Daniel’s guidebook

There are several back country trails near the house, and gravel county roads for walking right out of our driveway, but the best hiking requires a drive to the trail heads. We recommend Vallecito Creek Trail, or going up beyond Purgatory Ski Area to Engineer Mountain trail on Coal Bank Pass, and there are 100's of other trails outlined in the guidebooks in the house. Gold Medal trout fishing is available along 7 miles of the Animas River trail, and along Lake Nighthorse and Vallecito Lake. It's really worth spending a day in the back country around Silverton, and a car can drive to Animas Forks but just about every other forest service road requires a 4X4 high clearance vehicle. Everybody likes the train ride to Silverton, but we encourage you to take the bus back to town versus the slow ride back by train. Mesa Verde is a do not miss, and be sure to drive all the way into the park to Spruce Tree House and the Museum, and hike the Petroglyph trail if you really want the "whole experience" of the park.