High Altitude: Leadville Lodging

High Altitude: Leadville Lodging 1

There is nothing more perfect for a Colorado vacation then spending a long weekend in a mountain lodge.  This is especially true for those looking to venture out to Leadville as it is one of the premier mountain getaways in the entire country.  For those looking for this kind of adventure there are the Buckeye’s and Luna’s Cabins.

Situated on Mount Elbert, Colorado’s highest peak, the scenery is unsurpassed.  With plenty of outdoor activities and a remote location, these secluded cabins are perfect for those looking for a bit of privacy and intimacy.

Cabin Living Room
Relax by the wood-burning stove while you enjoy the view.

Buckeye’s Cabin

This two bedroom cabin is perfect for friends and families looking to enjoy the beauty and recreation areas of the Rockies.  In the master bedroom, Leadville vacationers can bed down on a queen size bed or curl up on the fainting bench in the library area.  For those with children, or groups traveling together, there are two twin beds in the second bedroom.

If you’re looking for a romantic evening, couples can relax on a plush leather couch next to the wood burning stove which has a first-class window view of all that Mount Elbert has to offer.  This rustic wood paneled cabin also comes with a kitchen which hosts a restored Tappan stove.

Cabin Kitchen
If you don’t feel like going out to eat, you have a kitchen to prepare your meals in.

Luna’s Cabin

Named after a beloved family dog, Luna’s Cabin is found next to Buckeye’s.  This one-bedroom cabin can serve as the perfect romantic Colorado mountain getaway spot.  Despite being located next to Buckeye’s Cabin, Luna’s Cabin is surrounded by a thicket of aspen trees which offer both privacy and warm tones of orange in the fall and lush greens in the summer.

Outside, Leadville vacationers can sit on the cabin’s private deck and soak in the sun while overlooking the area’s ponds and lakes.  In a departure from Buckeye’s rustic cabin atmosphere, Luna’s bedroom takes preference to creamy white walls, an antique short four poster bed, and a thick white comforter to curl up under.  Being named after the owner’s dog, this cabin allows pets for a $20 deposit.

Cabin Activities
Step out the back door to enjoy outdoor activities like snowshoeing or back-country skiing in winter and hiking or mountain biking in summer.

Activities

Cradled in the heart of the Rockies, there are plenty of outdoor activities for Leadville vacationers to take part in, in both the winter and summer months.

In the winter months, Leadville becomes a Mecca for skiers and snowboarders. The town is ideally situated for those looking to hit the powder, with Copper Mountain, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and other prime Colorado slopes between 15 and 50 minutes away.  For those who are new or looking to learn a thing or two about skiing and snowboarding, Ski Cooper is only 20 minutes away.

If you’re looking to stick close to the cabins, there are plenty of areas for people to enjoy backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, guided snowmobile tours, and a few spots to go ice fishing.

If your Colorado vacation is during the summer months, you can go hiking, take guided horseback rides, tear up mountain bike paths, or ride the swells of the Arkansas River with some whitewater rafting.  In addition to these, outdoorsy types will also find a number of lakes to boat, fish, or fly fish on.

If You Go

For more information on Buckeye’s or Luna’s Cabins visit: http://www.buckeyecabin.net/Home.htm or call: (970) 390-4550 or email: [email protected].

For a list of recreation areas or activities in the Leadville area visit: http://www.leadville.com/recreat.htm.

Evan Witt is an Illinois native with a degree in English Literature from Lake Forest College, and as a frequent visitor to Colorado, he enjoys fishing, camping, hiking, and photography.

Special thanks to Paul Breitenwischer at Buckeye’s and Luna’s Cabins for providing the photos featured in this article!