Our Sponsors

This competition is about more than trophies, brisket, and bragging rights.

The Leadville BBQ Trail was created to help our community recover from the impacts of the Willow Fire. We’re looking for competitors who want to do more than cook great BBQ, we want pitmasters who want to be part of helping Leadville recover, bring some much-needed joy to our community, and give people a reason to come together for a great day.

Our goal is to bring visitors back to Leadville and get them moving throughout downtown, following the smoke from one BBQ location to the next while discovering and supporting our local businesses along the way.

At the same time, we're raising money for three local nonprofits:

• Leadville/Lake County Chamber of Commerce
• Lake County Community Fund – Disaster Relief Fund
• Follow the Footsteps Free Ski Program
• 
  

So bring your smoker, your team, your best BBQ and your community spirit.

Come compete. Help Leadville recover. Bring some joy. And let's follow the smoke together. 🔥

The Leadville BBQ Trail will feature two BBQ competitions, giving both experienced pitmasters and backyard BBQ warriors a chance to fire up their smokers and compete at 10,152 feet!

🔥 Masters Competition - $150
For experienced competition BBQ teams ready to put their skills to the test and battle for the top honors in Leadville.

🔥 Backyard Competition - $85
For backyard pitmasters ready to take their BBQ game to the next level, experience sanctioned competition, and see how their best BBQ stacks up against the competition.

Whether you're a seasoned competitor or ready to make the jump from the backyard to the competition circuit, there's a place for you on the Leadville BBQ Trail.

Bring your smoker. Bring your best BBQ. Bring the smoke.

Only 18 total competition spots are available, first come, first served!

For any vendors who want to serve more than just a sample, they could fall into one of these categories:

• Already have a 2026 temp vendor (Temporary Food Establishment or TFE) license from another county.
  • $50 fee
  • Submit the vendor application
  • Provide copy of TFE License (emailed photo is fine)

• Out-of-county licensed mobile retail food establishment
  • No fee
  • No vendor application, but must fill out and return attached “Temp Event Mobile RFE Checklist”
  • Provide copy of 2026 Retail Food Establishment license (emailed photo is fine)

• Not licensed in any form
  • $255 fee for Lake County temp vendor license
  • Submit vendor application

We're working on the awards and prize package as we speak, and we'll have more information to share very soon!

Remember, we're building this entire competition in less than 50 days, so things are moving FAST. We're working with our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and BBQ community to make the inaugural Leadville BBQ Trail something special.

The People’s Choice Award is a big part of the Leadville BBQ Trail experience! All competitors are required to provide BBQ samples for our guests to taste as they follow the trail.

Guests will sample the BBQ, meet the pitmasters, and cast their votes for their favorite team.

Bring your best bite, Leadville gets to decide who takes home the People’s Choice Award!

More award and prize details are coming soon. Stay tuned, keep the smoker ready, and get prepared to bring the smoke to 10,152 feet!

We're working on the awards and prize package as we speak, and we'll have more information to share very soon!

Remember, we're building this entire competition in less than 50 days, so things are moving FAST. We're working with our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and BBQ community to make the inaugural Leadville BBQ Trail something special.

The People’s Choice Award is a big part of the Leadville BBQ Trail experience! All competitors are required to provide BBQ samples for our guests to taste as they follow the trail.

Guests will sample the BBQ, meet the pitmasters, and cast their votes for their favorite team.

Bring your best bite, Leadville gets to decide who takes home the People’s Choice Award!

More award and prize details are coming soon. Stay tuned, keep the smoker ready, and get prepared to bring the smoke to 10,152 feet!

Ready to compete in the Leadville BBQ Trail Masters or Backyard Competition?

With only 18 total competition spots available, don't wait too long, the pits are first come, first served!

To request an application or get more 

information, email:

Information@coloradoebikeshop

Bring your team. Bring your best BBQ. Bring the smoke to 10,152 feet!