The historic Town of Silverton is a former silver mining camp, most or all of which is now included in a federally designated National Historic Landmark District.
The town population was 531 at U.S. Census 2000 and is one of the highest towns in the United States, at 9,305 feet above sea level in the San Juan Mountains.
US 550, the Million Dollar Highway passes through Silverton. North, the road ascends to the 11,018 ft summit of Red Mountain Pass before descending into Ouray at 7792 ft. South from Silverton US 550 passes over 10,910 ft Molas Pass and 10,640 ft Coal Bank Pass before reaching Durango at 6523 ft.

Silverton is also linked to Durango by the D&SNG RR (Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad), itself a National Historic Landmark.