Entry No. 51 — the Durango file — filed under: skijoring
Silverton Skijoring on Blair Street
Every February, horses accelerate to 35–45 mph and tow skiers over jump obstacles down Blair Street — the same dirt road that once lined Silverton's red-light district with dozens of bordellos. You stand on an unpaved, mile-high Main Street watching cowboys haul skiers through gates and off ramps while the San Juans loom overhead, and the whole thing costs nothing to watch. It reads like a fever dream some prospector had in 1895, except it's real and it's happening right in front of you.
The story
Long before tow ropes were involved, Blair Street was Silverton’s unpaved red-light district, lined with saloons and bordellos serving local gold and silver miners. Every February, the town resurrects the street's wild edge by turning off the sanity switch, covering the dirt drag in mountain snow, and letting quarter horses tow skiers down the thoroughfare at 35 to 45 miles per hour.
The mechanics are pure high-altitude madness. A cowboy rides at a dead gallop while holding a tow rope attached to a skier, who must launch off snow jumps, negotiate slalom gates, and spear hanging rings at highway speeds. If an unseasonable thaw strips Blair Street bare—which happened when 50-degree temperatures melted the track down to mud—the town mobilizes dump trucks and loaders to re-pave the drag with snow imported from higher peaks.
The entire spectacle costs nothing to watch from the snowbanks. You stand at 9,318 feet elevation, wedged between 19th-century brick storefronts and the sheer cliff faces of the San Juans, feeling horse hooves vibrate through your boots while 1,000-pound animals throw slush into the crowd.
What it's like
Dress like you are standing on a giant ice block for three hours, because you are. Blair Street gets packed with spectators standing on snow banks and packed slush, so wear heavy insulated boots with real traction. Park near Greene Street early to avoid the bottleneck, and when your toes go numb, retreat into Handlebars Food & Saloon for a bowl of green chile before driving US-550 back over Molas Pass.
The move: Drive up from Durango on a February weekend, plant yourself along Blair Street with coffee, and watch the horse-and-skier heats tear past — then duck into Handlebars for green chile before the road ices over for the drive back.
📍 Before you go Blair Street is unpaved and sits at 9,318 ft — dress for real cold and expect packed snow underfoot. Silverton has limited parking; arriving early or walking from the main lot near Greene Street is your best bet. US-550 over Molas and Red Mountain passes can close in heavy snow — check CDOT before you go.
- 📍 Silverton, CO
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Blair Street, Silverton, CO 81433
Hours: Added 2026-06-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Grand Imperial Hotel — Walk a block from the track to warm up in this 1880s hotel saloon, where a 1890 suicide left behind historic woodwork and local ghost lore.
- Hillside Cemetery — Head half a mile up the slope above town to walk among 3,000 un-gridded graves holding Silverton's early miners and bordello workers.
- Christ of the Mines Shrine — Look up Anvil Mountain from the race line to spot the 12-ton Carrara marble statue carved to watch over local miners.
- Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour — Head four miles into the gulch to see where the prospectors who originally frequented Blair Street spent their days drilling into rock.
Good to know
How much does it cost to watch Silverton Skijoring?
Nothing. The event is completely free for spectators standing along the snowbanks of Blair Street.
When does the race take place?
The event runs over a weekend every February in downtown Silverton.
How do you drive there from Durango, and what should you watch out for?
Take US-550 North over Molas Pass directly into Silverton. US-550 is a steep mountain highway subject to sudden snow closures and chain laws, so check CDOT road reports before leaving Durango.
What happens if there isn't enough snow on Blair Street?
Blair Street is an unpaved dirt road. If a winter thaw melts the course, local volunteers haul in dump-truck loads of snow from higher elevations in the San Juan Mountains to build the track by hand.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: durangoherald.com · rmpbs.org · snowbrains.com · 5280 · durango.com · 805beer.com
last checked: 2026-06-21