About Leadville Downtown BBQ Trail and Backyard BBQ Contest
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Our Mission
Follow the smoke, support Leadville, and have a whole lot of fun doing it!
The Leadville BBQ Trail brings great BBQ, great people, and great energy to 10,152 feet while getting visitors out exploring our town and supporting local businesses. Born from our community’s determination to bounce back from the impacts of the Willow Wildfire, we’re turning a challenging year into an opportunity to come together, raise money for local nonprofits, and create something worth celebrating.
We’re firing up the smokers, rebuilding a Leadville tradition, and laying the groundwork for the return of the Leadville BBQ & Brews Festival in 2027.
Come hungry. Bring your friends. Follow the smoke. Support Leadville.
Experience the BBQ Trail
The Leadville BBQ Trail isn't your typical BBQ festival. Instead of putting everything in one location, we're spreading the fun across different venues along Harrison Avenue and throughout downtown Leadville.
Grab your BBQ Trail map and make your way from stop to stop, discovering competition BBQ, local businesses, great food, entertainment, and plenty of Leadville personality along the way.
And don't just taste the BBQ, help crown the winner! Sample your way along the trail and vote for your favorite BBQ competitor in the People's Choice Award. Your vote helps determine who earns the ultimate bragging rights as Leadville's favorite BBQ!
The whole idea is to get you moving! Stop for BBQ, wander into a local shop, grab a drink, discover a business you've never visited, then follow the smell of the next smoker down the trail.
There's no single place to experience the Leadville BBQ Trail...
the experience is Leadville itself.
Come hungry. Explore downtown. Support local. Taste some incredible BBQ. Cast your vote. And most importantly...
Follow the Smoke. Find the BBQ. Pick Your Favorite. Experience Leadville.
Our Sponsors
