Apr 10
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Silverton, Colorado
Just north of Durango over Molas Pass lies the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado and it’s a perfect place to take a hike. The drive alone is worth the trip and if you are so inclined you can take the Durango Silverton train and not worry about missing out on the dramatic scenery.
Believe me when I say you don’t want to take your eyes off the road during this trip so maybe you should leave the driving to the train engineer. When the train arrives it is right in the center of Silverton so you are able to get around town very easily.
Part of Silverton’s charm is it’s still unpaved side streets and the old west feel. There are abundant hiking opportunities around Silverton but if you came by train you will need to rent a jeep to get you to the trailhead. It is well worth it to get out and explore this area on foot.
View of Silverton, Colorado
Other great pastimes in Silverton include fly fishing, jeep tours, mine tours, ghost towns and shopping. Stop into the visitors center on the south end of Greene Street for more information on the Silverton area.
Have dinner in Silverton at Handlebars, Pickle Barrel or the Bent Elbow and if you’ve spent the day hiking and are all tuckered out, there are quite a few lodging options in Silverton.
Places like The Wyman Hotel & Inn (has a first class reputation), The Grand Imperial or The Teller House B&B are good bets. Silverton is a busy place during the summer months so you may want to make an advanced reservation.
Winter in Silverton
If you’re looking to get away from the crowds and chaos of the I-70 corridor ski areas, Silverton is the place for you. Laid back Silverton is just as stunning in the winter as it is in summer and maybe more so. With the snow-capped towering peaks of the rugged San Juan Mountains surrounding Silverton you will be in awe of mother natures magnificent work. Silvertons winter sports are numerous and extreme.
Silverton Mountain located just outside of town boasts some of the countrys best extreme skiing and at 13,487 feet, it is the highest ski area in North America. This mountain is for advanced level and expert skiers/boarders only and is a no frills hard core ski mountain.
On the other end of the ski mountain spectrum is Kendall Mountain located right in the town of Silverton. Kendall Mountain is ideal for families and beginning to intermediate skiers. If skiing or snowboarding is not for you, try tubing or skating.
If you’re in Silverton during December be sure to attend the Yule Log Celebration and Sugar Plum festival on December 5th and don’t miss the Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration in December where the town holds a community pot luck with holiday flair.
During February when winter has a firm hold on the town, it’s time to celebrate with the Snowscape Winter Carnival where you can participate in a snowshoe race or a snowball fight and enjoy a parade, fireworks and other festivities.
Although Silverton is a small Colorado mountain town it is big on giving visitors many options for accommodations. From the small hotel/motel establishments to B&B’s and vacation home rentals, Silverton offers some good variety and friendly proprietors.
As with many Colorado mountain towns, there are historical hotels with modern amenities and rustic cabins for those who want an authentic, no frills experience. During the summer months Silverton tends to get booked up on weekends so make sure to plan early especially for those long holiday weekends like Fourth of July.
Restaurants in Silverton
If you’re looking for good, tasty food and great atmosphere there is a restaurant for you in Silverton.Names like the Brown Bear Cafe, Shady Lady Saloon and Cow Palace Cafe reflect the towns western heritage and any of the local eateries offer good old fashioned comfort food prepared just like mom would make it.
Some restaurants are big on the western cowboy theme and Handlebars is the place to be for soaking it all up. For lighter fare try the Avalanche Coffee House or Bistro LaRue. Whatever your hankering for I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking at one of Silverton’s local restaurants.
Activities Around Silverton
There is so much to do around this small town you need at least a few weeks to get it all in. From hiking in some of the most remote areas of Colorado to jeep tours, whitewater rafting, mine tours and fly fishing there are plenty of activities here for the outdoor enthusiast.
You can take a ride on a stagecoach through town or learn about Silvertons history from the Mining Heritage Center and its museum and county jail. There is even A Theater Group in this small mountain town. Take your time here and get a good feel for the days when mining and cowboys ruled this rugged southwest Colorado town.
