Hiking the San Juans

The trailhead sits right in the neighborhood — a short walk down the street from the townhouse. Purgatory Trail (#511) descends about 800 vertical feet over the first mile to the flats, then follows the contour of Cascade Creek for three miles to its confluence with the Animas River.

The terrain is wonderfully varied: a rocky initial descent, flat meadow hiking through Purgatory Flats, then a series of five up-and-down sections through old-growth forest before a final steep descent to the Animas River and the Animas River Bridge. Wildflowers, river views, and the chance to spot bears make this a quintessential San Juan experience.

This is the premier hike out of Silverton and one of the most photographed trails in all of Colorado. The Ice Lakes Trail climbs relentlessly from the trailhead at 9,840 feet through dense forest, breaking above timberline into a lower basin of wildflower meadows before the final push to two of the most stunning alpine lakes in the Lower 48.

Ice Lake sits at 12,270 feet — a surreal, impossibly turquoise pool cradled beneath jagged 13,000-foot ridgelines. Continue another 0.7 miles to Island Lake at 12,392 feet for an even more dramatic setting, ringed by towering peaks reflected in crystal-clear waters. The colors of these lakes have to be seen to be believed.

One of the most rewarding day hikes off the Million Dollar Highway, the Columbine Lake Trail (#509) climbs through 13 steep switchbacks before breaking above timberline into some of the most beautiful alpine terrain in the San Juans. The initial mile is demanding — gaining elevation rapidly from the trailhead at 10,340 feet — but the payoff is extraordinary.

At the two-mile mark, you reach a saddle at 12,448 feet where the grade softens and the trail becomes a pleasant walk into the upper basin of Mill Creek. The trail follows the creek to its source: Columbine Lake, a brilliantly sapphire-colored alpine pool at 12,693 feet. Brook trout fishing is good here, and strong hikers can continue to Columbine Pass at 13,094 feet for even bigger views.

Just up the road from the townhouse, Coal Bank Pass is the starting point for one of the finest wildflower hikes in all of Colorado. The trail climbs northeast from the pass through spruce-fir forest before emerging into expansive alpine meadows that explode with color from mid-July through August — columbines, paintbrush, lupine, and dozens more.

From the meadows, the trail steepens as it approaches Engineer Mountain, a dramatic 12,968-foot peak that towers above the surrounding landscape. The final push to the summit involves some Class 3 scrambling over rocky terrain, but you don't need to summit to have an incredible day — the meadow views alone are worth the trip. No fees, no registration, just wildflowers and big mountain scenery.