Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes Forms Organization to Preserve Local Trails and Promote Dark Skies
Destination strengthens local stewardship, engages visitors, and fosters dark sky conservation
Nestled in the heart of the Rockies and surrounded by some of Colorado’s tallest peaks and largest glacial lakes, Leadville-Twin Lakes is a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Recognizing the need to maintain and protect the area’s scenic trails, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes formed a community stewardship initiative to enhance the region’s outdoor experiences. Launched in 2023, Friends of Lake County partners with local organizations and the U.S. Forest Service to engage volunteers in projects that benefit both residents and visitors,and preserve the environment.
As part of its ongoing stewardship efforts, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes created a weekend event for runners that involved hands-on service projects. The destination also received CTO support to promote “Do Leadville-Twin Lakes Right” messaging and pursue International Dark Sky Place certification.
These initiatives align with strategies from the CTO’s Rockies Playground Regional Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan to champion natural resource stewardship and engage visitors and residents in these efforts. They advance strategies from the CTO’s Statewide Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan to promote dark sky preservation and experiences. They also offer inspiration and direction to other communities on how to promote destination stewardship by leveraging sometimes-limited resources.
Establishing Friends of Lake County
In response to growing stewardship needs, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes launched Friends of Lake County with the support of the CTO’s destination development programming. A visioning and action-planning workshop in October 2022 brought together 19 local tourism and outdoor recreation stakeholders to lay the foundation for the new initiative. This collaborative effort involved identifying priorities, securing funding, and conducting community outreach, all of which led to the organization’s formal launch in May 2023.
The volunteer group has since contributed to a wide range of projects, including trail signage and cleanup efforts in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Volunteers also supported a spring downtown cleanup in Leadville and worked with students from Colorado Mountain College Leadville’s outdoor leadership class for a large cleanup event. In total, volunteers have donated 172 hours of service across seven projects in the organization’s first year, and they’re gearing up for nine additional projects in 2025.
Runners for Public Lands
In 2024, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes and Friends of Lake County joined forces with Runners for Public Lands and the Cloud City Conservation Center to host Camp & Run 2024. This one-of-a-kind event invited visiting runners to engage in service projects such as regenerative farming and road cleanups while learning about sustainable food systems and trail stewardship from local experts. Participants also had the chance to experience Leadville’s famous trail runs and its rich natural heritage.
“Camp & Run 2024 is a perfect example of regenerative tourism efforts that are critical to our mission as a destination,” said Adam Ducharme, Lake County tourism and economic development director. “It’s about coming together to protect and preserve the places we love.”
Inspiring Visitors to Recreate Responsibly
Since late 2023, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes has been working to educate visitors on how to recreate responsibly. By participating in CTO’s Destination Blueprint Program, the destination received valuable consulting support to develop stewardship messaging and create visitor-focused content. The result was “Do Leadville-Twin Lakes Right,” which encourages responsible outdoor recreation. The campaign includes practical tips, such as advising visitors to acclimate to the area’s high altitude and dress appropriately for varying seasons. Local businesses, short-term rental administrators, and the Cloud City Wheelers bike club have helped distribute printed guides, and the messaging is now featured on trail signage and a new local trail map.
In addition, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes adapted CTO resources to develop Visit Leadville—Twin Lakes 7 Winter Backcountry Tips, featuring backcountry stewardship messaging and resources.
Promoting Dark Skies
Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes is also focused on preserving the region’s dark skies, which benefit both wildlife and people. In November 2024, Lake County was selected for CTO’s Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program, to help the destination earn certification as an International Dark Sky Place. Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes has already begun laying the groundwork for certification, including creating an internship with Colorado Mountain College Leadville to collect dark sky data.
Additionally, the destination promotes night sky talks hosted by the U.S. Forest Service Leadville Ranger District, which began at Twin Lakes in 2023. These talks offer stargazing opportunities, storytelling, and education on the importance of dark skies. In the summer of 2024, the U.S. Forest Service expanded the program to include telescope observations, drawing over 60 attendees to the first event. To accommodate the growing interest, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes has procured a second telescope, providing even more opportunities for the public to learn about and appreciate the night sky.
Share Your Success Story
Do you have a destination stewardship success story to share? We’d love to hear about the impactful work you’re doing in Colorado! Please reach out to the CTO and let us know how you’re making a difference.
