Quarters, Mountain Towns, and an Open-Air Train: Day 6 in Silverton and Durango

Durango, CO

Day 6 with The Grand Western Tour kicked off with one of the more underrated milestones of any trip: a morning at the laundromat.

For more than a few of us, this was the first time ever doing our own laundry, and we came prepared with what felt like several pounds of quarters to get the job done. Call it a life skill unlocked.

Once everyone was fresh and clean, we headed up to Silverton, a charming western town nestled in a cradle of mountains. We grabbed lunch on our own and spent some time exploring the streets and shops. The drive up was something else, and honestly, everyone was glued to the windows watching the peaks roll by.

The highlight of the day was the 3 hour open-air train ride from Silverton back to Durango. We sat on benches and leaned against the open sides, watching the cliffsides, rocks, and lichen fly past. The train followed alongside the blue-green Animas River, and every so often the landscape opened up to reveal a stunning gorge. We spotted kayakers on the water and even picked up a few hikers along the way.

Back in Durango, we had some free time in the evening to head out, grab dinner, and explore a bit more. We caught some buskers playing, peeked into a few shops, and soaked up the last of the day.

Mountain views, new skills, and a train ride we won’t soon forget. Onward!