Things To Do
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Scenic Train Ride
Riding the train is a great way to spend an extra day in the area! The train has been running continuously on this route since 1882. You'll get to take a scenic ride that runs beside a river with mountains towering up around you. There's lots of pretty mountain views, wildflowers, and maybe even some wildlife to look at! It goes from Durango to Silverton and takes about 3.5 hours each way. You can choose to between taking the train round trip, one way, or one way with a charter bus back to the station you departed from. We recommend taking one of the one way options so it's not such a long day of riding. Note: please see our travel tab if you're interested in taking the train as your primary mode of transportation from Durango to Silverton.
Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour
This tour lets you ride a real mine cart straight into a former gold mine in the middle of a mountain! You'll get to see demonstrations of gold mining equipment from the past and present. At the end of the tour you'll get to pan for gold, silver, and other gemstones! Please note: you will likely lose phone service shortly before arriving at the tour, so be sure to look at directions ahead of time!
Hike to Ice and Island Lakes
This is one of our all time favorite hikes! You'll get to see two lakes with some of the bluest water you've ever seen! This hike is 7.3 miles long and has 2,650 feet of elevation gain (twice the height of the Empire State Building). It's a challenging hike and should only be attempted if you are in good shape. Plan for about 8 hours of hiking. This is a great option for guests who are extending their trip beyond our wedding weekend. Please don't attempt this hike the morning of our wedding or on the day you plan to fly out! Start early and bring lots of water and snacks. This is a very popular hike and the parking area frequently gets full by 8 am. There is other parking available but it will add some extra length to the hike.
San Juan County Historical Museum
Visiting the museum is one of our favorite rainy day activities! Silverton has tons of history and the museum is surprisingly cool for how small the town is. You'll get to see the old jail and officer living quarters from the 1800's, a recreated mine, lots of pretty rocks and minerals, and all kinds of other cool stuff from the old western era! It's located at the end of town and is an easy walk from anywhere in Downtown Silverton.
Coffee Bear
Brooke spent her college summers working as a barista at the Coffee Bear. If you stop by, make sure to go up to the rooftop seating area and enjoy the views of town and all the surrounding mountains! It's located in the middle of downtown Silverton and is an easy walk from any Silverton hotel or airbnb!
Go for a walk on the river road
Molas Lake Park & Campground
Molas Lake is a great place to take a quick walk, read by the water, or go fishing! It's located 5 miles south of Silverton, right off of Highway 550. There are also several hiking trails that can be accessed from Molas Lake. We highly recommend exploring this area, even if it's just a brief stop on your way from Durango to Silverton!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a massive canyon with steep cliffs that drop down to a river below. There's lots of lookout points that you can drive between. It is located just 20 minutes outside of Montrose. This is a great place to stop and explore or have a picnic if you are flying into the Montrose Airport!
Go on an off-roading adventure
Silverton has an extensive network of trails that can only be accessed with high clearance, four wheel drive vehicles. Side-by-sides and jeeps are available to rent in town. This is one of the most popular activities in the area! You can visit the ghost town of Animas Forks, drive to the top of mountains, explore old mine ruins, frolic through wildflowers, and chase waterfalls! There's endless scenery to explore!
