San Juan Mountains, Colorado · 9,318 ft
SilvertonColorado
A former mining town at 9,318 feet, reached by US 550 or the historic train through Animas Canyon from Durango.
Plan Silverton
Steam at the depot, Greene Street after dark, and San Juan passes
Train whistles announce the midday crowd; evening leaves the boardwalks and old storefronts to overnight guests. Beyond town, tundra roads and trailheads require a separate mountain day.
Plan by trip shape
Train layover, overnight, high country, or winter
Fixed train schedules, 9,318-foot altitude, US 550 weather, and condition-dependent high-country roads separate these four trips.
Classic first visit
Durango train + Silverton layover
Make the Animas Canyon ride the main event, then use the published Silverton layover for lunch, Greene Street, depot photos, and one focused history stop.
Plan the train day →Stronger weekend
Train up, sleep in Silverton
Book a walkable inn, eat dinner after the day trains depart, then use the next morning for mountain views before returning to Durango by road or a scheduled train.
Compare Silverton hotels →Alpine scenery
Jeep roads, wildflowers, and high basins
Choose one high-country objective: a guided 4×4 route, a permitted wilderness rail drop, or a trail whose current fire and access notices you checked that morning.
Choose outdoor priorities →Winter specialist
Silverton Mountain and snowy passes
Silverton Mountain serves advanced and expert terrain on a dated guided and unguided schedule. Check the operator and COtrip before committing to the drive.
See winter notes →Population: ~600
A rail terminus at 9,318 feet
Silverton sits in a high basin of the San Juan Mountains, where Greene Street, the depot, and the National Historic Landmark district remain close enough to cover on foot. Weather and altitude matter here even when the town itself looks compact.
Getting here is half the adventure. The most iconic route is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad — a 45-mile steam train journey through the Animas River gorge that's been running since 1882.
Narrow Gauge Guide →
The Narrow Gauge Railroad
The steam train from Durango is how most visitors arrive — and it's one of America's most spectacular rail journeys. The 45-mile trip through the Animas gorge is unforgettable.
Plan your ride →
World-Class Hiking & 14ers
Silverton is the base camp for some of Colorado's most dramatic alpine terrain — including Chicago Basin, home to four 14,000-foot peaks accessible in a single backpacking trip.
Hiking guide →
Silver Mining Heritage
Silverton boomed in the 1870s silver rush. The entire historic district is on the National Register — walk Greene Street and feel the Wild West history beneath your boots.
History guide →
July & August
Columbine above Cunningham Gulch
Columbines, paintbrush, lupine, and other alpine flowers appear at different elevations as snow leaves the San Juans. Bloom timing shifts with snowpack, temperature, and elevation rather than following one guaranteed week.
Stony Pass and Cunningham Gulch can reach high-country displays, but neither should be treated as an ordinary paved drive. Check San Juan County road status, fire restrictions, weather, and vehicle requirements first.
Wildflower Guide →December – April
No beginner terrain at Silverton Mountain
Silverton transforms in winter into one of Colorado's most extreme mountain destinations. Silverton Mountain reports advanced and expert terrain across a large backcountry-style operating area. Guided-only and unguided dates differ, so use the current mountain schedule rather than a single season-wide assumption.
Snowmobiling, ice fishing, and backcountry touring are also popular. The town itself turns quiet and intimate — a completely different (and magical) atmosphere from the summer crowds.
Winter Activities →
Where to stay in Silverton
Silverton lodging is small, historic, and easy to lose on summer and fall weekends. Book early, then use the stay guide to decide whether you want a walkable Greene Street base or a quieter mountain-edge setup.
50 Miles South
Start Your Trip in Durango
Most visitors reach Silverton on the legendary Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango — a full-service mountain town with great hotels, restaurants, and outdoor adventures of its own. Make it a two-destination trip.
Explore Durango →
