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Elevation: 9,302 ft
GPS: 37.81076, -107.66481
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 146,121 total · 545/month
Shared By: Malcolm Daly on Mar 15, 2002
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Ice Climbing Suggest change

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.

Getting There Suggest change

Silverton is located on Hwy 550, 50 miles north of Durango and 20 miles south of Ouray. To get to South Mineral Creek, Head west on 550 out of town and almost immediately trun left onto CR# 585. Drive as far as you can or dare. To get to Eureka, head north out of Silverton on Hwy 110. It's usually plowed as far as the town of Eureka. Beware, if the road is open and the plows are working, you may come back to your car, only to find it buried. Be sure you have a shovel. Also be aware that avalanches can, and do, close this road at any time. They just don't seem to care if it's plowed!

47 Total Climbs

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Location: Silverton Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Silverton

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
WI4
 168
Stairway to Heaven
Trad, Ice 7 pitches
WI3
 74
Second Gully
Trad, Ice 5 pitches
WI4
 32
Goldrush
Trad, Ice 3 pitches
WI4-5
 140
Whorehouse Hoses
Ice 3 pitches
WI4
 47
Direct North Face
Trad, Ice
WI3
 43
Campground Couloir
Trad, Ice
WI4-
 7
Snotty Nosed Brat
Trad, Ice
WI4
 29
Snowblind
Trad, Ice
WI4-5
 10
Sundance
Trad, Ice
WI4
 33
Highway to Hell
Ice 3 pitches
WI5 PG13
 4
Hoser's Highway
Ice 4 pitches
WI4
 19
Tempered By Fire
Trad, Ice 2 pitches
WI3-4 M3-4
 6
Unknown Scrappy Gully
Mixed, Ice 6 pitches
WI5-6 M6
 11
Dukes of Hazzard (aka Crystal Ca…
Trad, Mixed, Ice 4 pitches
WI3-4
 6
Electric Avenue
Ice, Alpine 4 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Stairway to Heaven Eureka
 168
WI4 Trad, Ice 7 pitches
Second Gully Eureka
 74
WI3 Trad, Ice 5 pitches
Goldrush Eureka
 32
WI4 Trad, Ice 3 pitches
Whorehouse Hoses Eureka
 140
WI4-5 Ice 3 pitches
Direct North Face S Mineral Creek
 47
WI4 Trad, Ice
Campground Couloir S Mineral Creek
 43
WI3 Trad, Ice
Snotty Nosed Brat S Mineral Creek
 7
WI4- Trad, Ice
Snowblind S Mineral Creek
 29
WI4 Trad, Ice
Sundance S Mineral Creek
 10
WI4-5 Trad, Ice
Highway to Hell Eureka
 33
WI4 Ice 3 pitches
Hoser's Highway Eureka
 4
WI5 PG13 Ice 4 pitches
Tempered By Fire Eureka
 19
WI4 Trad, Ice 2 pitches
Unknown Scrappy Gully Eureka
 6
WI3-4 M3-4 Mixed, Ice 6 pitches
Dukes of Hazzard (aka Cryst… Eureka
 11
WI5-6 M6 Trad, Mixed, Ice 4 pitches
Electric Avenue Electric Peak
 6
WI3-4 Ice, Alpine 4 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Silverton »

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