Notice: As of 07/2018, it has been reported to us that the one-lane road we suggest hiking up in the paragraph below has been posted with "No Trespassing" signs. We therefore suggest using the alternate trailhead/approach suggested in the final paragraph below, which begins in the town of Fairplay.
The "Guide To the Colorado Mountains" reports that Mt. Silverheels is named after a dance hall girl that nursed miners through a smallpox epidemic. Might be an interesting story there.
Having parked at the pullout provided on the trailhead directions, head up the one-lane road which will switchback a couple times, head north to cross the drainage, then wind its way to a small reservoir at N 39° 20' 13.66" W 106° 02' 57.71". From the reservoir, follow the drainage east uphill to crest out on Beaver Ridge. If you stay on the north side of the drainage, the trees are more open. As you near the top, there will be some willows to work through, but there's an easy break in them to reach the Forest Service road #659. Coordinates for the road are: 39° 20' 22.20" W 106° 02' 13.97".
Alternate Access: Drive down from Hoosier Pass toward Alma another .3 - .4 mile and watch for a minor drainage that comes down from a steep slope on the east side of the highway. Coordinates: N 39° 19' 47.72" W 106° 03' 07.14" Park where possible and head up this drainage a short distance, then veer out of the drainage to the SE working through trees that should be opening up. Continue SE until you reach more open meadow with sparse trees. Turn east and continue up steeply to reach Beaver Ridge and FR 659 described above. Follow the road north to intercept the coordinates in the previous paragraph.
Head north up the road a little and cross under the power lines to drop down to cross Beaver Creek. You will lose almost 300 feet in elevation. (That's the one drawback about this route.) Aim for these coordinates for the easiest crossing that gets you through the willows: N 39° 20' 22.71" W 106° 01' 56.13". Elev. 11,750 ft. On the east side of the creek, if you cross at this location, the willows will be at a minimum. Once across, just head on up the west slope/ridge and follow it all the way to the summit. This slope/ridge is mostly tundra/grass with mild amounts of scree and smaller rubble. The summit is rocky and has a large rock shelter to break the wind. As with most peaks in this area, expect some wind.
Alternate access for stock 4WD or higher clearance crossover type vehicles: From SH 9 in Fairplay turn NE onto 4th Street and drive 4 blocks to a left turn onto Beaver Ck. Lane. Take Beaver Ck. Lane a couple miles to a right hand turn onto FS 413. Go east to a Forest Service gate at mile 2.3 then north of FS 659. This access takes you past a cattle guard crossing and the Fairplay Nordic Center. FS 659 leads north and gains Beaver Ridge, leading to the same coordinates provided in the first paragraph above for where the route coming in from SH 9 would meet this road. We have not personally driven FS 659. It is reported to be a good road for stock 4WD and crossovers with good ground clearance. Please note that on Google Earth, this road is mis-identified as FS 655.
Links to other information, routes & trip reports for this peak that may be helpful.