Colorado · Hiking
Hiking in Silt, Colorado
Silt sits in the broad Rifle-to-Glenwood stretch of the Colorado River valley, and the hiking here reflects that setting: open mesa country, creek drainages cutting down from the Roan Plateau, and old ranch and mining roads that double as walking routes.
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Silt sits in the broad Rifle-to-Glenwood stretch of the Colorado River valley, and the hiking here reflects that setting: open mesa country, creek drainages cutting down from the Roan Plateau, and old ranch and mining roads that double as walking routes. The nine listed trails around Silt lean toward road-style hikes rather than singletrack, with routes like Smith Doll Coal Mine Road, Gibson Gulch Road, and Alta Mesa Road covering terrain that is more exposed and rolling than technical. Divide Creek Road and June Creek offer drainage-corridor walking with cottonwood and scrub oak cover, which matters in a landscape that gets full sun most of the year. Chipperfield Lane rounds out the accessible end of the list. None of these are high-alpine routes — you are working in valley and mesa elevations, not climbing to a summit — so the challenge here is heat management and navigation on unmarked two-track rather than altitude or scrambling. That also means the area is genuinely accessible to beginners and families, and most routes stay hikeable well into fall and open up earlier in spring than anything above 8,000 feet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difficulty level of hiking around Silt?
Most routes are easy to moderate. Smith Doll Coal Mine Road is specifically listed as easy, and the general character of the area — road-style hikes on mesa and creek terrain — means you are not dealing with steep technical sections. Expect uneven two-track surfaces and some elevation gain on the mesa routes, but nothing that requires hiking poles or scrambling experience.
When is the best time of year to hike near Silt?
Spring (April through early June) and fall (September through October) are the most comfortable windows. Summer temperatures in the Colorado River valley regularly push into the 90s, and routes like Alta Mesa Road and Gibson Gulch Road are exposed with little shade. If you hike in summer, start before 8 a.m. and plan to be off open terrain by midday.
Are these trails good for beginners or families with kids?
Yes. The road-style format of routes like Chipperfield Lane and Smith Doll Coal Mine Road makes them manageable for kids and newer hikers — no exposure, no scrambling, and you can turn around whenever you need to. Bring more water than you think you need, since shade is limited on the mesa routes.
What gear should I bring for a day hike in this area?
Water is the priority — carry at least two liters per person for any route over two hours, more in summer. Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, light long sleeves) matters on the exposed mesa and road routes. Sturdy trail shoes or light hikers are fine; technical boots are not necessary. A paper map or downloaded offline map is worth having since cell coverage is inconsistent in the creek drainages like June Creek and Divide Creek Road.
Is there parking and public access at these trailheads?
Access points for road and two-track routes like these often involve roadside pullouts rather than developed trailheads with facilities. Do not expect restrooms or posted signage at most of these locations. Confirm current access conditions locally before you go, particularly for routes like Gibson Gulch Road and Divide Creek Road where private land can adjoin public corridors.
