Updated October 28, 2026 01:27PM
- Trail: Hagerman Tunnel via Colorado Midland Centennial Trail
- Length:8 miles
- Elevation Gain:800 feet
- Why hike it now: Catch the last glimpses of fall and the first glimpses of winter
Growing up in Leadville, Colorado, I took a lot of the area’s history for granted. You’re surrounded by it when you venture into the mountains around town. At a certain point, the rusting mining equipment, deserted structures, and phantom railroads start blending into the scenery. But as an adult, I’ve started revisiting the old trails I used to hike with my parents, and I’m experiencing them all over again with a new appreciation for the stories they tell.
Recently, I hiked an old family favorite, and it became a new personal one. The hike to Hagerman Tunnelack that starts just below treeline and climbs above it, following an old railroad grade and passing two alpine lakes and a ghost town before arriving at the abandoned railroad tunnel
The area has a rich railroad history. When Colorado Midland Railway built the tunnel in 1887, it was the highest standard-gauge railroad tunnel of its kind in North America—a massive engineering feat for the era. You follow a grade as you hike through narrow canyons the railway company carved over 100 years ago. The old ghost town of Douglass City sits below the tunnel. It was once a rowdy, one-street labor camp for railroad workers.
The hike itself is pretty mellow, with just
The hike itself is pretty mellow, with just 800 feet of elevation gain. It climbs gently through lodgepole pines and blue spruce, snaking up above the treeline. Roughly three miles in, you’ll pass Hagerman Lake, a pristine body of water where anglers fish for cutthroat and rainbow trout. There are a few small dispersed camping sites at Hagerman Lake if you want to make this an overnight trip. From there, it’s just a little more than a half mile to the tunnel. On your left, you’ll pass another, smaller lake, beside which lie the ruins of Douglass City (really just a handful of rotting building foundations at this point). The Douglass City trail descends to the ghost town. It also acts as a shortcut if you want to get back to the car faster.
When you finally arrive at Hagerman Tunnel, you’ve reached the end of the hike. Entry is discouraged, and signs warn hikers of the risks of cave-in or rockfall. The ground is nearly impassable, anyway, covered with thick sheets of ice and pools of dark water. However, you can stand at the tunnel’s mouth, peering into the darkness, and imagine the old mining locomotives that used to thunder through the mountain.
As you start descending from the tunnel, the trail faces east. It looks out toward the Mosquito Range. Below is Turquoise Lake and the town of Leadville. The views for such an easy and historic hike are well worth the effort of getting there. Extend your trail time by connecting with the Windsor Lake Trail on your way out to catch another stunning alpine lake and two extra miles of hiking.
