Silt Colorado Real Estate

Silt was historically a farming/ranching community.  It is named after a major byproduct of the Colorado River, a river which flows from the county line east of Glenwood Springs along the interstate into Mesa County (and into Utah and Arizona). 

Silt was first settled in 1885 and was incorporated in 1915.

Located on the western slope of the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains is Silt Colorado.

Silt sits up against the Grand Hogback Mountains, well protected from the elements and overlooking the Colorado River Valley below.

Situated between Glenwood Springs and Rifle in the arid mountains along I-70, Silt offers the traveler all the basic amenities, plus a few extras.

Downtown hungry drivers can stop for a bite at the local deli, a couple of sit-down restaurants, or the pizza parlor.

The Silt Historical Park, which may be of interest to history buffs, is just a few blocks from downtown across from the school. Here guests can walk through seven buildings that have been relocated and restored to reflect what life was like in Silt around the turn of the century.

In the summer months, tour guides lead visitors through log cabins, a cow camp, country store, tool shop, and old school house.

Exploring the Colorado River is another way to discover Silt.

Those on float trips can stop for a rest at a small riverside pull-off park.

Or bird-watchers can follow the signs to the Heron's Nest RV Park, which is the access point to an interesting heron rockery right on the river.

The Ryden Ranch Maize Maze, a local cornfield maze, is another popular attraction in Silt.

Harvey Gap is Silt's backyard playground.

Stocked with rainbow trout, crappie, catfish, and small-mouth bass, the lake and state park is especially popular for fishing.

The 160-acre lake is also ideal for windsurfing.

Adjacent park property, covered in cedar and sagebrush, also offers places to hike, picnic, snowmobile, and cross-country ski.

Bordered by thousands of acres of BLM land and just minutes from the White River National Forest, Silt is also an easy place to spot wildlife such as elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, coyotes, foxes, wild turkeys, and pheasants.

What To Do When Your Name Is Mud?

Sometimes what a small (or big) town needs is a name change.

For instance, what do you do when the name of your town is Silt, Colorado?

A whole bunch of residents are unhappy about the name, which dates back to the nineteenth century when trains used to kick up clouds of silt around the fledgling town, leading locals to post a sign by the tracks that warned, “Watch Out For Silt."

Fast forward to 1989 when someone slapped a bumper sticker on his car that proclaimed “Silt Happens”.

This was pretty embarrassing, so in 1992 a number of residents tried to get the name changed, which led to a slogan contest in 1999, in which the winner was “Where the Sun Rises with a Smile and Sets in Your Heart."

I think that may be a nice slogan, but people still hate the name.

Proposed changes are Ferguson or Ferguson's Crossing, Cactus Valley, Grand View and Grand River.

The town residents voted on it and Silt it is!

The area known as Peach Valley is an historic agricultural area, with numerous small farms, ranches and orchards. It lies about 15 miles west of Glenwood Springs, between the towns of New Castle and Silt.

The area sits at about 5,500 feet in the Colorado River drainage of the central Rocky Mountains.

Surrounded by majestic mountains, national forest lands, high desert plateaus and colorful mesas, the region carries the mark of ancient oceans and was the ancestral home of the Ute Mountain Indians.

Our homesteading and small farming venture began here in 1980. Garden and orchard areas have been farmed using organic techniques, without chemical inputs for at least 28 years. Soil health is accomplished through crop rotations, aged manures, and compost from flocks of chickens and fall turkeys.

Water from the Flat Tops area of the White River National Forest serves the valley through ditches diverted from the Elk Creeks, north of New Castle. Farm labor is done primarily by hand with the help of several small tractors and tillers. Several hoophouse and coldframe structures help extend the seasons.

Peach Valley CSA, in conjunction with several other local, sustainable, organic farms, produces food to supply approximately 100 members and a seasonal farmers market with fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, meats and eggs for nearly forty weeks of the year.

The community was named for the region’s fine soil. The estimated population is 2003 was 2,094.

Silt enjoys four beautiful seasons with mild snow in he winter and high desert summers.

There is much opportunity to observe wildlife such as deer, elk, mule deer, black bear, wild turkeys and pheasants.

At night, you can sometimes hear the coyotes calling to each other. In addition to a Blue Heron Rookery, the river corridor hosts several resident bald eagles and provides wintering grounds for more.

The Ryden Ranch Maize Maze, a local cornfield maze is another popular attraction in Silt. Harvey Gap is Silt’s backyard playground.Stocked with rainbow trout, crappie, catfish and small mouth bass, the lake and state park is especially popular for fishing.

The 160-acre lake is also ideal for windsurfing.

Adjacent park property covered in cedar and sagebrush offers places to hike, picnic, snowmobile and cross-country ski.

Bordered by thousands of acres of BLM land and just minutes from the With River National Forest. Silt is a great recreation area.