Silverthorne: River Trails, Water and Art

Silverthorne combines trails along the Blue River with water sports, art, and performances. When planning your stay, you can first consider whether you’d like to spend time by the river, on trails, or enjoying cultural offerings. This gives you specific ideas for planning your trip and searching for a hotel in Silverthorne.

Along the Blue River: Trails, Fishing, and Rafting

The 3.5-mile Blue River Trail runs through Silverthorne from Silverthorne Elementary School and North Pond Park, through downtown, to Dillon Dam. Visitors can use it on foot or by bike. The route connects different parts of town, and its connection to the Summit County Recpath opens up more trails. From there, routes lead to Dillon, Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper, and Frisco.

The Blue River itself also offers several ways to enjoy the outdoors: You can fish here, and the river is suitable for fly-fishing for four different trout species. Both whitewater and flatwater rafting are also possible on the Blue River. If you’d rather spend your day by the water than cover a longer distance, these activities offer a different focus from a bike ride or walk on the trail.

Water Sports and More Trails

North Pond is a protected body of water and is well suited to learning stand-up paddleboarding. It’s a specific option for beginners who want to try the sport. Maryland Creek Park also has a free nine-hole disc golf course. A loop trail in the park connects to the Gore Range Trail, bringing together a park loop and a link to another trail.

The Lily Pad Lake Trail can be reached from the Salt Lick Area Trail System. Its trailhead can also be reached by taking the free Summit County Stage bus from the Silverthorne Transit Center. You can check the current schedule when planning your day; for a hike, you should also check current route conditions, as they can change.

Art, Performances, and Events

The Silverthorne Performing Arts Center is home to Theatre SilCo. The company stages performances in the center’s black box theater; the building also hosts art exhibitions and events. Public artworks can be seen around town outside the Performing Arts Center, in city parks, along the Blue River Trail, and throughout the downtown area. Silverthorne also presents several public art exhibitions throughout the year.

Smaller offerings also add to the program: Art Spot offers classes in creative activities. First Fridays bring locals and visitors together on the first Friday of each month. If you want to plan around a particular performance or event, it’s a good idea to check the current schedule. You can also combine art with time outdoors, for example by walking along the Blue River Trail and discovering public artworks downtown or along the route.

Scenery and Directions

The Raven Golf Course at Three Peaks is set among pine and aspen forests, sparkling lakes, and snow-capped peaks reaching 13,000 feet. This landscape is another part of the town’s scenery. To reach the Mesa-Cortina Trailhead, take Exit 205 on I-70 toward Silverthorne/Dillon. Since road and parking conditions can change, check them before you drive.

The activities each offer something different: the Blue River Trail combines exercise with a route through Silverthorne, North Pond is a place to try stand-up paddleboarding, and the Performing Arts Center brings together performances, exhibitions, and events. These highlights let you shape your stay around the activities that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Keystone, Frisco, Dillon, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain

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