Durango to Silverton Train and Silverton Historical Tour

Historical Train Tours from Durango to Silverton, CO

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your own in Durango before you board the D&S Motor Coach at 9:30am bound for Historic Silverton via the Million Dollar Highway. The views are worth a million bucks! Your journey back in time to catch a glimpse of Silverton’s mining history begins the moment you step off the Motor Coach and meet your tour guide from San Juan Backcountry. Your guide will acquaint you with many of the fascinating sights in the historic district of Silverton. You’ll soon be on your way to Cunningham Gulch and the Old Hundred Gold Mine. At the picnic area enjoy the views, the fresh air and a freshly-made picnic lunch. Lunch includes ham, turkey or vegetarian sandwich, chips, candy bar, bottled water and a souvenir “string backpack” that’s yours to keep!

Try your hand at panning for gold and silver. Shortly before noon you will “suit up” and board the electric mine train for the 1/3 mile ride, 1,600 feet deep into the heart of Galena Mountain. Here you will see the gold vein with tunnels and shafts built by the hard-rock miners between 1907 and 1972.

After returning to the sunlight, the tour continues with views of the Old Hundred Boarding House, which hangs precariously on the side of the mountain 2,000 feet above the mine site, since 1904. As you head back to town you will pass the Mayflower Mill as your guide describes the way ore was processed in the late 19th century. Next stop is Silverton’s state-of-the-art mining museum and its historical jail. Slip into the jail and feel what it was like to be “behind bars” in the old town of Silverton. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars.

San Juan Backcountry drops you at the train stop in time for the 3:00pm departure (May through September) headed to Durango.

You will ride on the same rails gold and silver ore took on its way to the smelter and you will see the same breathtaking views in the Animas River Canyon that ore train crews did back in the 1880’s.

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Itinerary

• 9:30am – Motor Coach departs from Durango depot for Silverton.
• 10:45am – Arrive in Silverton & meet your guide.
• 11:00am to 2:00pm – Historic Silverton Mining and Museum Tours.
• 2:45pm – Board the D&SNGR steam train headed for Durango.
• 6:30pm – Arrive in Durango.

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Fares include:

• Bus and Tour
• Lunch (includes large sandwich, potato chips, candy bar, bottled water, and a souvenir “string backpack”. Sandwich choices are: Ham, roast beef, turkey or vegetarian)
• Gold panning
• Standard-class coach seat on train.
• Train Seating can be upgraded for an additional cost. Upgrade to premium-class train seating!

Note: If you would prefer to stay overnight in Silverton and return to Durango the next day, please ask for details. This is a great way to get experience more of Silverton, Colorado! Advance Reservations Required. Availability is limited.