Silverton, CO Off-Roading: OHV Rules, Trails & Staging

Side-by-sides and ATVs

Not in town. Silverton's voters banned off-highway vehicles, ATVs, and unlicensed dirt bikes inside town limits in 2021. The fine is $300, and your rig can be towed. (source)
Colorado permit only. Colorado doesn't honor other states' OHV registrations, so you need a Colorado OHV permit, shown on the vehicle, plus liability insurance. (source)
Some county roads, not all. San Juan County opens certain county roads to off-highway vehicles. Check the county's map before you ride. (source)
No ride-through to Gladstone. Hancock Gulch (County Road 110) closed to off-highway vehicles in 2022, so you have to trailer between the Alpine Loop side (County Road 2) and the Gladstone side. (source)

There's no official staging area. You can park on certain county roads, first come, first served, with your truck and trailer fully out of the traffic lane. (source)
Closest spots: County Road 2 at Howardsville, and County Road 20 next to Silverton Lakes Campground. (source)
Not on private land without the owner's permission. You can be ticketed or towed. (source)

County Road 2 follows the Animas River up to Animas Forks, then over Cinnamon and Engineer passes toward Lake City.

Leaves US 550 north of Silverton and crosses to the town of Ophir.

The ghost town at the top of County Road 2, on the way to the Alpine Loop passes.

The other end of the Alpine Loop, where side-by-sides can drive the streets.

Fill up here. Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City have gas. The Alpine Loop itself doesn't. (source)
The Pickle Barrel, on Greene Street, has served food in an 1880 building since 1971. (source)
Hours change by season, so check before you go.

About 23 miles north on US 550, the Million Dollar Highway, over 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass. (source)
Trailer your side-by-side. US 550 is a state highway, and Colorado law keeps off-highway vehicles off state highways except to cross them. (source)

Founded in 1874 as a gold and silver mining camp, at about 9,300 feet. Its last mine closed in 1991. (source)
The whole town is a National Historic Landmark district. (source)