Tolsons' Discovery Travels: Silverton, CO

Thu 19 to Sun 22 Sep 2013: We are camped at the Silver Summit RV Park in site #7. We are facing the train tracks so that we can watch the Durango and Silverton narrow gauge train arrive and leave several times each day. This time of year the train brings passengers up from Durango and either buses them back to Durango or they take the train back. We stayed at this same campground back in 2009, but now it is a Good SAM Park.

View from the Coach Driving Up the Million Dollar Hwy to Silverton

3 Red Mountains on Million Dollar Hwy

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Train

We've eaten in a couple of places in Silverton that I would recommend:

Handlebars www.handlebarsco.com, Grumpy's Saloon at the Grand Imperial Hotel www.grandimperialhotel.com and The Stellar Ristorante (Italian including pizza).

Handlebars Saloon and Restaurant

Check out what is on the menu at Handlebars

Didn't have them this time as we had them back in 2009 when we were here last!

Jeeping the Alpine Loop (Up to Animas Forks and then taking Engineer Pass to Lake City and then back via Cinnamon Pass)

(Here's a great video of the Million Dollar Hwy out of Ouray and the Alpine Loop):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILkoes1PmeU After watching this, you'll know why I like to jeep when there aren't a lot of people to pass because there aren't a lot of good places!

We rented jeeps from the campground today where you get a $10 discount if you are also staying there. Our first stop was Animas Forks where we took the Walking Tour. This town is at 11,200 feet and began in 1873. They are repairing several of the buildings that still stand in this mining ghost town. At one point 450 people lived here, but most moved to warmer climates in the winters. Here's someone elses' YouTube Video of Animas Forks that is informative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owgsrhFTu6o

There's Some SNOW on the Tops of the Mountains!

Animas Forks, CO

Animas River Dam that has been partially destroyed.

This river flows down from Animas Forks thru Silverton

From here we started up to Oh Point and Engineer Pass at 12,800 ft. We had a wonderful sunny cool day for our trip. Marmots were visible several places on this trail and one even posed for pics up almost to Oh Point.