Mining Town & Colorado Ghost Town TourS
Million Dollar Highway to silverton, colorado

Discover Colorado’s Most Preserved Ghost Town!

Trip Details

Discover the awe-inspiring, beautiful Million Dollar Highway as we drive to Silverton. Along the way you will see the grandiose peaks of Grizzly Peak, Engineer Mountain, Pigeon and Turret, Spud Hills, the Twilights, and Snowdon, all before even reaching Molas Pass! At Molas Pass, a large section of the San Juan Mountains can be seen followed by Molas Lake, a high-alpine lake set against the backdrop of the San Juan Mountains. Passing through the old Victorian mining town of Silverton, established in the early 1870’s, we venture off road on old jeep trails heading northeast from Silverton through the old mining towns of Howardsville, Middleton and Eureka and climbing to 11,200 feet at Animas Forks.

Spectacular cascading waterfalls and snowmelt rivers cool the air as we climb in elevation. The drive is peppered with remnants of old mining claims and tailings piles. Animas Forks is one of the most preserved mining ghost towns in Colorado, with buildings still standing surrounded by high mountain peaks and rolling alpine meadows. Explore the old buildings and get a feel for an old mining ghost town just below tree line as your professional tour guide gives you an interpretive tour of Animas Forks! Travel higher into the mountains and into the alpine tundra where you'll view the summer wildflowers shining in a rainbow of colors, especially in mid to late summer. The vistas are unbelievable with spectacular creeks and waterfalls cascading down mountain sides in a spectacular display of Colorado splendor. Marmots, white-tailed deer, and (distant) elk herds may be seen as well as soaring hawks and eagles...or maybe even a bear or a lynx!!

Colorado Ghost Town Tour Highlights

• Animas Forks ghost town
• Tumbling waterfalls and cascading creeks
• Wildlife: marmots, white-tailed deer, eagles, sometimes Bear or lynx!
• Gorgeous Colorado wildflowers
• Neck-jerking views from the Million Dollar Corridor
• Interpretive, knowledgeable guides

Trip Provisions

• Quality and maintained custom 4x4 vehicle
• Professional, highly trained, educated and skilled Jeep trail guides
• Safety orientation
• Rain jacket
• Delicious, healthy, all-you-can-eat lunch
• Unlimited water and lemonade
• Fleece blanket
• Gas

Required Additional Provisions

3% Forest Service Fee
Warm clothes

What to Bring/Wear on this Colorado Ghost Town Tour

Wear layers, layers, layers including warm jacket, hat and gloves if possible!! The temperature can change dramatically on this trip as you venture high into the Rockies. Fleece jackets are available for rent (see Rentals). Bring sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, your camera and least 2 rolls of film (great family Christmas card photo opportunities).

Departure Days

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Meeting Place

Our office is located at 50 Animas Dr., at the north end of Main Ave. in Durango. If you are coming from the downtown area or the south end of town you want to head north on Main Ave. You will pass City Market and 32nd St., go another 6 blocks and Animas View Dr. will be on the right side of the road. We are diagonally across from the Hampton Inn. You will be able to see our building and busses from Main Ave.

If you are coming from the north, head south on highway 550 towards Durango. When you get to Durango you will pass the Iron Horse Inn on the left, continue about another 1/2 mile and you will see Animas View Dr. on the left. We are the first building once you turn onto Animas View Dr.

View Durango Map with Mild to Wild Location

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