How high is Leadville?

Leadville sits at 10,171 ft (3,100 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits above Colorado’s average of 6,867 ft (2,093 m) — a relatively high spot, with only about 10% of the state higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Leadville, Colorado area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Leadville, from our satellite elevation model. Leadville is marked at 10,171 ft (3,100 m); the highest ground in view reaches 14,380 ft (4,383 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

Leadville in Colorado

Here’s the useful context: Leadville, at 10,171 ft (3,100 m), sits roughly 3,304 ft (1,007 m) above Colorado’s average elevation of 6,867 ft (2,093 m). It is one of the higher places in its state — our model puts only about 10% of Colorado’s land higher.

3,333 ft — Colorado low▲ Leadville 10,171 ft · avg 6,867 ft ┈14,416 ft — Colorado high

The terrain around Leadville

The ground right around Leadville is fairly even, close to 10,171 ft (3,100 m), so the city itself feels level underfoot. But the window still catches higher country: the terrain climbs to 14,380 ft (4,383 m) toward the west edge of the view, which is what gives Leadville its mountain backdrop.

You can read the whole story in the map above — the flatter ground where the city sits, and the way the land gathers into peaks nearby. It’s the difference between where you stand and what you can see from it.

What Leadville’s altitude means

At 10,171 ft (3,100 m), Leadville sits in serious high-altitude terrain — well above the ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) line, and high enough that altitude sickness is likely without acclimatizing. The air holds far less oxygen than at sea level, and the effects — headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep — can arrive fast.

Treat the altitude with respect: spend a night or two lower if you can, ascend gradually, hydrate constantly, skip alcohol early, and learn the warning signs of altitude illness. Symptoms that keep worsening mean it’s time to go down. It’s beautiful country, but it asks your body to adjust.

How Leadville compares

Among Colorado’s larger cities, Leadville is the highest by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it well above Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

Leadville — 10,171 ft (3,100 m)
Steamboat Springs — 6,736 ft (2,053 m)
Durango — 6,549 ft (1,996 m)
Colorado Springs — 6,020 ft (1,835 m)
Montrose — 5,814 ft (1,772 m)
Cañon City — 5,361 ft (1,634 m)
Denver — 5,285 ft (1,611 m)

Leadville elevation FAQ

How high is Leadville?: Leadville’s elevation is about 10,171 ft (3,100 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Leadville high or low for Colorado?: High. At 10,171 ft (3,100 m) it sits above Colorado’s average of 6,867 ft (2,093 m), with only about 10% of the state higher.
Does Leadville’s altitude affect visitors?: Yes. At 10,171 ft (3,100 m), Leadville is at genuine high altitude, near or above the ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) line where altitude sickness is a real risk; give yourself a day to acclimatize and hydrate hard.

Explore more

↑ Colorado’s full elevation map — the whole state in interactive 3D, with its high and low points and average elevation.
· Blog: Average Elevation by State — where Colorado’s 6,867 ft (2,093 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Leadville’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the Colorado figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 209 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Data as of 2026-08-19.