Silverton, Colorado

WHAT IS DO SILVERTON RIGHT?

The Silverton Chamber of Commerce / Visit Silverton was awarded a year long mentorship and consulting of 100 hours by the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) for a "DO SILVERTON RIGHT" campaign and principles. Due to the continued increase in tourism growth in Silverton and San Juan County, Silverton qualified to enter the stewardship program offered through the CTO. After an entire year of consultants digging into the Silverton Tourism Data, Business, Stakeholders and Community surveys, work sessions this past spring, stakeholder meeting throughout 2024 and 2025 and one on one interviews with business owners, non-profits and community stakeholders, the following 7 DO SILVERTON RIGHT Principles were developed.

EMBRACE OUR PLACE AND OUR PACE

Silverton is home to locals, diverse ecosystems and wildlife. We welcome visitors to appreciate our beauty, slower pace & friendly vibe.
When visiting, we invite you to slow down, breathe in the clean mountain air & smile
Keep to the 15mph speed limit in town
When snapping photos, pull over & be aware of your surroundings.
Kindness & patience goes a long way with our services workers shop keepers
Drink twice your normal amount of water to help prevent altitude sickness.

PLAN SMART FOR ALL CONDITIONS

Mountain weather changes quickly; pack plenty of gear to stay warm & dry
Before heading into the backcountry, be prepared with rain gear, layers, water, map, & first aid supplies.
Download your maps & routes on an app like COTREX so they can be used offline
Review maps, trip reports, and weather in ahead of time to confirm your route
Make sure your vehicle can handle the roads, and determine travel times and distances
Share your travel plans & return time with someone & check-in with them upon return.

PROPERLY DISPOSE OF ALL TRASH, PICK WASTE UP & PACK IT OUT

Please properly dispose of trash in town to avoid attracting bears and other wildlife
Overstuffed trash attracts wildlife. If one can is full, bring your trash to another that has space
Pack it out in the Backcountry; including trash, human waste, toilet paper, dog waste, and peels & cores
WAG bags to dispose of human waste can be found at local gear shops.

PROTECT

GIVE OUR CRITTERS SPACE

Dispose of your trash, avoid leaving food in your car, and clean up food scraps
Do not inadvertently feed animals. It is harmful to their health & creates bad habits
Avoid approaching animals, please enjoy them at a distance.
Avoid making wildlife anxious by giving them plenty of space and leashing you pets.

It's an amazing experience to see a moose! However, they can charge. Keep yourself & your pets safe by giving them a wide berth as they can be dangerous.

MOTOR ON WITH CARE

The San Juans are home to the Alpine Loop and other stunning routes. Enjoy them and stick to established roads, parking areas & trails
Fragile tundra will take hundreds or even a thousand years to rebuild after being damaged by footsteps or vehicles
Kindly, reference Silverton's OHV rules, check conditions, & wait for San Juan County road openings.
Keep speeds in check, pull over for faster vehicles, & yield to non-motorized users & uphill travelers.
When you encounter puddles or snow, drive through them, not around

BE MINDFUL IN THE WILD

Make the most of your adventure; following these guidelines:
- stick to existing trails and roads,
- camp at established sites
- mind your campfire and pack out trash & waste.
Check camping regulations & fire restrictions
Camp only in previously camped areas, and at least 100 feet from water to keep our waters pristine
Plan to be entirely self-reliant as services & facilities such as trash cans, tables, fire pits & toilets are not provided
If campfires are permitted, always keep eyes on the fire and have a bucket of water next to it at all times
Please help us avoid wildfires! Extinguish your fire by dousing with water until the embers are cold to the touch.

Carry water, weatherproof jackets, hats, gloves, pants & shoes
4WD and snow tires are recommended for Red Mountain, Molas, & Coal Bank Passes
Take it slow & follow the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) winter driving tips
Passes may close intermittently due to hazardous conditions and avalanche control work. Check CoTrip.org before your trip.
Silverton is home to steep avalanche terrain. Avoid adventuring on or below steep slopes. Review Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecasts before venturing into the backcountry
Check our Snow Route Parking Information to know where to park during snow removal.

BE PREPARED FOR

WHAT IS DO SILVERTON RIGHT?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

POSITIVE ATTITUDES & HIGH ALTITUDES

BE SAN JUAN SAVVY

KEEP IT TIDY

PROTECT WILDLIFE

ROLL WITH RESPECT

CAMP AND ADVENTURE SMART

BE PREPARED FOR WINTER