At 9,300 feet in the heart of the San Juans, Silverton packs an extraordinary amount of adventure into a very small package.
Hiking & 14ers
Silverton is the base camp for some of Colorado's most dramatic hiking. The surrounding San Juan Mountains contain dozens of 13,000+ foot peaks and several 14ers, all accessible from town.
Chicago Basin (14ers): The crown jewel — four 14,000-foot peaks (Windom, Sunlight, Eolus, and North Eolus) accessible via a 2-3 day backpacking trip. Get off the Narrow Gauge at the Needleton stop to start the approach.
Day hikes: Ice Lakes Basin (stunning turquoise lakes), Little Molas Lake (easy, great views), Kendall Mountain (local favorite, panoramic summit), and the Animas River Trail along the valley floor.
Silver Mining History
Silverton was born in the silver rush of the 1870s. At its peak, the town had 3,000 residents, dozens of mines producing millions in silver ore, and a Wild West reputation that attracted outlaws and fortune-seekers from across the country.
Greene Street Historic District: The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk the wooden boardwalks, peek into the restored storefronts, and imagine the boom-town energy of 1880.
San Juan County Historical Society Museum: Excellent collection of mining artifacts, historic photos, and local lore. Open summers, small admission fee.
Wildflowers
Peak wildflower season in Silverton runs mid-July through mid-August, when the high alpine slopes above town burst into color. The elevation and precipitation of the San Juans create one of the densest wildflower displays in all of Colorado.
Best spots: Stony Pass Road, Cunningham Gulch, Ice Lakes Basin trailhead area, and the slopes just above town on Kendall Mountain Road.
Wildflower Field Guide on Amazon →Winter Adventures
Silverton Mountain: One of the most extreme ski areas in North America — 1,800 acres of expert-only guided terrain, 400+ inches of annual snowfall, and snowcat access to even more. Not for the faint of heart.
Snowmobiling: The backcountry around Silverton is world-class for snowmobiling — hundreds of miles of trails through spectacular high-altitude terrain.
Backcountry skiing & splitboarding: The San Juans around Silverton are legendary in the backcountry skiing community — enormous terrain, massive snowpack, and genuine wilderness.
Pair with Silverton
Take the Train from Durango
The classic way to reach Silverton is on the historic narrow gauge steam railroad from Durango — 45 miles through the spectacular Animas River gorge. Stay in Durango and make it a multi-day adventure.