New London Mine - Leadville, CO - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

"Right on this road to the NEW LONDON MINE, 1.5 m., one of the most productive gold mines in the United States."

--- Colorado: A Guide to the Highest State, 1941

In June 1861, a camp was settled on the pass over the Mosquito Range to mine in the area. A mosquito was crushed between two pages of a book during a town meeting, and being the only name they could agree on, the camp of Mosquito was born.

The New London mines along this pass became some of the most productive gold mines in the area. Today, visitors can get close to the remains of the mine as well as the mill down the gap from the mine. DO NOT ENTER the structures. They are private property and not safe.

Mosquito Pass leads over the mountains to Alma. In 1879, it became part of the toll road from Denver to the mines at Leadville. Once it was called the "fast freight route" and the fare from Fairplay to Leadville was $6! Also known as the "highway of Frozen death" as many suffered and lost their lives attempting to cross this high pass.

Once the railroad was run through Leadville, use for this toll road diminished. Due to it's altitude and steepness, use of the road was limited to only the summer months. As it was on July 31, 2009, we ventured up the pass under a blanket of fresh snow cover.

The trail is 13.6 miles and one should allow 2-3 hours for travel...stopping to gawk along the way will make the trip longer. Rated at moderate difficulty level, the steep, rocky incline would be best traveled by vehicles with high ground clearance. The west side of the pass (Leadville side) is a narrow, rocky ledge with some switchbacks, that quickly bring you up to the 13,185 foot pass. You'll continue on this rocky ledge over the pass eastward, until you pass the London mine. The road becomes somewhat wider and more level at this point.