Silverton, Colorado

Top Spots in and near Silverton

Silverton, Colorado
Fly Fish the Animas River

4.0

While the Animas River runs for miles in the San Juan National Forest, a beautiful (and accessible) stretch runs right through Silverton, CO. Here, you can fish, hike, or chill. The river is fast with very few pockets for the trout to hide; however, if you search around enough, you'll find a fish...
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Ophir, Colorado
Ophir Pass Road

5.0

9.93 mi / 1696 ft gain

Ophir Pass Road is a point-to-point trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Ophir, Colorado.
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Silverton, Colorado
Photograph Moose of the Animas River

Between the city of Silverton and prior to reaching the ghost town of Animas Forks a wonderful area of alpine beaver ponds that are teaming with trout, many species of ducks, beavers, and moose. Along the forest road in the early morning and evening many moose can be easily seen from the road wa...
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Durango, Colorado
Camp at Little Molas Lake

5.0

1 mi / 40 ft gain

Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook. Pro-tip: there is also another campground nearby called Molas Lake Park & Campground, so it's important to distinguish which you are hea...
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Durango, Colorado
Hike the Colorado Trail: Little Molas Lake to Lime Creek

5.0

10 mi / 755 ft gain

To hike this section of the Colorado Trail, you'll begin from the Little Molas Lake Campground at around 10,895-ft. Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook, which is just South of S...
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Durango, Colorado
Backpack to Island Lake

5.0

8 mi / 3000 ft gain

From the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. We camped on a little shelf above Island Lake, but you can camp anywhere you find a ni...
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Durango, Colorado
Upper Ice Lake

5.0

6.74 mi / 2464 ft gain

From the Ice Lakes trailhead begin hiking through a meadow that quickly enters the forest and begins to climb. The trail will climb ~1,600 feet in the next two miles. As the trail climbs there is a scenic waterfall just over .5 miles, it is worth it to scamper up for a closer look (at ~1.0 miles ...
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Durango, Colorado
Climb Fuller Peak

3.0

Begin by hiking the Ice Lakes Trail for 3.5 miles, which will take you to Ice Lake. From here, you can identify the obvious, delta-shaped mountain to climber's left, known as Fuller Peak (13,761ft). Hike cross country, directly toward the base of the North Ridge (right skyline), walking past Full...
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Durango, Colorado
Camp at South Mineral Campground

4.8

Some general notes: South Mineral Campground does not take reservations - all sites are first come first served. There are an assortment of designated areas along South Mineral Road where dispersed camping is allowed so there is plenty of camping in the canyon on all but the busiest days, but y...
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Durango, Colorado
Crater Lake via Crater Lake Trail

5.0

11.73 mi / 2077 ft gain

Reaching this trailhead actually begins off of Andrews Lake - you will see signs for Andrews Lake off HWY 550. I will provide directions from both Durango and Silverton at the end. The trailhead is extremely well marked the entire way. The mileage from Andrews lake to Crater lake one way is 5.5...
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Telluride, Colorado
Drive Black Bear Pass & the Ingram Basin

5.0

12 mi / 3000 ft gain

Black Bear Pass (el. 12,840’), officially known as Forest Service Road 648, is an infamous 4WD road that runs between U.S. Highway 550 (between Silverton & Ouray) and Telluride, CO. From the pass downhill through the Ingram Basin to Telluride, the road is one-way and features switchbacks and ...
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Durango, Colorado
Explore Clear Lake

5.0

The road to Clear Lake offers wonderful views of the South Fork Mineral Creek, and the San Juan Mountains. Some people make the 9-mile round-trip hike with 2,600 feet of elevation gain, others drive as far as their vehicle will allow and hike from there, and some make the drive all the way up. It...
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Ridgway, Colorado
Ski or Snowboard Red Mountain Pass

Red Mountain Pass is the site of an historic silver mining boom from 1882 to 1893. During that time, over 10,000 people lived at over 11,000 feet! Today, it's turned into a backcountry ski and snowboard touring destination. If you are coming from the North, you'll pass through the gorgeous box-c...
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Silverton, Colorado
Explore Hurricane Pass and Lake Como

Spending much of the trek above tree line, Hurricane Pass is situated at 12,730 feet above sea level and offers up views of Poughkeepsie Gulch (a more extreme off-road trail) and sapphire blue mountain lakes, such as Lake Como. One of the most beautiful roads in the lower 48 states, Hurricane Pas...
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Silverton, Colorado
Explore Placer Gulch and Sound Democrat Mill

0.25 mi / 50 ft gain

Placer Gulches 4WD trail is a gorgeous route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains and traverses an area rich with mining history. This area provides gorgeous wild flowers in the peak season of late July/ early August. Some of the best preserved mine structures in Colorado can be found...
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Silverton, Colorado
Drive to California Pass

California Pass’s summit is a jaw dropping 12,960 feet above sea level. A long way from the valley floor, California Gulch, but, as drivers start their trek, the valley floor starts to shrink and gives way to steep climbs and switchbacks. Off road vehicles are needed to reach the top, and drivers...
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