Planning the 8th Annual Colorado Trail Ride
BusaDave9
Always Off-Roading Jeeper
- Posts
- 8,244
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- Location
- Durango, Crawlarado
- Vehicle(s)
- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with 304 V8, T18 Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer case with TeraLow 3:1 gears, 4.88 axle gears, Detroit Locker up front and Ox Locker in back with 1 piece axle shafts, 36" SuperSwamper SX Tires, Shackle reversal, MileMarker Hydraulic winch, MSD 6A ignition.
Take some advice from a divorcé, don't make your spouse or kids feel obligated to join us on a Jeep trail ride. If they would prefer to find their own activities by all means encourage it. If they would like to take a walk they hardly need an itinerary. Just tell them to walk around town. They can walk along the main streets of Silverton (Greene Street and Blair St.). Many streets were named after the founders of Silverton (i.e. Green St., Blair St., Snowdon St., Reese St.) Francis Marion Snowden was one of the first pioneers to arrive in the valley then called Bakers Park. He built this cabin in 1874:
The town of Silverton then grew up around him. His cabin was the first tavern in town. He served explorers and prospectors.
If your family would like longer hikes there are lots of options. Just let me know.
But the one activity I think almost everyone would enjoy is ...
drum roll please ...
The Durango Silverton Train.
Official Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train
This train is so cool! Even the sound of the steam whistle is so much better than the air horns of modern trains. In 1890 these trains were like the Apollo space ships of the late 1960's except the trains were not Limited to a few trained astronauts.
I think that everyone that ever comes to south-western Colorado should ride this train. It is an awesome trip. This train takes you through some very rugged mountains and through some deep canyon gorges. Everyone should do this once. Yes, once. If you don't do it right it can be too much. This train goes slooow. That's okay to see this scenery once but it you do the round trip this train ride becomes an all day event. To go to Durango and back you will board the train at about 9:00 am and not finish until 7:00 pm. Instead I recommend going one way on the train and come back on a bus. The bus is faster but it also covers some beautiful terrain. The train tracks are near the highway for some of the route but most of the way the train goes over much more rugged canyons. The train company sells both the train and bus tickets. I recommend you ride on the eastern side of the train. If you take the train from Silverton to Durango you will want the left side of the train. If you take the train from Durango to Silverton you will want the right side of the train. Either way a bus will take you back and then you'll see different sights.
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, who knows?
