Silverton Historic Mine Tour

Dates:  June 1-October 12, 2024 (No tours on July 4, 2024)

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your own in Durango before you board the 9:30am Durango & Silverton motor coach 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 bus 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 including a view of the Mayflower Mill Cemetery. You’ll soon be on your way to Cunningham Gulch and the Old 100 Gold Mine. At the picnic area enjoy the views, the fresh air and a freshly-made picnic lunch. Lunch includes ham, turkey, roast beef, or vegetarian sandwich, chips, cookie and bottled water and you’ll receive a sling pack 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 ft 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. Tour is suitable for most ages and abilities. 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.

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

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SCHEDULE

June 1-Oct. 12 (no tours 7/4):
9:30am – Bus departs from Durango depot for Silverton.
11:00am – Arrive in Silverton & meet your guide.
11:00am-2:15 – Historic Silverton Mining Tour.
2:45pm – Depart Silverton aboard the D&SNGR steam train headed for Durango.
6:15pm – Arrive in Durango.

FARES:

Standard class coach:
Adult (age 12 & over) – $274.72*
Child (age 4-11) – $235.84*
*(Includes bus, tour, lunch, gold panning, standard class coach + 8% historic preservation fee. Upgrade to premium-class train seating available! Ask your reservation agent!)

Note: If you would prefer to stay overnight in Silverton and return to Durango the next day, please ask your reservation agent for details. This is a great way to experience more of Silverton, Colorado!

Advance Reservations Required. Availability is limited. 

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