Silverton is now a National Historic Landmark District. Its mining history and high-alpine activities offer different focuses for a stay; there is also a seasonal train service and separate winter offerings. Which of these matter to you depends primarily on your interests and when you travel.
Mining History and Landmark Sites
The San Juan County Historical Society operates the Mining Heritage Center and the 1902 County Jail Museum in Silverton. Both venues introduce visitors to the history of mining and the town, but the story of its heritage goes beyond museums: the Mayflower Mill has been designated a National Historical Landmark. Silverton itself is now a National Historic Landmark District. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is also a National Historic Landmark. These designations refer to different named places and institutions and together provide a distinct historical focus for trip planning.
The Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour offers a different emphasis: it includes a ride on a mine train and a guided tour of an underground mine. Outside the mine, the tour also includes panning for gold and silver. This means that museums, designations, and a guided visitor experience all feature within the broader mining theme. Weighing these options can help you decide whether to focus more on the history of institutions and landmark sites or on a visit featuring a mine train and an underground tour.
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad carries passengers to Silverton and back from early May through October. Its seasonal schedule makes it a separate planning option alongside the historic sites. Schedules can change; check the current timetable if you want to include the train ride in your trip.
High-Alpine Activities and Hiking
At Silverton Mountain, a single chairlift takes skiers up to an elevation of 12,300 feet. The high-alpine setting includes 1,819 acres of runs in every direction. The chairlift also makes easy hikes possible along a ridge to terrain with up to 3,000 feet of vertical drop in a single run.
Silverton also offers a clear starting point for hiking: many trails begin in town. In winter, Silverton also has groomed trails for snowmobiling. Seasonal conditions can change, so it is a good idea to check them before planning a ride.
Winter Offerings and OHV Routes
Kendall Mountain Ski Area offers family-friendly winter activities such as sledding and tubing. This differs from the high-alpine terrain at Silverton Mountain: the focus here is winter recreation and the two activities named specifically. As seasonal operations can change, check current conditions before making plans.
A limited number of routes in Silverton are authorized for off-highway vehicles (OHVs). The first OHV section of the Alpine Loop begins at an OHV staging area behind the RV park. This provides two separate points of reference: a local route regulation and a specific starting point for the first section of the Alpine Loop. Local restrictions and staging regulations can change; check both before setting out. This helps you tailor your plans to the activities you have in mind without treating the different winter, hiking, and driving options as interchangeable.
For an overview of the wider area, see San Juan County.
