Driving the mining road to Silver Lake near Silverton
Silver Lake is a high mountain lake located in San Juan County, in the US state of Colorado. A gravel road, to the north of the lake, ends at 3,403 m (11,164 ft) above sea level.
Where is Silver Lake?
The lake is located to the east of Silverton, in the southwestern part of Colorado, near the iconic Little Giant Peak.
Why was the road to Silver Lake built?
The road to the summit is an old mining road. It was built to give access to the silver and lead at the Silver Lake Mine. There is evidence of mining all over the area.
Is the road to Silver Lake unpaved?
The road is totally unpaved: gravel and bumpy with embedded rocks. The road is precarious, with very narrow parts, dangerous drop-offs, and a boulder-lined roadbed. 4WD vehicles with high clearance only.
How long is the road to Silver Lake?
Starting from County Road 2 near Silverton, the road to the summit is 4.18 km (2.6 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 505 m, and the average gradient is 12.08%.
Is the road to Silver Lake open in winter?
Set high in the San Juan Mountains, the road is totally impassable in winter due to harsh conditions and snowfalls.
Pic: Tami Roberts