Alma ColoradoATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Alma, Colorado.
1. Montgomery Reservoir
SCENIC ALPINE LAKE
Montgomery Reservoir is a breathtaking alpine lake located near Alma, offering stunning mountain views and excellent fishing opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking around the reservoir or simply taking in the spectacular scenery surrounded by towering peaks. The reservoir is accessible via a short drive from Alma and is particularly beautiful during summer months when wildflowers bloom along its shores.
2. Mount Democrat
POPULAR 14ER SUMMIT
Mount Democrat is one of the accessible 14,000+ foot peaks (14ers) near Alma, offering hikers a challenging but achievable summit experience. The trail to the summit provides panoramic views of the surrounding Colorado Rockies and is part of the popular DeCaLiBron loop that includes multiple 14ers. Hikers typically access Mount Democrat from the Kite Lake trailhead, making it a favorite destination for peak baggers visiting the Alma area.
3. Kite Lake
HIGH ALPINE BASE CAMP
Kite Lake sits at a breathtaking 12,400 feet elevation and serves as the starting point for several popular 14er hikes near Alma. The lake features a rustic campground that serves as an ideal base camp for outdoor enthusiasts looking to summit the surrounding peaks. During summer months, the area transforms into a wildflower paradise with stunning alpine scenery in all directions.
4. Buckskin Joe Ghost Town
HISTORIC MINING SETTLEMENT
Buckskin Joe Ghost Town represents the fascinating mining history of the Alma region, offering visitors a glimpse into Colorado's gold rush era. The abandoned settlement once thrived as a bustling mining community before being largely abandoned during a devastating smallpox epidemic. History enthusiasts can explore the remaining structures and imagine life during the town's heyday in the late 1800s.
5. Alma Cemetery
HISTORIC FINAL RESTING PLACE
Alma Cemetery offers a hauntingly beautiful glimpse into the town's past with weathered headstones dating back to the mining boom days. Visitors can wander among the graves of early settlers, miners, and victims of the smallpox epidemic that once devastated the community. The cemetery's elevated location provides sweeping views of the surrounding mountains while telling the poignant stories of those who shaped this high-altitude town.
6. Mosquito Pass
HIGHEST VEHICLE PASS
Mosquito Pass is renowned as one of Colorado's most challenging four-wheel-drive routes and holds the distinction of being the highest vehicle pass in the United States. The rugged trail climbs to over 13,000 feet between Alma and Leadville, offering adventurous visitors spectacular alpine scenery and a true high-country driving experience. History buffs will appreciate knowing the route was once used as a mail delivery path during the mining era, earning the nickname "The Highway of Frozen Death."
7. Paris Mill
HISTORIC MINING OPERATION
Paris Mill stands as a remarkable remnant of Alma's gold mining heyday, processing precious ore from surrounding mines during the late 1800s. The historic structure provides visitors with a tangible connection to the industrial processes that extracted wealth from the surrounding mountains. Though weathered by time, the mill represents an important piece of Colorado's mining heritage and the economic foundation upon which Alma was built.
8. Alma Community Church
RESTORED FIELDSTONE LANDMARK
The Alma Community Church is a beautiful fieldstone building constructed by local residents in 1936 that now serves as a meeting and event center. Listed on the State Register of Historic Places, this carefully restored structure represents the spiritual and community life of Alma's residents through the decades. Visitors appreciate both the craftsmanship of the stonework and the building's continued role in bringing together residents and visitors for various gatherings.
9. South Park City Museum
LIVING HISTORY EXPERIENCE
South Park City Museum in nearby Fairplay is an impressive outdoor museum featuring over 40 historic buildings that recreate an authentic 1880s mining town. Each structure has been carefully restored and filled with thousands of period artifacts that bring Colorado's mining history vividly to life. Visitors can wander through the saloon, general store, blacksmith shop, and many other buildings that provide an immersive glimpse into frontier life just a short drive from Alma.
10. Mount Bross
CONTROVERSIAL PEAK EXPERIENCE
Mount Bross stands as one of the prominent 14,000+ foot peaks surrounding Alma and is part of the popular DeCaLiBron loop for ambitious hikers. The mountain has a complex access situation due to private property issues, though many hikers still enjoy views from near its summit. From its lofty heights, visitors can see remnants of historic mining operations that once extracted valuable minerals from these high-altitude slopes.
11. South Park Saloon
HISTORIC MOUNTAIN TAVERN
South Park Saloon offers visitors and locals alike a warm, rustic atmosphere to enjoy food and drinks at America's highest incorporated town. The establishment serves hearty mountain fare perfect for refueling after outdoor adventures in the surrounding wilderness. Guests appreciate the authentic mountain town ambiance and the opportunity to mingle with locals who have fascinating stories about life at 10,578 feet above sea level.
12. Ladies' Aid Hall
PRESERVED COMMUNITY HERITAGE
The Alma Ladies' Aid Hall began its life as an office for a 1870s silver mining smelter before becoming headquarters for the local Ladies' Aid Society. This wooden structure on Main Street represents the important social and charitable work undertaken by women in this frontier mining community. The town-owned property stands as a physical reminder of both Alma's industrial past and the community organizations that helped bind its residents together.
13. Alma Cabin/Clesson Cabin
PIONEER ERA STRUCTURE
The Alma Cabin, also known as the Clesson Cabin, is believed to be one of the oldest surviving structures in town, dating back to circa 1874. This rustic log structure represents the humble beginnings of settlement in this high mountain environment during Colorado's mining boom. The historic cabin is currently being rehabilitated to serve future visitors as a visitor center and museum, preserving an authentic piece of Alma's early days.
14. Hoosier Pass
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE CROSSING
Hoosier Pass marks the Continental Divide at 11,542 feet elevation on Highway 9 just south of Alma, offering spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Travelers can stop at the pass to take photos at the Continental Divide sign and enjoy the alpine scenery that changes dramatically with the seasons. The pass serves as both a geographic milestone for road-trippers and a scenic overlook where visitors can appreciate the dramatic high-country landscape that defines this region of Colorado.
15. Al-Mart General Store
MOUNTAIN TOWN ESSENTIALS
Al-Mart General Store serves as Alma's central shopping destination, offering visitors and residents essential supplies, snacks, and local merchandise. The store provides a charming small-town shopping experience where travelers can stock up before heading into the surrounding wilderness areas. Visitors appreciate both the practical necessities available and the opportunity to chat with friendly staff who share insights about local attractions and conditions.