Leadville Airport: Aviation at America's Highest Elevation
The airport serving Leadville, Colorado — the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,152 feet — sits at the extraordinary elevation of 9,927 feet above sea level, making it the highest public airport in the country. Known as Lake County Airport (LXV), this remarkable facility serves the historic silver mining community and the surrounding Lake County region, where altitude is not merely a statistic but a daily lived reality affecting everything from cooking to athletic performance to aircraft operations. The airport's elevation in the headwaters of the Arkansas River valley, flanked by Mounts Elbert and Massive — Colorado's two highest peaks — creates aviation conditions found nowhere else in the continental United States.
Flying to Leadville requires not just altitude awareness but a complete reorientation of aviation performance expectations. At nearly 10,000 feet, the atmosphere holds roughly 70% of the air molecules found at sea level, meaning engines produce about 30% less power and wings must travel faster to generate the same lift. The Colorado Division of Aeronautics specifically includes LXV in its mountain airport safety programs, and the FAA's Northwest Mountain Region uses Leadville as a benchmark case study in high-altitude operations training. Despite — or perhaps because of — these challenges, LXV attracts experienced mountain pilots who consider a successful Leadville operation a meaningful test of their skill and airmanship.
What makes Leadville Airport operationally unique?
Lake County Airport at Leadville is the highest public airport in the United States at 9,927 feet MSL. This extreme elevation means all aircraft performance metrics — takeoff roll, climb rate, engine output — are dramatically degraded compared to sea-level or even typical Colorado Front Range operations. The airport demands more careful performance planning than virtually any other public airport in the country.
What aircraft regularly use LXV?
LXV sees a mix of turbine aircraft (which handle the altitude better than pistons), lightly loaded single-engine piston aircraft flown by experienced mountain pilots, and occasionally ultralight or experimental aircraft. Commercial airliner service has never been established at LXV due to the extreme performance challenges, and large business jets are rare visitors.
What precautions should pilots take before flying to Leadville?
Pilots should complete a mountain flying course or checkout with an experienced instructor, compute performance charts for the specific aircraft and forecast conditions, plan for early morning departure when density altitude is lowest, carry oxygen for any flight above 12,500 feet MSL, and file a flight plan. Familiarity with engine leaning procedures at altitude is essential for piston pilots.
Is Leadville worth visiting as a travel destination?
Absolutely. Leadville is one of Colorado's most historically significant communities, with a remarkable silver mining heritage, well-preserved Victorian architecture, and proximity to the highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains. The Leadville 100 mountain bike race and Leadville Trail 100 ultramarathon have made the town internationally famous in endurance sports circles.
Leadville Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Leadville, Colorado.
| Name | Leadville Airport |
| Address | 524 West 3rd Street, Leadville CO 80461 Map |
| Phone | (719) 486-2627 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Leadville Airport
Visiting Leadville and Lake County Airport
Lake County Airport serves Leadville, the highest city in the United States, located in a stunning mountain valley at 10,152 feet. The airport has limited on-field services compared to larger Colorado GA airports; pilots should pre-plan fuel and any required aircraft servicing. Leadville itself is a short drive from the airport and offers a charming Victorian-era downtown with restaurants, shops, and the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. Accommodations are available in town, though amenities are those of a small historic mountain community rather than a resort destination.
Leadville's location near Mount Elbert, Mount Massive, and the Tennessee Pass corridor makes it a superb base for high-altitude hiking and wilderness exploration. The airport sits within easy reach of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and the Continental Divide, with numerous 14er trailheads accessible by car from town. Pilots visiting Leadville for the first time are encouraged to research LXV's operational environment thoroughly, connect with experienced mountain flying resources, and plan departures for early morning hours when cool temperatures reduce density altitude to its daily minimum — maximizing available aircraft performance for the demanding departure from America's highest public airport.