Silverton, CO

Tucked into a dramatic alpine valley at over 9,300 feet, Silverton is one of the highest and most remote towns in Colorado. The entire community is a designated National Historic Landmark, filled with colorful Victorian storefronts, gravel side streets, and century-old mining relics set against towering peaks. Getting here usually means driving the Million Dollar Highway from Durango, a winding mountain pass that delivers stunning scenery along with serious winter conditions.

ATTRD&RG Railfan / CC BY 3.0

Daily life in Silverton follows the rhythm of the seasons. Summers are lively with visitors riding the historic narrow-gauge railroad and heading out onto the Alpine Loop, while winters are quiet, snowy, and geared toward backcountry skiers and snowmobilers. With fewer than seven hundred year-round residents, it is a tight-knit community that appeals to anyone looking for raw mountain beauty, a slower pace, and an authentic taste of high-country living.