Silverton, Colorado

The Last of the Old West — A Victorian Mining Town Locked in the Heart of the San Juans

Silverton sits high up at 9,318 feet, tucked inside a rugged alpine basin and completely surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. The place is so steep and cut off that, for a long time, the only real way in was by train. That’s still the most unforgettable way to get there: hop on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, running since 1882, and you’ll spend three hours winding through the Animas River canyon on a coal-fired steam engine. The train hugs sheer rock walls that plunge down to the river, then finally pops you out into the wide, flat basin where Silverton sits in the shadow of 13,000-foot peaks. The town itself is tiny — fewer than 700 people live there year-round. One main street, Victorian buildings that look almost exactly the way they did during the silver boom, and a setting that’s drawn film crews time and again for over a hundred years.

But Silverton isn’t just about the old buildings or the scenery — it’s the combination that makes it unforgettable. The San Juans here don’t mess around. These aren’t gentle, rounded hills; these are sharp, glacial-carved peaks with serious terrain. Backcountry skiers crave this place. Alpinists come from all over to test themselves on the vertical, technical lines. Silverton Mountain Ski Area is its own beast. One chairlift, no snowmaking, no grooming, just over 1,800 acres of expert and extreme terrain. If that’s not enough, you can hop on a heli or a snowcat to reach even more wild terrain nearby. Then in the summer, the Hardrock 100 ultramarathon kicks off and finishes right in downtown Silverton, sending runners over the surrounding peaks in one of the toughest 100-mile races anywhere.

The town itself rewards anyone who takes the time to look closely. Greene Street, the main drag, has brick storefronts from the 1880s and 90s, back when Silverton’s mines were churning out millions in silver and the place was booming. The courthouse, town hall, and a bunch of other buildings are all on the National Register of Historic Places. Grab a drink or a bite in a bar that’s been a saloon since the Wild West days. Check out the mining museum — the San Juan County Historical Society runs one of the best you’ll find in any small town out West. If you’re looking for a real Colorado mountain town untouched by glossy resort development — a place where the mountains are the real deal, the history is honest, and the town still has its original bones — Silverton stands alone.

Quick Facts

Category	Details
County	San Juan County (county seat; smallest county in Colorado by area)
Elevation	9,318 feet (2,840 m)
Population	~650 year-round; significantly larger in summer
Region	Southwestern Colorado / San Juan Mountains
Ski Area	Silverton Mountain (expert/extreme; guides required for first visit)
Historic Railroad	Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (year-round from Durango)
Avg. Summer High	68°F (July)
Avg. Winter Low	2°F (January)
Annual Snowfall	~180 inches (town); 400+ inches in surrounding mountains
Nearest Town	Ouray (24 miles north via US-550); Durango (50 miles south)
Known For	Mining history, extreme skiing, D&SNG Railroad, Hardrock 100, San Juan Skyway
Best Seasons	Summer (July–Sept) and Winter (Jan–Mar for skiing)

Getting There

Getting to Silverton is half the experience, regardless of which direction you approach. By road, the town is accessed via US-550 — the famous Million Dollar Highway — which approaches from Ouray to the north and Durango to the south. The northern approach from Ouray over Red Mountain Pass (11,018 feet) is one of the most dramatic mountain drives in North America, a narrow two-lane road with steep drop-offs, no guardrails in many sections, and a series of hairpin turns through avalanche country. The southern approach from Durango climbs more gradually through Purgatory and the Animas River valley. From Denver, the drive via US-285 south to Alamosa, then US-160 west to Durango, and finally US-550 north to Silverton covers approximately 340 miles and takes 6 to 7 hours. Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) is the practical air gateway, about 50 miles south. The alternative — and the most atmospheric option — is to arrive by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a three-hour journey through the Animas Canyon that operates year-round.

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the genuine wonders of American transportation heritage — a coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge railway that has operated continuously since 1882 and covers 45 miles of track through the Animas River canyon, a route so remote and geologically dramatic that it has never been paralleled by a highway. The railroad was originally built to haul silver and gold ore out of the San Juan mines; today it carries passengers through terrain that has barely changed in 140 years, and the journey remains one of the most spectacular train rides in North America.

The Journey

Trains depart from the historic Durango depot on Main Avenue and follow the Animas River north through narrow canyon walls that rise hundreds of feet above the tracks on both sides. The route passes through the Animas Canyon — accessible only by rail or on foot — where the river churns through Class IV and V rapids below. Tall ponderosa pines give way to spruce and fir as the elevation climbs. The Needleton and Elk Park stops allow hikers to disembark for access to the Weminuche Wilderness. After three hours and 2,000 feet of climbing, the canyon opens into the Silverton basin. The entire journey one-way takes approximately three hours; the train typically spends two hours in Silverton before returning south.

Logistics & Planning

• Round-trip tickets from Durango to Silverton and back are available for day excursions; one-way tickets let you drive one direction and ride the other
• The train runs year-round, with full summer service from May through October and a winter holiday train operating December through February on a limited schedule
• Summer trains sell out weeks to months in advance; book at durangotrain.com as early as possible for July and August dates
• The open-air gondola cars offer the best views and photography opportunities but are cold in the morning; the enclosed coaches are warmer
• Arrive at the Durango depot at least 30 minutes before departure; parking is available in the depot lot and surrounding streets
• The Cascade Canyon Winter Train operates on a shorter schedule in winter, reaching Cascade Canyon (not Silverton) for a scenic backcountry stop before returning

Arriving by Train

Arriving in Silverton by train is a fundamentally different experience from driving in. The train pulls into the Silverton depot at the north end of Greene Street, and passengers step from a 19th-century vehicle onto a street that looks largely as it did in the 1880s. The two-hour layover is enough for lunch, a visit to the museum, and a walk of the historic district. For visitors who want more time, one-way tickets allow driving one direction and riding the other — arriving by train from Durango and driving out over Red Mountain Pass to Ouray is a particularly rewarding itinerary.

The Million Dollar Highway

US-550 between Ouray and Silverton — the stretch commonly called the Million Dollar Highway — is one of the most famous and most demanding mountain drives in the United States. The name’s origin is disputed: some say it refers to the gold ore used as fill material during the road’s original construction; others attribute it to the million-dollar cost per mile of maintaining the route; still others claim it was a visitor’s remark that no amount of money could get her back on that road. The highway traverses three mountain passes — Molas Pass, Coal Bank Pass, and Red Mountain Pass — in 25 miles, with drop-offs measured in hundreds of feet, no guardrails on many sections, and a reputation for serious avalanche hazard in winter.

Driving the Road

The highway is paved and maintained year-round by CDOT, but it demands full attention and appropriate vehicle speeds regardless of season. In summer the road is genuinely spectacular — every turn reveals new compositions of red, orange, and gray San Juan rock formations, abandoned mine workings perched on impossible slopes, and the valleys dropping away below. Pull-outs are limited and small; do not stop in travel lanes for photos. In winter the road is heavily avalanche-prone and is occasionally closed for control operations — check cotrip.org before travel. Driving north from Silverton to Ouray over Red Mountain Pass is the more dramatic direction, with the steepest sections and most exposed drop-offs on the driver’s side when northbound.

Red Mountain Pass (11,018 ft)

The summit of Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray is one of the most visually striking mountain passes in Colorado. The iron oxide in the surrounding rock stains the hillsides and the remnants of old mine workings a vivid brick red, creating a landscape that looks almost extraterrestrial. The Red Mountain mining district — the Idarado, National Belle, and other mines — produced millions in silver and gold, and the rusting headframes and ore chutes are still visible from the highway. Several pullouts near the summit allow for photography and exploration of the mine ruins.

Molas Pass & Coal Bank Pass

South of Silverton, US-550 crosses Molas Pass (10,910 feet) and Coal Bank Pass (10,640 feet) before descending into the Animas Valley toward Purgatory Resort and Durango. Molas Pass is famous for its access to the Molas Lake area and the Colorado Trail, and the views north from the pass toward Silverton and the surrounding San Juan summits are outstanding. Both passes are beautiful drives in their own right and are heavily used by cyclists on the San Juan Skyway route.

History & the Historic Downtown

Silverton was founded following silver discoveries in the 1870s and incorporated in 1876 — the same year Colorado achieved statehood. At its peak in the 1880s and 1890s, the town supported a population of several thousand and produced extraordinary quantities of silver, gold, zinc, lead, and copper from the mines in the surrounding mountains. Blair Street, running parallel to Greene Street one block west, was the red-light and saloon district, one of the most notorious in the American West. The town’s relative isolation — accessible only by narrow-gauge railroad until automobile roads arrived in the early 20th century — created a self-contained community with its own economy, culture, and social hierarchy.

Greene Street

Greene Street is Silverton’s main commercial avenue, and it is one of the finest intact Victorian streetscapes in Colorado. The brick storefronts date to the 1880s and 1890s, and many have been in continuous use since. The town hall, the county courthouse, several hotels, and the commercial buildings that house today’s restaurants and galleries all retain their original facades. Walking Greene Street and looking at the buildings — their cornices, their brick detailing, their proportions — provides a visceral connection to the scale and ambition of the silver boom era. The mountains rising at the end of every cross street remind you exactly where you are.

San Juan County Historical Society Museum

The San Juan County Historical Society Museum, housed in the original county jail building on Greene Street, is one of the finest small-town mining history museums in the American West. The collection covers the full arc of Silverton’s history from the Ute occupation of the San Juans through the silver rush, the railroad era, the 20th-century transition to base metal mining, and the modern era. Exhibits include original mining equipment, historical photographs, ore samples, and artifacts from the boom years. The jail cells in the original building are preserved and interpretively explained. This museum warrants at least an hour and will significantly enrich the experience of walking the town.

Blair Street

Blair Street, one block west of Greene, was Silverton’s red-light district during the silver boom — a row of saloons, dance halls, gambling dens, and houses of prostitution that operated openly through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Several of the original buildings survive, including the former saloon structures that are among the most atmospheric buildings in town. Blair Street has been used as a film location for westerns and period pieces, and its slightly disreputable historical character is preserved in local storytelling. The Silverton Standard & the Miner newspaper, the oldest continuously published newspaper in Colorado, has covered the town’s history since 1875.

Old Town Hall & National Historic Landmark District

Silverton’s entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town hall — a brick Victorian building with a distinctive bell tower — is one of the district’s anchor landmarks. The building continues to serve as the center of town government. The courthouse, built in 1907, and the associated county administration buildings form a civic core that gives Silverton a sense of institutional stability unusual for a town of its size. Together, the historic buildings of downtown Silverton constitute one of the most complete Victorian mining town preservations in the country.

Silverton Mountain Ski Area

Silverton Mountain is the most extreme and most unconventional ski area in the United States — a single-lift operation with no snowmaking, no grooming, no ski school, and no beginners. It accesses 1,819 acres of steep, lift-served terrain above 12,300 feet, with an additional 23,000 acres of backcountry terrain reachable by guides, snowcat, and helicopter. The mountain’s founding philosophy — build as little infrastructure as possible and focus entirely on the quality of the snow and the challenge of the terrain — has attracted a global following of expert and extreme skiers who regard it as one of the finest snowpack destinations in North America.

The Mountain

The single fixed-grip quad chairlift rises from 10,400 feet at the base to 12,300 feet at the top, delivering riders to the summit ridge with views into the surrounding San Juan peaks and access to chutes, bowls, cliffs, and extreme tree skiing. The mountain receives an average of 400 or more inches of snowfall annually in the surrounding peaks, and the cold, dry San Juan snowpack is renowned for maintaining quality between storms. Every run from the summit is ungroomed; conditions vary from deep powder to wind-scoured crust to variable breakable crust, often on the same slope. The mountain is open Friday through Sunday and on holidays during the ski season, roughly December through April.

Guide Requirement

First-time visitors to Silverton Mountain are required to ski with a certified mountain guide for at least one day before skiing independently. This is not a formality — the mountain has genuine avalanche terrain, complex route-finding, and consequences for navigation errors that make guide orientation genuinely important. The guides are experienced San Juan backcountry professionals who know the mountain’s terrain, its hazard zones, and its best runs in specific snow conditions. Many skiers hire guides repeatedly regardless of experience level; local knowledge on a mountain this complex is always valuable.

Backcountry, Heli-Ski & Snowcat Operations

Beyond the lift-served terrain, Silverton Mountain operates heli-ski and snowcat programs that access the vast backcountry terrain surrounding the mountain. The heli-ski operation accesses remote ridges and bowls that see virtually no skier traffic, with drop-offs into pristine powder on aspects and elevations that preserve quality snow long after lift-served runs have been tracked out. San Juan Expeditions and other guide services operating from Silverton offer multi-day backcountry touring packages into the Weminuche Wilderness and surrounding ranges for experienced ski mountaineers. The San Juans in winter are a serious backcountry skiing destination by any global standard.

Who Should Ski Silverton Mountain

Silverton Mountain is appropriate only for strong intermediate to expert skiers and snowboarders who are comfortable on ungroomed terrain and understand basic avalanche awareness. The mountain’s marketing is direct on this point — if you need groomed runs or ski school, go to Purgatory or Telluride. If you are a capable off-piste skier looking for one of the best lift-accessed powder experiences in North America at a fraction of the cost and crowds of Vail or Aspen, Silverton Mountain is extraordinary. The low lift ticket prices, the small daily capacity cap, and the quality of the snowpack make it one of the best-value serious skiing destinations in Colorado.

Summer Outdoor Recreation

Summer transforms Silverton into a hiking and trail running hub. The San Juan Mountains surrounding the town include some of the most demanding and most beautiful alpine terrain in Colorado, with dozens of 13,000-foot peaks accessible as day hikes and several fourteeners within striking distance. The Colorado Trail and the Colorado Scenic Byway provide structured access; the national forest and wilderness areas beyond offer extensive backcountry for experienced hikers who want solitude.

The Colorado Trail — Silverton Terminus

The Colorado Trail runs 535 miles from Denver to Durango, and its western terminus in Durango is one of the most celebrated long-distance hiking routes in the country. The segment closest to Silverton — approaching from Molas Pass and descending toward Durango through the Lime Creek drainage — is among the most spectacular stretches of the entire trail, with alpine lake basins, open tundra ridgelines, and the dramatic profile of the Grenadier Range visible to the east. Day hikes from the Molas Pass trailhead into the Colorado Trail corridor provide access to this terrain without committing to multi-day travel.

Ice Lakes Basin

Ice Lakes Basin, accessible from the South Mineral Creek trailhead 12 miles north of Silverton on US-550, is one of the most visited and most spectacular alpine destinations in the San Juan Mountains. The trail gains 2,600 feet over approximately 8 miles round trip to the upper basin, where Island Lake and Ice Lake sit in a glacially carved cirque below the ridgeline connecting Fuller Peak and the surrounding summits. The wildflower bloom in late July and early August — columbine, Indian paintbrush, and alpine sunflower at their peak — is among the finest in Colorado. The basin can be crowded on summer weekends; an early morning start secures parking and reduces trail congestion.

Ophir Pass & the Alpine Loop

The Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway is one of Colorado’s premier four-wheel-drive routes, connecting Silverton to Lake City and Ouray via Engineer Pass (12,800 feet) and Cinnamon Pass (12,620 feet). The route traverses some of the highest drivable terrain in North America, passing through abandoned mining districts, across tundra basins, and beside alpine lakes. A high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle is required for the full loop; portions are passable by stock SUVs. Ophir Pass (11,789 feet), accessible by a shorter spur from the main highway south of Silverton, is a somewhat less demanding four-wheel-drive route with outstanding views.

Weminuche Wilderness Access

The Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado’s largest at over 499,000 acres, is accessible from Silverton via multiple trailheads. The Needleton trailhead — reachable by Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad stop in the Animas Canyon — accesses the Chicago Basin, home to three fourteeners (Windom, Sunlight, and Eolus) in one of the most remote and spectacular settings in Colorado. The Chicago Basin approach by train is one of the most distinctive fourteener approaches in the state. Other Weminuche trailheads accessible from near Silverton include the Molas Lake area and the approach routes into the Grenadier Range.

San Juan Hut Systems & Bikepacking

The San Juan Hut System operates a network of backcountry huts connecting Telluride, Silverton, and Ouray via a 215-mile bikepacking and hiking route. The huts are spaced approximately 35 miles apart along a route that crosses mountain passes and traverses the most spectacular terrain in the San Juans. The system accommodates both summer bikepacking and winter ski touring, and the Silverton-area huts access terrain that is otherwise only reachable on foot or bike over multiple days. Reservations are required and popular dates book months in advance.

Hardrock 100 Ultramarathon

The Hardrock 100 Endurance Run, held each July, begins and ends in Silverton and is widely considered the most technically demanding 100-mile footrace in the United States. The course covers 100 miles in the San Juan Mountains with 33,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain, an average elevation of 11,186 feet, and a maximum elevation of 14,048 feet on Handies Peak. The race has a 48-hour cutoff and typical finishing rates below 70 percent. Runners must complete a qualifying race to enter the lottery, and the lottery is oversubscribed many times over. Hardrock’s reputation draws spectators and crew to Silverton each July, and the race’s start and finish on Greene Street are significant community events.

Food & Drink

Silverton’s dining scene is small — a handful of restaurants and bars in the historic downtown — but genuine and consistently improving as the town’s profile as a destination has grown. Options are concentrated on Greene Street and the surrounding blocks. During the summer train season, the town fills at midday with day-trippers from the railroad and the options get busy; eating before or after the peak noon-to-2 PM window makes for a more relaxed experience. In winter, when the population contracts and some businesses close, the remaining open establishments become deeply community-oriented gathering places.

Restaurants & Cafes

• Handlebars Food & Saloon — the most well-known restaurant in Silverton, a large saloon-style space on Greene Street serving burgers, steaks, sandwiches, and pub fare with a Western atmosphere; the most reliable full-service option for large groups or families arriving by train
• Avalanche Coffee — the essential morning stop for espresso, house-baked pastries, and a warm start before heading into the mountains; a community gathering place that doubles as the social hub of Silverton on winter mornings
• Golden Block Brewery — Silverton’s own craft brewery in a historic downtown building, pouring house beers with names rooted in local mining and mountain history; the best option for a post-ski or post-hike pint
• Natalia’s 1912 Restaurant — a more intimate dinner option in a historic building with a menu that goes beyond pub fare; one of the better evening dining choices in town
• Brown Bear Cafe — a local favorite for breakfast and lunch with a relaxed atmosphere and honest cooking; particularly popular with the ski and outdoor crowd in winter
• Pickle Barrel — a long-running deli and quick-service spot ideal for trail lunches, sandwich provisions, and a fast mid-day meal during train layover hours

Drinking

• Miner’s Tavern — a genuine old-school bar on Greene Street with minimal pretension, cold beer, and a character that reflects Silverton’s working roots; the most authentic bar experience in town
• Golden Block Brewery — see above; the craft beer option in town with rotating seasonal taps alongside the flagship house beers

Where to Stay

Lodging in Silverton is limited — the town’s small permanent population means total accommodation inventory is modest, and summer peak season fills it quickly. The handful of historic inns and bed-and-breakfasts in the Victorian downtown are the most atmospheric options. Vacation rentals have expanded the available inventory somewhat. Camping in the surrounding national forest provides a genuine alternative for those with appropriate gear.

Historic Inns & Hotels

• The Grand Imperial Hotel — Silverton’s grandest historic hotel, a three-story Victorian landmark on Greene Street built in 1882; the ornate lobby, bar, and dining room have been meticulously preserved; the most atmospheric lodging in town and the closest to what the silver boom era felt like
• Teller House Hotel — a charming smaller property on Greene Street with individually decorated rooms in a historic building; a personal, bed-and-breakfast style experience
• Triangle Motel — a more basic but well-maintained motel option; practical and centrally located for visitors who want straightforward accommodation
• Wyman Hotel & Inn — a boutique inn in a restored 1902 building with Victorian character and modern comfort; well-regarded for personal service and thoughtful restoration

Vacation Rentals

A growing number of vacation rental cabins and homes in and around Silverton supplement the hotel inventory. VRBO and Airbnb listings cover properties from historic in-town homes to more secluded cabins in the surrounding national forest. Availability is tightest in July and August and on winter ski weekends; booking two to four months ahead is advisable for summer.

Camping

• South Mineral Creek Campground — 26 sites on South Mineral Creek, 12 miles north of Silverton on US-550 near the Ice Lakes trailhead; the most popular camping area near Silverton and the best base for the Ice Lakes Basin hike
• Molas Lake Park Campground — managed by the Town of Silverton, with stunning views of the surrounding San Juan peaks and easy access to the Colorado Trail; one of the most scenically positioned campgrounds in southwestern Colorado
• Sig Creek Campground — further from town on a forest road but quieter and more secluded; good for visitors wanting less-developed camping
• Dispersed camping — extensive free dispersed camping available throughout the San Juan National Forest surrounding Silverton; forest roads provide access but require a map and may need high-clearance vehicles

Events & Festivals

Hardrock 100 Ultramarathon (July)

Silverton’s signature summer event and one of the most famous ultramarathons in the world. The race start on Greene Street in the predawn darkness — headlamps disappearing toward the surrounding ridgelines — is one of the most atmospheric sporting moments in Colorado. The finish line on Greene Street draws community members and crew throughout the 48-hour window as runners return in various states of exhaustion. For spectators, the Ouray aid station and the Grouse Gulch crossing are accessible and rewarding viewing locations along the course.

Silverton Jubilee Folk Music Festival (June)

An intimate folk and roots music festival held in Silverton each June, drawing acoustic performers to the town’s historic venues for a weekend of music in one of the most distinctive settings in Colorado. The festival has a community-oriented spirit and a scale that lets attendees experience the music close-up in a way that larger festivals cannot offer.

Snowdown (January/February — Durango connection)

While centered in Durango, the Snowdown winter festival draws Silverton’s community into the regional celebration each January with ski events, costume contests, and the general mid-winter exuberance that the San Juan region does particularly well. Silverton’s own winter culture centers on the ski mountain and the deep-powder community that gathers when storms cycle through.

San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway Events

The San Juan Skyway — the 236-mile loop connecting Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, and Dolores — hosts cycling events, photography workshops, and driving tours throughout the summer season that use Silverton as an anchor destination. The Silverton-Durango cycling events and the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic (held in late May, connecting Durango and Silverton on a course that climbs Molas and Coal Bank passes) bring significant athletic participation to the region.

Day Trips from Silverton

Ouray — ‘The Switzerland of America’ (24 miles north)

Ouray is 24 miles north of Silverton over Red Mountain Pass on US-550, and the contrast between the two towns is instructive. Ouray is slightly larger, slightly more polished, and home to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool and the famous Ouray Ice Park — a public ice climbing venue in a canyon just south of town that is considered one of the finest ice climbing destinations in North America. The Box Canyon waterfall is accessible by a short trail from town. Ouray and Silverton together make one of the finest two-town itineraries in Colorado — dramatically different in character despite their proximity.

Telluride (46 miles west)

Telluride is accessible from Silverton via a combination of routes — the most direct summer option goes south on US-550 to Durango and west on CO-145, or via the unpaved Ophir Road that connects directly if road conditions allow. Telluride’s ski resort, Victorian downtown, and film festival culture represent one endpoint of the San Juan mountain town spectrum; Silverton represents the other. The contrast is extreme — the same mountain range, completely different economic and cultural trajectories. Telluride’s dining, nightlife, and resort amenities make it a compelling day trip for visitors staying in Silverton.

Durango (50 miles south)

Durango is the regional hub of southwestern Colorado — a full-service city with a lively downtown, excellent dining and brewery scene, Fort Lewis College, and the southern terminus of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The 50-mile drive south on US-550 takes about an hour through the Animas Valley past Purgatory Resort. Durango’s Animas River Trail along the river through town, its Main Avenue restaurant and brewery corridor, and the Mesa Verde access it provides all make it a worthwhile destination in its own right rather than simply a gateway to Silverton.

Lake City (60 miles northeast via Alpine Loop)

Lake City is connected to Silverton by the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway — a four-wheel-drive route crossing Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass through some of the most spectacular high-alpine scenery in the country. In a capable vehicle, the drive from Silverton to Lake City takes three to four hours of careful travel across tundra, through creek crossings, and past abandoned mining infrastructure at 12,000-plus feet. Lake City itself is a charming small town with its own Victorian character and access to Hinsdale County’s exceptional fishing and hiking. The Alpine Loop is a full-day commitment and should be treated as an adventure rather than a routine drive.

Animas Forks (14 miles northeast, four-wheel-drive)

Animas Forks is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Colorado, located 14 miles northeast of Silverton on a four-wheel-drive road following the upper Animas River. The town was a thriving mining community in the 1870s and 1880s, and the surviving structures — including a distinctive bay-windowed house, the old town hall, and numerous cabin ruins — sit at 11,200 feet in an open alpine basin surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks. The drive from Silverton is manageable in a high-clearance vehicle and impassable in a standard passenger car. Animas Forks is one of the most atmospheric ghost town sites in the San Juans.

Practical Information

Altitude & Acclimatization

Silverton’s base elevation of 9,318 feet is high enough to affect visitors arriving from low elevations, and most hiking terrain around the town begins at 10,000 feet and climbs substantially above that. Common altitude adjustment symptoms — headache, disrupted sleep, reduced stamina — typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours. Drink significantly more water than usual, avoid alcohol on arrival day, and plan the first day as an easy orientation day rather than launching directly into a demanding hike. Ice Lakes Basin and other popular trails climb to 12,000-plus feet; give your body time to adapt before high-altitude exertion.

Road Conditions — US-550 & Mountain Roads

The Million Dollar Highway (US-550) between Silverton and Ouray is maintained year-round but is one of the most avalanche-prone highways in Colorado. It is occasionally closed for avalanche control operations, sometimes for hours at a time in active winter storm cycles. Check cotrip.org before any winter travel and budget extra time. Snow tires or chains are strongly recommended for winter travel. Four-wheel-drive roads to Animas Forks, the Alpine Loop, and other backcountry destinations require appropriate vehicles and should not be attempted in standard passenger cars regardless of season.

Services & Supplies

Silverton’s small size means services are limited. The town has a grocery store and basic supplies on Greene Street, a medical clinic, and essential services, but for a comprehensive grocery run, specialty gear, or major purchases, Durango (50 miles south) is the practical resource. Cell coverage in Silverton proper is available with Verizon and AT&T but drops significantly in the canyons, on four-wheel-drive roads, and in the backcountry. Download offline maps before heading into the mountains. Gas is available in Silverton but prices are typically higher than in Durango or Ouray.

Weather & Mountain Safety

Summer afternoons in the San Juans are characterized by afternoon thunderstorms that build rapidly over the peaks from June through August. Morning starts are essential for any hike above treeline — aim to reach summits or high exposed terrain by 11 AM and be heading down well before early afternoon. Lightning on the open ridges above Silverton is a genuine and serious hazard. The San Juan Mountains have more 13,000-foot peaks than any other range in Colorado, and the vast majority of hiking terrain is fully exposed above treeline. Cold, wet weather can arrive with little warning even in summer; always carry rain gear and an insulating layer.

Visitor Information

The Silverton Chamber of Commerce visitor center is located on Greene Street in the historic downtown and provides maps, lodging referrals, event schedules, and current conditions information. Staff are knowledgeable about both the historic sites and the outdoor recreation surrounding the town. The San Juan National Forest Columbine Ranger District office in Durango is the primary source for backcountry permit information, trail conditions, and wilderness regulations for the Weminuche Wilderness and surrounding national forest lands.

Related Articles

• The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: A Complete Guide to Colorado’s Most Iconic Train Journey
• Silverton Mountain: North America’s Most Extreme Lift-Served Ski Area
• Ice Lakes Basin: Hiking the San Juans’ Most Spectacular Alpine Cirque
• The Million Dollar Highway: Driving US-550 Between Silverton and Ouray
• Hardrock 100: Inside the World’s Most Demanding Mountain Ultramarathon