The ghost towns of Howardsville, Eureka, and Animas Forks are all located within fourteen miles of Silverton, and are accessible by 2-WD road. You can fill many hours or days, if you wish, exploring these old haunts. Please use extreme caution around structures, and do not enter old mines as they present a serious safety hazard. If you're into vertical, then Silverton is the place for you for mountain biking. The only direction to go from Silverton is up, making this an ideal location for the serious mountain biker.
Mellow rides are, for the most part, limited to the valley floor.
The several jeep routes in the Silverton area offer excellent mountain biking opportunities and ghost town visits. One especially rewarding loop tour from Silverton involves an overnight trip from Silverton over Ophir Pass and on into Telluride. Spend the night there and cross over Imogene Pass into Ouray the following day. From Ouray, take the Alpine Loop Byway back into Silverton. This is one mountain bike tour you will never forget.