Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In 1965 Camp Hale was officially dismantled, and the land returned to the US Forest Ser-
vice.
Nova Guides
( 719-486-2656;
www.novaguides.com
; bike tours $100)
is based here, offering
mountain-bike tours and various other outdoor activities.
Tabor Opera House
(
www.taboroperahouse.net
;
308 Harrison Ave; adult/child $5/2.50; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat Jun-Aug)
Built in 1879
by multimillionaire Horace Tabor, this was once one of the premier entertainment venues
in all Colorado, if not the West, and hosted the likes of Houdini, Oscar Wilde and Anna
Held. You can visit the interior on a tour; there are also occasional performances.
HISTORIC BUILDING
Activities
Mt Elbert
(
www.14ers.com
; Jun-Sep)
Colorado's tallest peak and the 2nd highest in the continental US,
Mt Elbert (14,433ft) is a relatively gentle giant. There are three established routes to the
top, none of which are technical. The most common approach is via the northeast ridge;
it's a 9-mile round-trip hike with 4700ft of elevation gain, so expect to spend most of the
day.
The turnoff for the trailhead is just south of Leadville on Rte 300. If you have 4WD, the
South Mt Elbert Trailhead is accessed via Hwy 82, just east of Twin Lakes. It's a slightly
shorter hike with only 4100ft of elevation gain.
HIKING
Mt Massive
( Jun-Oct)
The state's second-tallest peak, Mt Massive (14,421ft) lives up to its name: it
has four summits and a 3-mile-long ridge, giving it more total area above 14,000ft than
any other peak in the state. From Hwy 24, it dominates the western horizon.
The classic route up the east slope is a real bruiser; you'll put in a grueling 13.6 miles
of hiking round-trip. The southwest slope is much shorter at 8 miles, but you'll need 4WD
and high clearance to reach the trailhead. Both trailheads are accessed via Rte 300, south
of Leadville. The Tour de Massive is for those who enjoy punishment - it takes in all four
summits, with nearly 15 miles (11 hours) of hiking. Start before dawn.
HIKING
Tennessee Pass Nordic Center
SNOW SPORTS
