Historic Silverton Mining Tour - 2010

Now Extended Through October 2nd!

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast 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 town on the way to Cunningham Gulch and the Old Hundred Gold Mine. Enjoy the views, the fresh air and a fresh made picnic lunch from Silverton’s own Pickle Barrel Restaurant at the picnic area. 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 1600 ft deep in 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 boarding house, which is stubbornly clinging to the steep mountainside. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars. As you head back to town you will pass the Mayflower Mill as your guide describes the way ore was processed in the late 19^th century. Next stop is Silverton's state-of-the-art mining museum and its historical jail. Slip into jail and feel what it was like to be "behind bars" in the old town of Silverton. San Juan Backcountry drops you at the train stop in time for the 2:45pm departure of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s steam train headed to Durango. You will see the same breathtaking views in the Animas River Canyon that ore train crews did back in the 1880s. After your arrival back in Durango, enjoy dinner at one of Durango’s fine restaurants and relive the history.

SCHEDULE
9:30am - Motor Coach departs for Silverton.
11:00am-Arrive in Silverton & meet your guide.
11:00 am - 2:30pm - Historic Silverton Mining Tour
2:45pm - Depart Silverton aboard the D&SNGR steam train headed for Durango.
6:15 pm - Arrive in Durango.


FARES
Adult (ages 12 & over) - $181.72*
Child (ages 4-11) - $118.44*

*Includes 4% Historic Perservation Fee on train ticket portion.

Note: If you would prefer to stay overnight in Silverton and return to Durango the next day, please ask your reservation agent for details.


Advance Reservations Required. Availability is limited. To book this tour package call our Reservation Office NOW at 1-888-872-4607 and ask for the Packages Desk.