Silver mining history, stargazing, and mountain landscapes offer different ways to experience Custer. At the Silver Cliff Museum, artifacts relating to silver mining sit alongside the history of Custer County; the Planet Walk focuses on the solar system, and the Smokey Jack Observatory adds another focus on the night sky. Lakes, trout, and a loop trail south of Westcliffe also bring their own natural features. You can shape your trip around culture, astronomy, or scenery without committing to a fixed itinerary.
Silver Cliff: History in the Historic Town Hall
The Silver Cliff Museum is housed in Silver Cliff’s historic 1879 town hall and firehouse. The building is located on the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway along Colorado State Highway 96. Memorabilia and artifacts cover both the history of silver mining in Silver Cliff and the history of Custer County. A visit to the museum thus connects local mining history with a look at the county’s history.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the museum is open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; admission is free. Seasonal hours may change, so check the schedule before your visit.
The Solar System and Stargazing
The Planet Walk is a permanent, interpretive, free exhibit about the solar system in Westcliffe and Silver Cliff. Its scale of 1 to 4 billion gives the exhibit a distinctive point of reference: the relative sizes of the solar system are its focus.
Reserved stargazing evenings are offered at the Smokey Jack Observatory. In 2026, the evenings were free, led by trained Star Guides, and limited to a total of eight people per session. Availability depends on the date, so check whether a suitable session is available for your trip. The observatory houses a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with computerized alignment and tracking.
The Byway and Mountain Landscapes
The Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway begins in Pueblo on CO 96 and continues to Westcliffe, where it ends at South 6th Street. The route passes through rugged mountains, wildflower-covered landscapes, piñon-covered foothills, and stands of golden aspens. The named endpoints provide a reference for the driving route; the landscape descriptions show how varied its character is.
Lakes, Trout, and Loop Trails
Lake Isabel is one of two recreational lakes in Custer County managed by the Colorado Department of Parks & Wildlife. The lake is suitable for hiking, paddling, fishing, and birdwatching. This offers several possible activities; check seasonal conditions before your trip. Grape Creek below DeWeese Reservoir offers a different focus: it has high densities of large brook and rainbow trout.
The Venable Lakes are suited to backpacking and horseback riding; both lakes contain brook trout and other trout species. Access conditions may vary, so check them before visiting. South of Westcliffe, the Comanche-Venable Loop is a 12.3-mile loop trail. It passes lakes, an old cabin, and three 13,000-foot peaks.
August Event and Visitor Information
SilverWest AirFest takes place annually in August; exact dates may vary from year to year. Check the event dates if you would like to plan your trip around it.
Free visitor information for Custer County includes a town map of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, hiking maps for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Wet Mountains, and an overview of Custer County history. The town map, hiking maps, and historical overview offer different points of reference for planning.
Discover more destinations: Wetmore, Logan, Chaffee, Rio Blanco County, Elbert County, Dolores County, Teller County, Gilpin County.
Return to the main travel overview: Colorado.
