Smelter Mountain Trail

Smelter Mountain Trail starts just south of Durango. From the parking lot, hike downhill, cross the little stream, and then head up the rocky hill. The ascent almost immediately opens with views to the south and east, showcasing the Durango region, its ruddy slopes, and rugged peaks. The trail is in great shape and climbs steadily with a few challenging sections until you reach the top with an even bigger view. You can even see the main station of the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from up here, which takes tourists and backpackers to Silverton and into the San Juan Mountains. You'll encounter several communication towers at the top of the hill--which isn't ideal from a hiker's perspective, but they don't obscure the beautiful views of the Animas River and Durango below. To get stunning views of Lake Nighthorse and the San Juan Mountains, keep heading west once atop the plateau toward the next set of towers.There are several narrow ridgelines between the San Juan Mountains and Durango that are very dynamic and catch the light really well during sunrise and sunset--photographers take note! There are not too many people on this trail outside of the summer weekends, which is a nice contrast to more popular nearby hikes such as Animas Mountain Loop.