Silverton/Silver Lake Loop

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · Historical Significance · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

This is a off-the-beaten track loop that will have you experiencing plenty of solitude and some need for navigation.

This loop starts from where I was camping but you can start it from downtown Silverton or the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area.

Use the map to follow the road up (use the map because there are several interconnecting roads). When the road hits the Nothing is well-marked here, so continue to use the app. There is a trail that allows you to bypass a section of the road. I missed that so if you want to use that, use another app to find that stretch of trail. Continue to climb until the road ends and the trail begins. There is a great waterfall cascading down (aren't they everywhere here?).

You'll have to navigate up to the ridge. The trail is defined but gets a bit sketchy in a couple of sections near the top.

After the ridge, the trail drops down to the lake and all the debris and detritus left behind by the mining operations.

The route I took climbs steeply away from the lake. However, another route hugs the lake and then climbs more gently up the draining. If you find this route, I recommend it. Otherwise, simply climb and work your way towards the pass to the southwest. The two route options connect below the pass.

After this pass is where things get fun. Nobody comes out here. You can (occasionally) find the evidence of a trail but it is easily lost, particularly when dropping into the trees. The key is following the gps as well as you can and simply working your way toward the dirt road that is below you.

Once you hit the road you simply follow it downhill back to Silverton.