Silverton Colorado area

If you are going to be in Silverton for the 4th of July, you need to show up about 5 days or more before. There are about 5,000 people or more in the area for the 4th of July for the Parade and Fireworks. Not many open spaces left by a few days before the 4th and it is a weekend this year so crowds may be bigger. The locations mentioned are all good spots but will be very full (crowded) for the holiday weekend.

Great small town parade





Be aware that at the end of the parade the Fire Departments always have a large water fight near the Courthouse

We would strongly suggest renting a jeep instead of driving a truck if you go over the many 4 wheel drive roads. I know the roads are probably better than they used to be, but they aren't very wide, they are steep and lots of hairpin turns. We used to go there all the time when we lived in Albuquerque. Now we are in Washington and don't get there that often anymore. They altitude is really hard too now that we live at sea level. Have a fun time.

2gypsies wrote:
Mineral Creek has a campground (for a fee but if you have the SR Pass it's 1/2) but before you get to it there a large area of BLM land on Mineral Creek itself. That's free and that's where we usually stayed.

There are several different places up South Mineral Creek before the NFS CG where there is dispersed camping. They have even installed pit toilets in some places to try to keep things a little more sanitary. Kendall camping area (picture above): 37.819586, -107.714469 Golden Horn Camping area: 37.812655, -107.743676 Sullivan and Anvil Camping area: 37.820818, -107.719826

There's another CG up at the old townsite of Eureka. Used to be just wall to wall people. The county has cleaned it up and now charge. But a nice spot nonetheless. info here The managers used to be a doctor here in GWS and is truly committed to trying to preserve the area.

On the way to Eureka, there are sites just past the mill where Maggie Gulch comes out. 37.855416, -107.574018 One has to be careful in a lot of places around Silverton as much of the property is private. You'll know, it's marked.

On US 550 north out of town toward Red Mountain Pass, there are some boondocking locations at the turnoff here: 37.847441, -107.724874

For the fireworks, the best place we've found is in the big pull off on the first hairpin turn heading out of town on US 550 toward Durango. You'll almost be at eye level with them. Kind of neat. They put on a good show with all the money they bring in from the tourist traffic.

If you want to be in the area for the 4th of July, you'll need to arrive by the end of June. Otherwise, wait until the 5th of July (Sunday) and a lot of people will head home that day.

We usually camp five to seven days in the Silverton area every year. Great place, although mountain biking is pretty tough as everything goes steep up and down. Lots of great hiking trails, though. Head up Cunningham Creek and hike up to the Highland Mary Lakes. Get on a high spot above the lakes and look off into the heart of the Needle Mountains. Amazing view from there. Drive over Cinnamon Pass to American Basin. Park and hike up there. Great wildflowers in that drainage. We've hiked up Handies Peak several times, not for the thrill of conquering one of the 14er's, but because the wildflowers are so wonderful on the approach. It is a nice view from the top however!

If u decide to try 4x4 Jeep trails, DO NOT accidently get onto Black Bear trail. It goes from Hyway 550 west into Teluride. Its DANGEROUS!!! People die on that trail.

Thanks everyone for the information.

Here's an article on Silverton's July 4 parade. It's really fun and well done.

Silverton July 4 parade

Silverton's Event Calendar

There are mining roads in every direction from Silverton that can get you into areas where you can "dispersed camp," as San Juan National Forest calls it. One of the most scenic is in the flats of the Ironton area just north of Red Mountain Pass.

Your truck may be a little big for most of the jeep roads in the Silverton area. But, while you are there, you might try two of them on for size. One is Engineer Pass, which is up above Animas Forks and continues over to Lake City. The other is Ophir Pass, which goes from US 550 NW of Silverton to Ophir and Telluride. I have been all over the San Juans on jeep roads and would recommend staying off most of the other passes with a truck the size of yours. Too many 10-point turns on the hairpins with a big truck in places where my Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier only had to do 4-point turns!

Incidentally, if you are going to go over to Telluride while you are there (very highly recommended for the scenery), there is a USFS campground with 19 electric hookups and 10 pull-thru sites. It is located on CO 145 south of Lizard Head Pass and is called the Cayton campground. And while there, you can try trout fishing in Trout Lake just north of the pass and, better yet, Alta Lakes above Ophir.

Finally, if you are going to visit Mesa Verde NP, try the Juniper Campground at McPhee Reservoir. It has paved sites with electrical hookups, flush toilets, showers, and even a little shade in spots. Much nicer, less crowded, and cheaper than Morefield Campground inside the national park. And, while there, you can stop right next door and visit my favorite Anasazi museum anywhere in the Four Corners region.

The Chamber of Commerce is at silvertoncolorado.com . There should be a phone number you can call to ask about campgrounds, dump stations, etc.

We love Silverton. Have lunch at Ramon's for us.

2gypsies
We will be in the Durango/Silverton area for the 4th.. can you share or PM me with more details about the morning parade and fireworks show. Best spots to watch from, etc.?

Mineral Creek has a campground (for a fee but if you have the SR Pass it's 1/2) but before you get to it there a large area of BLM land on Mineral Creek itself. That's free and that's where we usually stayed.

If you get to Silverton before the 4th, the town puts on an awesome firework show and a neat parade in the morning. Silverton is a fun town. We've been there often.