The notebook of Durango et Silverton
Walk between shadows and ridges.
Historical train, ancient mining towns and spectacular roads of the San Juan Mountains.
At your own pace
Identity summary
3 to 7 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
Mountain · Heritage · City
Good accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Durango et Silverton
Historical train, ancient mining towns and spectacular roads of the San Juan Mountains.
To understand what Durango and Silverton are, you need to look at Durango and Silverton Railroad, Silverton Historic District and San Juan National Forest. These places give us a view of a territory marked by mountain reliefs, heritage and urban life and allow us to move from emblematic sites to more intimate stages.
See all
For a stay of 3 to 7 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. The main sites are generally easy to access.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Durango and Silverton Railroad
- Silverton Historic District
- San Juan National Forest
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Conditions to be checked by season
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Place indismissible
Durango and Silverton Railroad
The Durango and Silverton Railroad The journey is based on the slow pace of the train, the smoke, the bends along the river and the arrival at Silverton, surrounded by the San Juan Mountains.
Culture and heritage
Silverton Historic District
The Silverton Historic District keep the look of an old high mountain mining town, with wide streets, wooden facades, converted saloons and tight mountains all around. The buildings tell money, rail and harsh winters, without erasing the fact that Silverton remains a small inhabited town.
Place indismissible
San Juan National Forest
The San Juan National Forest Surrounded Durango and Silverton of deep valleys, high passes, forest tracks and steep peaks. Depending on the season, you come there to walk, ride on panoramic roads, fish or simply see the quakes, torrents and ancient mining traces mixed with the landscape.
Place indismissible
Animas Forks
Animas Forks is a ghost town set in a valley of altitude, with some wooden houses beaten by the wind and mountains all around. Access by track reinforces the impression of isolation and recalls the harshness of the former mining camps of the San Juan Mountains.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
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More activities
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