Leadville right now live
Daily brief · 2026-08-14
Race weekend is here: the Leadville Trail 100 MTB rolls out Saturday morning on a cool, clear setup, low near 47 and a high around 66, with a 42 percent chance the usual afternoon storms build, so riders and crews should plan around exposed sections after noon. Today looks similar: sunny start at 46, high near 65, 47 percent afternoon storm odds, UV around 7.5, and clean air at AQI 33 with no active weather alerts. Anglers: the Arkansas at Granite read 64.9 F Thursday evening (USGS provisional), right at the trout-stress line, and flows near Leadville are a skinny 12.6 cfs, so fish early and go easy on the lower river in afternoon heat. Leaving town Monday: US 24 single-lane construction west of Leadville (MP 170-174) resumes Aug 17.
Air quality
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UV max
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Next race
7-day forecast
Up high
Model forecasts corrected to each elevation, conditions above treeline are usually far harsher than town. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer; most parties plan to be off high summits and passes by early afternoon. Check the official NWS forecast before you go.
Water · flows & temps7-day detail
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Trails & roads · notices verified 2026-08-14
Highway status · checked 2026-08-13, evening (MT)
Leadville to I-70 at Copper Mtn, MP 0 to 22.6 · Chance of light rain showers. Wind gusts up to 12 mph.
Leadville to Minturn
Alternating single-lane traffic 7 AM to 7 PM on Aug 17, 18 and 20. Reduced speeds, 11 ft width limit, delays up to 20 minutes.
Intermittent one-lane alternating traffic, shoulder closures and a 40 mph limit, 7 AM to 7 PM on Aug 20. Delays up to 15 minutes, 12 ft width limit.
One-lane alternating traffic with flaggers during the day through September 6. Two lanes open at night.
Highway data from CDOT / COtrip, state highways only. County and forest roads are covered in the notices below.
USFS issued a reduced Willow Fire closure order (02-12-01-26-33) on Aug 10, in effect through Sep 30 unless rescinded. The closed area sits west of town, roughly from the south shore of Turquoise Lake south past Halfmoon Road. Still closed: Mount Massive Wilderness, North Mount Elbert Trail 1484, Windsor Lake and Highline/Native Lake trails, North Halfmoon Creek Trail 1485, Willow Creek Trailhead, and the Elbert Creek and Halfmoon East/West campgrounds. Evacuation orders were lifted July 30. The 2026 Leadville 100 courses were revised around the closure, confirm final maps with official race communications.
Official source: USFS Pike-San Isabel NF
Stage 2 fire restrictions (order 02-12-00-26-29) cover the Leadville Ranger District through Nov 14 unless rescinded. No campfires, charcoal, or wood stoves anywhere on forest land, gas or liquid fuel stoves only, in a cleared area. No smoking outside an enclosed vehicle or building. Crews and campers on National Forest land race weekend, this applies to you. Fire danger in the Leadville district is currently posted High.
Official source: USFS Pike-San Isabel NF
The road over Mosquito Pass (13,185 ft) is a rough, high-clearance 4x4 route, typically passable only mid-summer through early fall depending on snow. There is no official live status feed for this county road, conditions reports from recent travelers and the ranger district are the best sources.
Official source: USFS Leadville Ranger District
Checked each morning against official sources, USFS alerts, InciWeb fire closures, and CDOT. Always verify with the land manager before you go: Pike-San Isabel NF (Leadville Ranger District) · COtrip road conditions (US 24 / CO 91) · CAIC avalanche forecasts (winter).
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Planning a trip up here?
Start with the altitude guide, at 10,152 feet how you handle your first 48 hours matters more than anything you pack. Then: where to stay, getting here, the Leadville 100 crew guide, acclimatization strategies for racers, 16 years of race-weekend weather, and Mosquito Pass. All guides live under Guides.