The Hostel in Silverton reminds me of some of the AT Hostels. They have a bunk room and rooms in a centralized location near the PO, GOOD coffee shop(had to put that in given your user name), restaurants, lots of historic structures(check out the old Town Hall(it's at the other end of town near a Laundromat in an RV park), bars, hotels and, of course, the railroad - the history and architecture of this CO mining town was pretty neat to me, consider what miner's do when they come into town - booze and women), med sized grocery store(you'll pass that going into town), Library(w/ internet), etc. A picture of the town lit up at night during winter with the mountains surrounding it have graced more than a few Christmas cards. Taking the narrow gauge Silverton & Durango RR between the two towns is a real treat in the fall or possibly after the hike.