The Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail is a paved 11.6-mile loop that circles Leadville through the historic mining district, offering some of the best mountain views easily accessible from town. The trail passes old mine structures, tailings piles, and abandoned equipment alongside open meadows with views of Mount Elbert and Mount Massive — Colorado's two highest peaks — and the Mosquito Range to the east.
The loop is accessible year-round: cyclists and runners use it in summer, while fat-bike and cross-country skiing are popular in winter. The altitude — the trail sits around 10,000 feet — means that even walking it at a leisurely pace will test people coming from lower elevations. The full loop takes two to three hours on foot, less than an hour by bike.