Story by Samantha Tisdel Wright
Photograph © Carolyn Wilcox

Silverton, Colorado [2005]

The mountains surrounding Silverton are rich, not only in the gold and silver that made them famous, but also in an immeasurable network of scenic hiking trails tempting you up into alpine splendor. Here are just a few. For other ideas, just ask a local. Many have a favorite trail; some seek wildflowers, others a strenuous workout or just a gentle excursion. 

Kendall Mountain—The symbol of Silverton. Try this hike right out of Silverton up a rough jeep road to the summit of Silverton’s most accessible mountain, for spectacular bird’s eye views of Silverton and the San Juans. It is a pleasurable excursion through aspen glades, shady evergreen forests, and alpine tundra, with supreme panoramic views all the way along the road and especially  at the summit.

Silver Lake—Mining buff mecca. Perched in a cirque about 2,000 feet above Arrastra Gulch, Silver Lake is unique among the myriad alpine lakes in the area. Several mining ruins sit right upon its shores. Along the way, be sure to admire the fascinating remains of a tramline built in 1895, which lead from the Silver Lake Mine down to Arrastra Gulch. You will also see striking views of the remains of the Silver Lake Mine, Iowa Mine, and Royal Tiger Mine at the lake’s edge. The structures here have seen no stabilization efforts and few buildings remain standing. One can find plenty of old mining equipment, scattered  broken glass and insulators, even mummified child-sized lace-up boots. 

Ice Lakes Basin rises steeply out of the South Mineral Campground, west of Silverton into two magnificent, high alpine basins with gorgeous lakes, wildflowers and mountain vistas. 

Highland Mary Lakes follows Cunningham Creek up into the tundra country of the Continental Divide to gem-like clusters of alpine lakes.

The Molas Trail descends down from Molas Lake on Highway 550 to join the Animas River and the D&SNGRR tracks in lovely Elk Park.

Be sure to bring along plenty of water (it is never advisable to drink water from the mountain streams in this area as they may be tainted with giardia). You should also be prepared with food, sunscreen and a brimmed hat, clothing for all kinds of weather, and sturdy hiking boots.

Recommended maps and guidebooks for the Silverton area include: Silverton Hiking Guide by Kelvin B. Kent (Wayfinder Press), Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado by Paul Pixler (Pruett P Publishing Company), A Backpacking Guide to the Weminuche Wilderness by Dennis Gebhardt (Basin Reproduction and Printing Company), Trails Illustrated Topo Map Series for Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, and Lake City Colorado (note that this map does not show the Silver Lake trail featured on page 20), Map of the Mountains between Silverton and Durango (Drake Mountain Maps), and USGS quads for the area. You will find maps, gear, film, bug repellent and hiking certificates (a real bargain at $3/year and an insurance policy in case you need rescuing, which is otherwise expensive) at Outdoor World at 1234 Greene Street.