I Would Move There: Profile of a Mountain Town Silverton, Colorado

Silverton, Colorado is a very small (population: 638) mountain town in the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado.  Located at 9,308ft its one of the highest mountain towns in the country.

We first heard of Silverton from the Outdoor Research Sidecountry Sessions video:

While summers can be mild, winters are extreme with average highs below 20.  Summer brings the outdoor tourists looking for camping, hiking and other recreation.  Winters are reserved for the most extreme of souls.  Temperatures regularly dip below zero, with winter highs averaging near 10 degrees.  With one highway into and out of town, when road closures occur they can bring the whole town to a halt.

An old mining town founded in the late 1800s, Silverton has evolved into the hardcore mountain sport-oriented town it is today.  The Silverton Mountain Ski Area is open only to advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders (beginners need not show).  They market to the experienced adventurer, who wants an escape from the crowds and lines found at most mountain resorts.   They cap the number of people allowed up on the mountain per day, and offer extreme options such as heli-skiing.  Shaun White even chose Silverton as his secret Olympic snowboard training location.

For more laid back, beginner friendly mountain there is Kendall Mountain with their weekend only hours and $15 lift tickets.

The county is also littered with ghost towns, the remnants of mining towns from long ago.

Avoid the drive and take the train up to Silverton from Durango.

While in town, pick up a board from Venture Snowboards.  They’re a boutique snowboard manufacturer designing, and manufacturing boards in Silverton, Co.

There’s beer available from local brewery, aptly named, Silverton Brewery.

Silverton is a breathtakingly gorgeous mountain town with unending recreational activities.  Long winters and small populations keep the town close-knit while the influx of tourists looking for an authentic adventure keep it fresh.

 

This is the second in an ongoing series: I Would Move There, which features profiles of mountain towns.  Sign up here to receive updates from Mountainze via email and be sure not to miss out.