The 5 Best Ski & Snowboard Areas in Durango, Colorado (CO)

January 11, 2022 Christa Meece

Once a frontier mining town, Durango draws thousands of tourists year-round for the myriad outdoor recreational activities and scenic beauty. Mountain bikers, rafters, kayakers, horseback riders, rock climbers, hikers, campers, hunters and fishermen are drawn to the two-million acre San Juan National Forest and to the San Juan mountains, the largest range in the Rockies. But the city's biggest tourist draw is a nine-hour historic train ride in a vintage steam locomotive. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which hauled precious metals in the 1880s, now takes tourists for a 47-mile, open-air journey through mountains and forests and past abandoned mines to historic Silverton and back. Children and train buffs will relish the chance to climb into a locomotive and pore over railroad memorabilia at the railroad's museum. Skiers flock to the Durango Mountain Resort in winter, which also offers hiking, fishing, rafting and horseback riding in warmer months. Slow down your pace with a stroll past splendidly restored Victorian buildings in historic Downtown Durango and wind up a very active weekend in a local brewpub or saloon.
Restaurants in Durango

1. The Snowbike Experience

1 Skier Pl Purgatory Resort, Durango, CO 81301-9627 +1 970-385-2149 [email protected] http://www.durangosnowbike.com
Excellent
96%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 90 reviews

The Snowbike Experience

Reviewed By txyz - Cedar Park, United States

Always intrigued by these unique contraptions so we gave it a try on our ski trip to Purgatory. What fun! Super easy to learn if you are already a skier as the methods used are very similar. We all went from "never evers" to snowbike tricksters in one day thanks to our excellent instructor Tommy. Snowbikes will never replace my skis but I will plan a day on future trips to tear around on these bikes as they are a great change of pace for the whole family.

2. Purgatory Snowcat Adventures

#1 Skier Place, Durango, CO 81301 +1 970-385-2115 [email protected] http://www.purgatoryresort.com/activities/snowcat/
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Purgatory Snowcat Adventures

With access to over 35,000 acres of expansive terrain in the San Juan backcountry, Purgatory Snowcat Adventures is Colorado's largest backcountry skiing & snowboarding operation. Your day of snowcat skiing or snowboarding includes avalanche gear, powder skis and lunch. Highly trained guides choose runs ranging from 500-1,500 feet on untracked powder through trees, glades and open bowls.

3. Purgatory Resort

1 Skier Pl, Durango, CO 81301-9627 +1 970-247-9000 http://www.purgatoryresort.com/
Excellent
55%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
4%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 755 reviews

Purgatory Resort

Purgatory Resort is a family-friendly, four-season resort offering a variety of activities for all ages. In the winter, enjoy alpine skiing and snowboarding, snow shoeing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, Nordic skiing, snowmobiling and more. Summer and fall offers hiking, mountain biking, Alpine Slide rides, zipline, scenic chairlift, disc golf, bungee trampolines, climbing walls, miniature golf and more.

Reviewed By undergroundu - Alba, United States

The sign was right. Kids will love it. Go to their website and buy tickets. They have different packages. Mountain rollercoaster is so cool. My kids loved the alpine slide. They have kayaking and paddleboarding too.

4. Hesperus Ski Resort

Route 160, Durango, CO 81326 +1 970-259-3711
Excellent
38%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
0%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 26 reviews

Hesperus Ski Resort

Ski area may be small in size but it offers plenty of challenge for skiers of all ability levels.

5. Ski Barn Durango, Colorado

3533 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301-4028 +1 970-247-1923 http://Skibarndurango.com
Excellent
83%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
17%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

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