Lenado

Perched at 8,540 feet in Pitkin County, Lenado is a ghost town that once sustained a small but active community along Woody Creek Road near Woody Creek. At its peak in the late 1800s, the town drew roughly 300 residents, its fortunes tied directly to local lead and zinc deposits.

When lead prices fell, the town emptied out quickly. A brief revival came after 1917, when wartime demand created a zinc shortage, but that resurgence was short-lived and Lenado never regained its former footing.

Visitors today will find a quiet, high-elevation setting reached via Woody Creek Road. The site offers a glimpse into a once-active Colorado mining community, though little infrastructure remains. Access is seasonal given the elevation, with summer and early fall being the most practical window for a visit.