Silverton
Historic mining town and gateway to the Alpine Loop
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Local News
Mudslides Strand Visitors on East Portal Road After Heavy Rain
Colorado Tracks Two Toxic Algae Blooms Amid Record Heat
Colorado Allocates $30.2 Million for Roof Upgrade Grants to Curb Insurance Costs
76 Percent of Coloradans Worry About Affordability in New Pulse Poll
Hudson Residents Rally to Stop GEO Group Immigration Detention Center
Explore Silverton
Local Favorites
Culture & ArtsThe 9318 Collective
Twenty professional local artists and young Silverton creatives share the bright, welcoming space of The 9318 Collective, a cooperative art gallery rooted in the San Juan Mountains. This gallery reflects the creative spirit of a town known for its rugged mining history and alpine landscape, with windows displaying colorful work against historic storefronts. Inside, the space serves as a gathering point for locals and visitors alike. During summer and fall months, daily hours coincide with hands-on classes and the lively First Friday Art Walk from June through September. Owner Beth Anderson leads this cooperative where makers show their work, support one another, and invite the community into the creative process. The 9318 Collective offers a diverse range of art, ensuring that creative curiosity is always welcome in this small mountain town.
Culture & ArtsSan Juan County Historical Society Mining Heritage Center
Silverton’s mining legacy is preserved within the San Juan County Historical Society Mining Heritage Center, a museum dedicated to the industry that built the town. The facility displays a collection of artifacts and exhibits detailing the region's significant mining history, highlighting how extraction operations shaped the development of Silverton and its surrounding areas. Visitors explore these displays to understand the economic and social forces that defined the local landscape. The center operates as a key point of interest for both tourists exploring the area and locals reflecting on their heritage. Accessible facilities and available parking accommodate visitors throughout the week, with the museum open daily from Monday through Sunday. Credit card payments are accepted for entry or gift shop purchases. The institution stands as a primary resource for understanding the specific contributions of the mining industry to the county's identity.
Other PlacesSan Juan County Fire Department
Silverton San Juan Fire & Rescue Authority serves as the emergency services backbone for Silverton and San Juan County, operating out of 1500 Greene Street. Fire Chief Gilbert Archuleta leads a command team that includes Assistant Chiefs Fred Fasching and Jerry Chambers, Captain Nick Fattor, and Lieutenant Wayne Barger. Beyond responding to emergencies, the department actively supports local community events and relies on resident support to sustain its operations. Administrative functions are managed by Secretary Clark Damron, Equipment Officer Daryl Magner, Safety Officer Mario Angeles, Treasurer Ron Renowden, and Training Officer Carson Mordecai. The organization maintains its presence through P.O. Box 532 and can be reached at [email protected].
Other PlacesSilverton Train Store
Herschel Lee Scott, III, known to friends and collectors as Scotty, has been creating railroad art for decades, with his first Southern Pacific caboose #1212 print released in 1987. Our Silverton, Colorado shop specializes in his highly detailed pen and ink drawings of trains and railroad equipment. Scotty creates these illustrations by hand, using a 0.18mm Rotring technical drawing pen and the stippling technique to build tone through tiny dots of ink, working under a magnifying glass on acid-free illustration board. These are not photographs or computer-generated images; they are authentic, hand-drawn pieces of railroad history. Each art print is available in a variety of custom matted and framed combinations, featuring quality framing materials and the finest railroad pins to ensure an heirloom-quality finish. To assure authenticity, every print is embossed with Scott's signature. We offer a comprehensive selection of railroad system maps that provide detailed information about the particular railroad while retaining total historic accuracy. Our collection spans numerous railroads, including the Alaska Railroad, Amtrak, BNSF, Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, Denver and Rio Grande Western, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Union Pacific, and many others. Shoppers seeking narrow gauge locomotives, diesel engines, or classic cabooses will find our gallery showcases the sharp contrasts and delicate shading that define Scotty's style.
Outdoor Destinations
Explore all destinations
Cascade Creek Loop
Cascase Creek Connector
Pass Creek to Deer Creek
Ute Lake Trail #905
West Cascade Creek Trail #510
Bear Creek Shuttle
About Silverton
Silverton stands as one of Colorado's most authentic mining towns, where the legacy of the Old West is preserved in a setting of spectacular mountain beauty. This historic community of 600 residents offers a unique blend of mining heritage and outdoor recreation opportunities that make it a favorite destination for visitors seeking authentic Colorado experiences.
Quick Facts
600
9,318 ft
Summer
Mining History
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Don't expect polish. Expect the real thing.
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.