Are you thinking about going on vacation to Silverton, Colorado? Want to make your trip more fun? Don’t look any further! You’ve come to the right place. We’re going to talk about the 17 best and most fun things to do in Silverton, CO.
In the middle of the beautiful San Juan Mountains, between Red Mountain and Molas Pass, is the charming and historic town of Silverton, Colorado. This town is perfect for adventurers, history buffs, and nature fans alike.
With its beautiful scenery and rich past, Silverton is a must-see destination that offers a wide range of activities and sights. You can take the Durango-Silverton Train, look around the Silverton Museum, go to a dead town, and do other interesting things.
15+ Fun and Great Things To Do In Silverton, CO
1. Explore Silverton’s Historic District
The historic area is a great place to start your trip through Silverton because it has so much history.
Silverton’s Historic area has beautiful buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is right in the middle of the San Juan mining area.
If you walk through the historic area, you can enjoy the town’s brightly colored buildings and wooden storefronts that remind you of the time when there was a mining boom.
Address: Silverton, CO, United States.
2. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Going on an exciting ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the best things to do in Silverton.
This historic steam or diesel engine train has been taking people through the two-million-acre San Juan National Forest’s remote, beautiful wilderness and high mountain landscapes since 1882. Some of the most stunning views in Colorado can be found there.
Views of the San Juan Mountains, the Animas River, and tumbling waterfalls will be yours as the train chugs along the narrow lines.
479 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301, USA
3. San Juan County Historical Society Mining Heritage Center
Moving through time at the San Juan Historical Society Mining Heritage Center is another fun thing to do in Silverton. It is one of the best mining museums in North America.
This museum is in a three-story, 14,000-square-foot building called the Mining Heritage Center. It has many artifacts, photos, and displays that tell the story of the town’s mining history.
The museum also tells about the history of mining in the area by showing realistic underground tunnels, equipment, and many interesting items from Silverton’s colorful past.
1557 Greene Street, Silverton, CO 81433, USA
4. Kendall Mountain Ski Area
In the winter, going to the Kendall Mountain Ski Area with your family is a fun thing to do in Silverton, CO. It’s also one of the best places in Colorado for a family ski trip.
The Kendall Mountain Ski Area has been around since the early 1960s and has many activities, such as mountain climbing, kayaking, and skiing. Kendall Mountain is 9,000 feet above sea level and has 35 acres of skiable slopes with 11 runs.
Also, this place is great for families with kids and people who are just starting to ski or snowboard of any age.
The address is 1 Kendall Place, Silverton, CO 81433, USA.
5. Silverton Mountain
Silverton Mountain, which opened in 2002, is the best place for experienced skiers and snowboarders to go. There is one chairlift at this ski area that takes people up to the slopes.
This mountain is famous for its difficult slopes and epic powder, making it the best place to ski in the winter. Because Silverton is not guarded or groomed, you must always have avalanche gear, a probe pole, and a shovel with you when you ride the lift.
The mountain also has an extra 22,000 acres that can be reached by hike or helicopter. People who come to the ski area can go on guided trips or heli-ski.
The address is 6226 State Hwy 110, Silverton, CO 81433, USA.
6. Million Dollar Highway
The Million Dollar Highway, which is also known as U.S. Route 550, goes from Silverton to Ouray. It is a beautiful but dangerous mountain road.
The highway was first carved out by hand to get ore to the Ouray train. It was later widened and paved.
The highway is a popular place for adventurers, road trippers, and outdoor lovers because it has beautiful views of tall mountains, deep gorges, and alpine fields.
As one of the free things to do outside in Silverton, take a drive along this highway. Don’t forget to bring your camera, because there will be so many amazing photo possibilities.
Million Dollar Highway, US 550 between Ouray and Silverton, Ouray, CO 81427, USA
7. Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour
Going on the Old Hundred Gold Mone Tour is another exciting thing to do in Silverton. This underground gold mine trip is east of Silverton. It includes a real mine train that will take you into the heart of Galena Mountain.
People who come to the site can also learn about its past and see live demonstrations of mining equipment. Headlamps make the veins of colored minerals sparkle, which amazes people who come to see them.
You can also look around the amazing Old Hundred Boarding House, which was built in 1904 and is perched on a rock 2,000 feet above the mine.
Postal Address: 721 County Road 4A, Silverton, CO 81433, USA
8. Ice Lake Trail
If you like being outside, hiking the Ice Lake Trail in Silverton, CO is a fun thing to do. This trail goes up into the San Juan Mountains and through fields of wildflowers. It is only a few miles west of downtown Silverton.
Throughout 3.75 miles, the trail goes up about 3,000 feet and through two basins, each with its environment. There are several hills around this lake basin. These include Grant Peak, Fuller Peak, and Beatie Peak.
Ice Lake is the last stop on the trail. It is the bluest lake you will ever see. Keep in mind that the Ice Lake Trail is steep and rated as tough, as are most hikes that start in the Silverton area.
Put your address in Silverton, CO, USA.
9. Middleton Motorsports
One fun thing to do in Silverton, CO, in the winter is to check out Middleton Motorsports, which is in the middle of the San Juan Mountains.
This business is run by a family and specializes in renting out motorized sport vehicles so that tourists can explore the vast areas around Silverton. Snow bikes, side-by-side ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and motorbikes are all for sale at Middleton Motorsports.
They also offer specialized services for people who own their motorsport cars, such as pre-season checks, tire repairs, summerization, winterization, tune-ups, and changes to the fluid in the shaft drive, among other things.
The address is 3815 County Road 2, Silverton, CO 81433, USA.
10. Glacier Club Golf Course
These days, one fun thing to do near Silverton, CO, is to make a tee time at the Glacier Club Golf Course, which is in Durango, CO, and is about 45 minutes away.
The Mountain and Valley golf courses make up the Glacier Club. They are set in the San Juan Range. The Valley Course has 18 holes and is a championship golf course. The longest tees are 6536 yards away. The Mountain Course has 18 holes and is a championship golf course. The longest tees are 7035 yards away.
Glacier Club has more than just two golf courses. It has two clubhouses, three swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and places to eat both casually and formally.
The address is 600 Glacier Club Drive, Durango, CO 81301, USA.
11. Animas Forks Ghost Town
One of the cool things to do in Silverton, Colorado is to visit the well-kept ghost town of Animas Forks, which is only a short drive away.
The Animas Forks Ghost Town was built in the 1870s and is one of the highest mining camps in North America. It is located 11,200 feet above sea level in the hills of the San Juan Mountains along the Alpine Loop.
As you walk through its creepy ruins, you’ll get a sense of how hard life was for early miners and farmers who lived alone.
Put your address in Silverton, CO, USA.
12. Pirates Backcountry Adventures
In the summer, another fun thing to do outside in Silverton, CO is to take a side-by-side off-road vehicle tour of the town’s backwoods with Pirates Backwoods Adventures.
Visitors can go on trips with this ATV rental and tour business on the many motorized trails in San Juan County, such as the famous Alpine Loop.
Pirates Backcountry Adventures has a full fleet of 2017 Polaris side-by-sides that give all guests a first-class experience as they hike the San Juan Mountains’ blue ribbon trails.
957 Greene Street, Silverton, CO 81433, USA
13. Silverton Farmers Market
During the summer, if you go to Silverton, don’t miss the Silverton Farmers Market, which is held every Tuesday from July to September.
This market is open every week in downtown Silverton and has a great selection of fresh food, handmade goods, and tasty treats.
The farmers market is a great place to meet locals, try foods from the area, and enjoy a sense of community.
The address is 1200 Greene Street, Colorado 81433, USA.
14. Whitewater Rafting
In the summer, whitewater rafting is a fun thing to do outside in Silverton, CO. People can raft the Upper Animas River this month, which is one of the toughest ways in the country.
Book trips with Mild To Wild Rafting Tours for one or more days to get the most out of your trip. Guides from this company will lead you through Class II to V rapids on the sides of 14,000-foot San Juan hills.
This is the address: 50 Animas View Drive, Durango, Colorado81301
15. Avalanche Brewing Company
You can quench your thirst at the Avalanche Brewing Company after a day of exploring. They make their beer that is influenced by Silverton and San Juan.
A favorite in the area, this bar has a friendly vibe where you can try different craft drinks and eat. Pizza dough balls covered in garlic butter and parmesan or cinnamon sugar and butter make up their menu. They also serve salads, tacos, wraps, and “Mountain Dots,” which come in both sweet and spicy varieties.
Have a beer or two and tell stories with locals and other tourists.
1151 Greene Street, Silverton, CO 81433, USA
16. Soaring Tree Top Adventures
One of the cool things to do near Silverton, Colorado is to check out Soaring Tree Top Adventures, which is only a short drive away.
One of the longest zip lines in the United States is said to be at Soaring Tree Top Adventures in Durango. This adventure is spread out over 180 acres and can only be reached by train.
There are 27 zip lines in this adventure, and they are between 56 and 1499 feet long. Along the Animas River and through old-growth Ponderosa and Aspen woods, the zipline goes for more than 1.5 miles.
You should put the Soaring Tree Top Adventure on your list of things to do in Silverton.
964 Co Road 200, Durango, CO 81301, USA
17. Go Fishing
For outdoor lovers, one fun thing to do in Silverton, CO is to go fishing in the calm waters of Silverton, which is known for having great fishing spots.