Silverton, Colorado
Looking for the best chillin in Silverton? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Silverton. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Chillin Spots in and near Silverton
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Silverton, Colorado
Fly Fish the Animas River
4.0While the Animas River runs for miles in the San Juan National Forest, a beautiful (and accessible) stretch runs right through Silverton, CO. Here, you can fish, hike, or chill. The river is fast with very few pockets for the trout to hide; however, if you search around enough, you'll find a fish...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Photograph Moose of the Animas River
Between the city of Silverton and prior to reaching the ghost town of Animas Forks a wonderful area of alpine beaver ponds that are teaming with trout, many species of ducks, beavers, and moose. Along the forest road in the early morning and evening many moose can be easily seen from the road wa...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Camp at Little Molas Lake
5.01 mi / 40 ft gainLittle Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook. Pro-tip: there is also another campground nearby called Molas Lake Park & Campground, so it's important to distinguish which you are hea...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Hike the Colorado Trail: Little Molas Lake to Lime Creek
5.010 mi / 755 ft gainTo hike this section of the Colorado Trail, you'll begin from the Little Molas Lake Campground at around 10,895-ft. Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook, which is just South of S...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Backpack to Island Lake
5.08 mi / 3000 ft gainFrom the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. We camped on a little shelf above Island Lake, but you can camp anywhere you find a ni...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Climb Fuller Peak
3.0Begin by hiking the Ice Lakes Trail for 3.5 miles, which will take you to Ice Lake. From here, you can identify the obvious, delta-shaped mountain to climber's left, known as Fuller Peak (13,761ft). Hike cross country, directly toward the base of the North Ridge (right skyline), walking past Full...Read more -
Telluride, Colorado
Drive Black Bear Pass & the Ingram Basin
5.012 mi / 3000 ft gainBlack Bear Pass (el. 12,840’), officially known as Forest Service Road 648, is an infamous 4WD road that runs between U.S. Highway 550 (between Silverton & Ouray) and Telluride, CO. From the pass downhill through the Ingram Basin to Telluride, the road is one-way and features switchbacks and ...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Explore Clear Lake
5.0The road to Clear Lake offers wonderful views of the South Fork Mineral Creek, and the San Juan Mountains. Some people make the 9-mile round-trip hike with 2,600 feet of elevation gain, others drive as far as their vehicle will allow and hike from there, and some make the drive all the way up. It...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Explore Hurricane Pass and Lake Como
Spending much of the trek above tree line, Hurricane Pass is situated at 12,730 feet above sea level and offers up views of Poughkeepsie Gulch (a more extreme off-road trail) and sapphire blue mountain lakes, such as Lake Como. One of the most beautiful roads in the lower 48 states, Hurricane Pas...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Explore Placer Gulch and Sound Democrat Mill
0.25 mi / 50 ft gainPlacer Gulches 4WD trail is a gorgeous route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains and traverses an area rich with mining history. This area provides gorgeous wild flowers in the peak season of late July/ early August. Some of the best preserved mine structures in Colorado can be found...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Drive to California Pass
California Pass’s summit is a jaw dropping 12,960 feet above sea level. A long way from the valley floor, California Gulch, but, as drivers start their trek, the valley floor starts to shrink and gives way to steep climbs and switchbacks. Off road vehicles are needed to reach the top, and drivers...Read more -
Ridgway, Colorado
Explore Corckscrew Gulch
Corkscrew Gulch is named for the narrow and winding switchbacks that "corkscrewes" up Red Mountain Two. It is hard to miss this area of the San Juan Mountains, because the deep reds, oranges, and yellows blanket all three of the named "Red Mountains". The red color in the mountains is caused by o...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Adrenaline Falls
5.00.43 mi / 279 ft gainAdrenaline Falls is a popular spot for the locals to swim and relax during the warm summer months. The pool at the bottom of the falls is deep and popular for cliff jumping. To get to the waterfall, turn onto the North access to Lime Creek road. A high clearance 4x4 vehicle is recommended to ...Read more -
Ophir, Colorado
Drive Ophir Pass
4.58 mi / 2500 ft gainOphir Pass (el. 11,114’), officially known as Forest Service Road #630, is one of the easiest of the high alpine trails in the San Juan mountains, but still can provide trouble to the inexperienced or when bad weather is present, particularly on the western/Ophir downhill side. The pass and road ...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Explore Animas Forks
5.00.25 mi / 40 ft gainThe ghost town of Animas Forks, CO is located in the San Juan Mountains at an elevation of 11,200 feet. There are several original buildings remaining. The best way to explore the region is by Jeep or other high-clearance 4×4. The cabins began being built by prospectors in 1873. Three rivers meet...Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Drive Cinnamon Pass
5.0Along Colorado’s Alpine Loop, Cinnamon Pass sits 12,640’ above the San Juan Mountains. A high clearance vehicle preferably with 4WD is needed to reach the pass, but the breathtaking views along the challenging journey make it worth the ride. During the gold rush in Colorado, Cinnamon pass was us...Read more