Location: Durango
Top Things to do in Durango
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Top 10 Things to do in Durango, Colorado (CO)
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. San Juan National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 566 reviews
Wilderness area consisting of forested mountains, 14,000-foot peaks, scenic roads, geological formations, prehistoric communities and a narrow-gauge railroad.
Reviewed By 321MarkA - Larkspur, United States
The San Juan National Forest, alone or when combined with the Rio Grand National Forest (to the northeast) and the Uncompahgre (to the northwest), cover a lot of the San Juan Mountain range: very high, very rugged, very old mountains. If you like hiking (Ice Lake, Island Lake, Columbine, Piedra Falls, and more), camping (formal and dispersed), jeeping/ATVing (Alpine Loop, Black Bear, Red Mountain Pass, Ophir Pass, Engineer Pass, Corkscrew Gulch plus many many more) , skiing (Purgatory/Durango Mountain, Telluride, Wolf Creek) , hot springs (Pagosa Springs, Ouray, Ridgeway), native American history (Mesa Verde National Park, canyon of the Ancients) , steam trains (Durango Silverton RR), ghost towns (mining ruins, Animas Forks, Read Mountain mining district, Ironton, Eureka, Mineral Point and many many more), endless vistas and views, lively towns (especially Durango and Pagosa Springs), Old and active mining towns (Silverton and Creed), tubing/ float trips (Durango) and much much more. You can spend weeks in this area and only see a small portion of it. Highly highly recommended vacation spot.
2. Historic Downtown Durango
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,811 reviews
Historic Downtown Durango is the heart of the community. Filled with over 200 unique shops, stores and restaurants, Downtown Durango has something for everyone. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is located in Downtown, and has daily excursions plus a FREE museum. The Strater Hotel is also in Downtown and has been in operation since the 1800's. We have wonderful restaurants, from fast food to fine dining and everything in between. Plus there are amazing shops with unique items, including nearly a dozen world class art galleries. To learn more about Historic Downtown Durango, visit our website, and use the FREE wifi Downtown at Durango WiFi. Thanks for visiting!
Reviewed By LaurieM271 - North Port, United States
What a great town, we spent two nights here and had a blast, Lots of things going on lots of shops absolutely love this town and will be back again.
3. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,492 reviews
Hop aboard a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive that travels along the same railroad tracks that miners, cowboys and the early settlers of the Old West used over a hundred years ago. The route winds in and out of canyons and past open wilderness affording great views. The price of a ticket also includes admission to the D&SNGRR Museum and the Silverton Freight Yard Museum.
4. Purgatory Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 755 reviews
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.
5. Animas River Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 478 reviews
Reviewed By beventful
Beautiful views and a lovely walk to see the River. If you are lucky and time it right you will be able to see the train and wave to everyone.
6. Animas River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 325 reviews
Reviewed By 65deborahc - Durango, United States
Great 9 mile long rover trail to walk or bike Can be reached from many different places... good to walk or bike along Kayaking rafting tubing
7. James Ranch Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Reviewed By NateNiemeier - Albuquerque, United States
Awesome farm to table place, very reasonably priced, and an overall great experience with an incredible view.
8. Durango Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 189 reviews
Due to COVID, the museum is closed for the 2020 season. Please remember to check us out for the 2021 season starting May 15-. through September 15, 2021. Monday- Saturday: 10am to 4pm Sunday: 11am to 3pm. The Hatchery is also closed to the public until further notice.
Reviewed By 250micheller - Durango, United States
Great attraction for visitors with young kids. Check hours for the museum before you come. It's an excellent hands-on experience for kids. Feed the fish in the fish hatchery fish runs. Located next to the Animas river, enjoy a walk along the river path and head north to visit the library. Walk south to town and visit the Durango Powerhouse Science center.
9. Durango Welcome Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 156 reviews
Located at the corner of Main Ave. and 8th St. (802 Main) in the heart of Historic Downtown Durango, the new Durango Welcome Center is a one-stop “information” shop for all that Durango and surrounding La Plata County offers to visitors and locals.
Reviewed By alansC2450FX
Extremely attractive and well stocked with printed information Nora was extremely helpful in locating bird watching locations for us and mapping the paths for us to take
10. Pinkerton Hot Springs
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 148 reviews
Reviewed By 878denisep
My husband and I found this cool hot spring randomly. It was so awesome. I think we literally stayed there for 30 mins just touching the spring water. Its random. It's a spring (which is cool). Its free. So, why not. Definitely something I would recommend you see.
