown building. Very good Sweet Potato Tempura to start, and we each had a personal pizza with meatballs, pepperoni, and green chile. They made an excellent Cello Drop: Limoncello, Vodka, and Lemon Twist.

The train departs at 10 am from the depot, about 2 blocks from The Abbey. The train has open seating in both covered and uncovered cars. The best views are from the 'downhill' side of the train (Left side as you face forward). You could also reserve the upscale carriages with more comfy seats, and special guests can ride in the caboose or engine.

The train leaves Leadville toward Fremont Pass and takes about 2 ½ to 2 ¾ hours for the round trip.