One Of Colorado's Best Small Towns In The Rocky Mountains Offers Challenging Hiking Trails

If you're a seasoned hiker, you've likely had Colorado on your radar. The Rocky Mountain State is widely known as a top hiking destination, from stunning cliffs and glimpses of past civilizations around the Four Corners area to the stunning alpine beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park. Hikers looking to log challenging miles of trail with stunning alpine views won't have to venture far out of historic Silverton, one of the state's best towns in the Rockies.  

Silverton was first settled in 1874 and quickly transformed into a silver — and later gold — boomtown deep in the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado. It's the only town within San Juan County, the most mountainous county in the United States, and is surrounded by National Forest and BLM-administered land. From downtown, miles of hiking and OHV trails lead into deep coniferous forests and scenes of mountain vistas, alpine lakes, and waterfalls. While most of Silverton's hiking trails are more challenging due to the area's high altitude and climbing mountains, there are also flatter and more accessible trails for more casual hikers — and they don't lack the stunning views, either.

If you're visiting Silverton from out of state (or even from Denver), the quickest options are to fly into Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) or Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ). Both airports are about 65 miles away. Telluride Regional Airport is a third option and the closest airport as the crow flies; however, it's about a 2-hour drive away. Visitors looking for an incredible scenic (and possibly adrenaline-fueled) drive should opt for Montrose or Telluride, as you'll snake through a stunning section of US 550 dubbed the Million Dollar Highway. The driest times of year to hike (and drive) are normally in the drier summer and fall months, though be sure to check the forecast before renting a car or making the drive. From Denver, it's just over 6 hours.

Silverton sits at over 9,300 feet above sea level — over 4,000 feet higher than Denver and 3,000 feet higher than Colorado Springs — making even flat hikes no walk in the park. If you've never hiked at a high altitude before, it's a good idea to spend time getting acclimatized before hitting the trail. For a quick and easier first hike, take the mile-long Kendall Trail Loop, which passes historic mining infrastructure on the edge of town, or the 1-mile loop around Andrews Lake.

Once you've got your legs, there are hundreds of miles of challenging trails leading to hidden natural gems in the Rockies. West of town, the 7-mile-long Ice Lakes Trail is a breathtaking (in beauty and difficulty) 2,400-foot climb that leads to stunning views of a turquoise lake resting below 13,000-foot-tall mountains. Note that if you visit during the summer months, expect the trail and parking area to be crowded. If you have rented a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you can find similar scenes about a 35-minute drive away from Silverton along the Highland Mary Lake Trail in the spectacular Weminuche Wilderness. The 5-mile hike climbs up about 1,400 feet and showcases beautiful sub-alpine meadows and wildflowers on the way to glistening mountain lakes. 

Silverton is also a jumping-off point for intrepid hikers looking to climb one (or seven) of Colorado's 14ers, mountains over 14,000 feet. Hikers looking to bag their first one are recommended to hike Handies Peak, which requires no technical climbing. While you can drive yourself from Silverton to the American Basin Trailhead on the southwest slopes or the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead on the mountain's east slopes, you'll need a 4x4. If you won't be renting one or need a local guide on your hike, San Juan Expeditions offers guided day hikes to the summit.

Compared to nearby adorable Telluride, which transformed from a mining town into a tourism destination, Silverton is one of the last remaining mining towns in Colorado to retain an authentic slice of the state's mining heritage. Visitors interested in learning more about the town's storied history can visit the San Juan Historical Society Museum, which houses exhibits on life a century ago in town, including in the mines and even in the town jail. Visitors from TripAdvisor and Google Maps were surprised by the extensive displays and details throughout.

Downtown Silverton still looks very much as it did over a century ago, and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the buildings, including the city's Grand Imperial Hotel and the San Juan Courthouse, are still in use today. Stroll around downtown and get used to the altitude, or spend a night or two in one of Silverton's storied hotels before you start your hike. If you need to pick up a few last-minute food items or snacks for the trail, reviewers on Google Maps report that Silverton Grocery carries a wide selection of essentials for your trip. 

Visitors looking to dine in one of the historic buildings can grab a sandwich or burger for lunch in the Pickle Barrel Restaurant, originally built as a mercantile in the 1880s, or inside the Grand Imperial Hotel at the Lacey Rose Restaurant and Saloon, which features live ragtime music at lunch. Another popular option for locals and visitors is the Kendall Mountain Cafe, though note that there may be a big lunch rush when the historic Durango & Silverton trains pull in from Durango, another stunning and fun-loving Colorado city in the Rocky Mountains.