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About Silverton
About Silverton
Silverton is one of the least altered mining towns in Colorado, and the Old West legacy here survives in a mountain setting that does most of the work. About 600 people live in the town year round. Mining heritage and outdoor recreation are the two things it runs on, and it delivers both without much polish on top.
Sitting in the heart of the San Juan Mountains puts Colorado's alpine terrain right at the edge of the street grid. San Juan National Forest is close by with hiking trails, mountain biking routes, and camping, and the lakes and streams in the area cover fishing and water recreation.
The Alpine Loop runs out of Silverton and is the reason a lot of people arrive with four-wheel-drive, climbing through some of the best high-country scenery in the state. Trail systems around town range from flat nature walks to hard mountain routes, and there are hot springs nearby for the end of a long day outside.
The historic downtown district has shops and restaurants in older buildings that carry the area's mining heritage, and the Silverton Historical Museum nearby lays out the region's past. Preserving that character and the land around it has been a steady local priority.
Silverton draws visitors for the backcountry access and the history both, and the mining-town look and the mountains behind it are why it holds up.
- Population
- 600
- Elevation
- 9,318 ft
- Best time
- Summer
- Known for
- Mining History
What's Silverton actually like?
Silverton is an old mining town that never really stopped looking like one, which is most of the appeal. It sits high in the San Juan Mountains and the whole place runs on its mining past and the people who come up to get outside. There isn't much polish to it, and nobody here seems to want any.
What is the Alpine Loop?
It's a four-wheel-drive route that climbs through the San Juans and connects a string of old mining sites. You need a high-clearance vehicle for most of it, and parts open late because the snow lingers up there. The scenery is the reason people put up with the washboard roads.
What can you do outdoors around Silverton?
Most folks come for hiking and the high country, with the San Juan National Forest right at the edge of town and trails heading off in every direction. There's fishing and camping too. It's a small base camp for a very big stretch of mountains.
Is there much history to see in town?
Silverton's downtown is the history. The Silverton Historical Museum lays out the mining story, and a lot of the buildings around it date back to those years. It's an easy place to spend an afternoon poking around on foot.
How do I get to Silverton?
Most people drive in on Highway 550, the stretch known as the Million Dollar Highway, and it's a slow, winding hour north of Durango. The nearest airport is Durango-La Plata County, and Denver is roughly seven hours away by car. If you're nervous behind the wheel, that 550 drive is something to know about before you go.
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