Silverton Climbing

This historic mining town, 50 miles north of Durango, is impossibly, wonderfully, dead in the winter. One the train stops running, the tourists stop coming and the avalanches start running on Red Mountain Pass, Silverton turns into a terrific place to visit. Since 1997, a few hotels have stayed open all year, including the Teller House, the Triangle Motel and Smedley's B&B. If you need nightlife, better stay in Durango or (gasp!) Ouray. There are two major areas to climb around Silverton; South Mineral Creek to the west of town, and Eureka, to the northeast. Both of these areas are early season areas. Once the snow really starts to fall, the avalanches begin to run and the roads get shut down. Once they're shut, you're looking at a five mile ski through HUGE avalanche zones. Better to hang up your tools and go skiing on the pass.

The most famous climbs are located in Eureka section.