Silverton Colorado

The first stop of our SW Colorado tour was Silverton.

From their webpage: “Founded in an ancient caldera, Silverton, Colorado is called home by roughly 600 year-round inhabitants. The only township in San Juan County at an elevation of 9,318 feet, this town has roots in mining at the turn of the 20th century.”

A vibrant street scene showcasing colorful historic buildings with shops and cafes, set against a backdrop of mountains and blue sky.
Historic buildings in a colorful downtown area with shops and restaurants, featuring outdoor seating and decorative bunting, under a blue sky with clouds.
A picturesque residential area with colorful houses and a green lawn, set against a backdrop of mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
Two houses in a rural setting with mountains in the background. The house on the left is white with a 'For Sale' sign, while the right house is an old red brick structure showing signs of decay.

The town is surrounded by high mountains and as the host at our hotel said, when you hike from Silverton you can only go up, steeply.

Hike to Ice Lake

With that said, we spent our first day hiking to Ice Lake from South Mineral Campground. This was one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve been on. It was about a 7.5 mile round trip with a 2,400 foot elevation gain. The last incline felt like a bit of a slog, but it was well worth it. When we got to Ice Lake a thunderstorm just moved in, so we touched the lake, took a selfie and scrambled down to safer ground.

A topographic map displaying a hiking trail from South Mineral Campground to Ice Lake, passing Clear Creek Falls. The trail is marked in green, and elevation contours are visible.
A panoramic view of a lush valley surrounded by mountains, with dense pine trees and a clear blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds.
A panoramic view of a serene lake surrounded by rugged mountains under a cloudy sky, with lush green terrain leading to the water's edge.
A person walking along a winding trail through a vibrant landscape of colorful autumn foliage, with rocky mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
A gravel path winding through a grassy field with colorful bushes, leading up to rocky cliffs under a partly cloudy sky.
A scenic view of a rocky mountain landscape with a waterfall cascading down the cliffs, surrounded by lush green grass and blue sky with clouds.
A smiling couple poses for a selfie near a serene blue lake surrounded by green hills and rugged mountains under a cloudy sky.

Train Ride to Durango

This 45-mile branch of the original Denver & Rio Grande Railway has been operating since 1882. The route took us through the Animas Canyon along the Animas River with spectacular views of the San Juan National Forest. It was an awesome 3-hour ride down to Durango.

A view of a rural scene featuring a brown house, a black truck, and a steam locomotive in the background, surrounded by pine trees and a gravel road.
A scenic river flowing through a rocky landscape, surrounded by lush green trees and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
A scenic view of a river flowing through a mountainous landscape, with rocks and trees lining the banks.
A train traveling through a mountainous landscape with lush green trees, rocky slopes, and a blue sky dotted with clouds.
A vintage train with bright yellow cars traveling across a wooden trestle bridge, surrounded by dense green trees and a flowing river below.
A vintage train traveling along a rocky cliffside with pine trees and a river below, under a blue sky with clouds.
Aerial view of a rocky canyon with steep cliffs and a river flowing through the bottom surrounded by sparse vegetation.

After arriving in Durango we walked over to the Beer Garden that’s right on the Animas River. We had a beer then walked back to the train station to await our bus ride back to Silverton, which is how we ended our day.

A man and woman cheerfully clink glasses filled with drinks at a wooden table, with a backdrop of greenery and soft lighting.

Leave a Reply