{"id":62485,"date":"2026-09-15T19:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T23:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journee-mondiale.com\/en\/riding-a-steam-train-is-still-how-about-150000-visitors-reach-this-colorado-town\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T19:05:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T23:05:02","slug":"riding-a-steam-train-is-still-how-about-150000-visitors-reach-this-colorado-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journee-mondiale.com\/en\/riding-a-steam-train-is-still-how-about-150000-visitors-reach-this-colorado-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Riding a steam train is still how about 150,000 visitors reach this Colorado town"},"content":{"rendered":"

The train pulls into Silverton<\/strong> and the whole town shifts. Whistles cut through thin mountain air, and for a few hours the streets fill with people who arrived by steam.<\/p>\n

Roughly 150,000 passengers<\/strong> a year ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. That number matters in a place this small. The 2020 census counted 622 residents.<\/p>\n

A silver town at 9,318 feet, and you feel every foot of it<\/h2>\n

Silverton sits at 9,318 feet<\/strong> in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. The altitude is not a statistic here. It’s why you’ll breathe harder walking one block uphill.<\/p>\n

Take the first day slow. Drink more water than feels reasonable. Altitude sickness is real at this elevation, and locals will tell you the same thing.<\/p>\n

And the mountains around town go higher still. Peaks above 13,000 feet<\/strong> ring the valley, with several fourteeners nearby.<\/p>\n

The railroad built this place, then saved it<\/h2>\n

Silverton was founded during the silver rush of the 1870s and incorporated in 1885. The railroad hauled equipment in and ore out. When the mines declined, that same line became the town’s economic engine.<\/p>\n

That’s an unusual second act. Most mining towns in the West just emptied out. Here the tracks stayed, and the tourists replaced the ore.<\/p>\n

The downtown is a National Historic Landmark District. Painted Victorian storefronts, old hotels, mining-era buildings, all still standing in a working street grid.<\/p>\n

Can you drive there instead of taking the train?<\/h3>\n

Yes, and the drive is part of the appeal. Silverton is about 48 miles<\/strong> north of Durango on US 550, the stretch known as the Million Dollar Highway.<\/p>\n

But know what you’re signing up for. That road climbs high passes with tight switchbacks, and conditions turn fast depending on weather. Plenty of drivers find it more than they expected.<\/p>\n

Some visitors split the difference. Drive up, then do the train round trip from Silverton depending on the season.<\/p>\n

Jeep trails, ghost towns, and a ski hill for experts only<\/h2>\n

The Alpine Loop<\/strong> is the big draw for 4×4 travelers. It runs past old mining camps, and it needs a capable vehicle plus a check on current conditions.<\/p>\n

From there you can reach Animas Forks<\/strong>, a high-altitude mining ghost town. The Weminuche Wilderness is also accessible from the region for hiking.<\/p>\n

Mountain biking, fishing, camping, and rafting all fit into the local rhythm. So does snowmobiling once the season turns.<\/p>\n

Winter is where Silverton gets selective. Silverton Mountain<\/strong> is aimed at experienced skiers and snowboarders, not weekend cruisers. Kendall Mountain is the family-friendly alternative.<\/p>\n

What the mines left behind<\/h2>\n

The mining past is still visitable. The Mayflower Gold Mill and the Old Hundred Gold Mine both survive as sites you can see.<\/p>\n

And the San Juan County Historical Society museum holds the rest of the story. It’s a small-town museum, which means it’s more specific and more honest than most.<\/p>\n

Is there enough here for more than one night?<\/h3>\n

One to three nights is the sweet spot. Silverton works best as a stop between Durango, Ouray, and Telluride, for the scenery and the mining history rather than nightlife.<\/p>\n

Be realistic about services. Lodging, restaurants, and general amenities are limited compared to Durango or Montrose. That’s a trade-off, not a flaw.<\/p>\n

When to come, and when to stay away<\/h2>\n

Summer and early fall are the window for the train, the Alpine Loop, and the 4×4 routes. Mountain roads are sensitive to snow, and closures happen.<\/p>\n

Weather here changes fast, even in July. Nights stay cold.<\/p>\n

Winter narrows the town down to skiers who know what they’re doing. That’s a real answer, not a hedge.<\/p>\n

Small town, big country<\/h2>\n

Silverton is the county seat and the only incorporated municipality in San Juan County. Around 700 people live here year-round, by the town’s own count.<\/p>\n

Lively when the train is in, quiet the rest of the time. Both versions are the real one.<\/p>\n

Stay past the last departure and you’ll see it. The whistle fades down the canyon, the streets empty out, and the peaks go dark long before the sky does.<\/p>\n


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