Durango Colorado

For vacations in the mountains, travelers have a lot of choices in the West. Durango Colorado, a charming Victorian town surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, offers an array of experiences, attractions, visitor amenities, and scenic vistas. The largest town in Southwest Colorado is known and loved by many for its variety of experiences offered.

Whether visitors want high adventure, a chance to relax, or something in between, the menu of things to do in Durango is sure to delight. With the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, white-water rafting, the original Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Mesa Verde National Park, the San Juan Skyway scenic drive, outdoor adventure, a thriving arts scene, and even more, the list of Durango attractions is long and varied.

Durango is, at its heart, a railroad town. The Durango-Silverton Scenic Railway chugs through about 40 scenic miles of the San Juan National Forest to the old mining town and back. Before departing, passengers can step into the railroad museum to learn about the history of silver and gold mining as well as this engineering marvel. The trip aboard the vintage steam-powered locomotives offers a taste of the Old West. On these tracks, cowboys, miners, and pioneers made a living, among the same beautiful scenery passengers admire today.

Heading downtown, travelers will find many Durango attractions all within walking distance. The heart and hub of the mountain community is home to restaurants, galleries, interesting shops, hotels, and a full calendar of special events. Visitors also can explore the Durango Arts Center, stroll alongside the Animas River, and go rafting when their Durango vacations bring them downtown.

Blessed with a variety of landscapes, the Durango Colorado area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. And with more than 2,000 miles of trails, rushing rapids, and an army of outfitters and local guides, travelers will find everything they need for mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, Jeep tours, fly fishing, and rafting. The Animas River that winds through town features rapids from the pleasant and playful Class I all the way up to the challenging and exhilarating Class V.

Other outdoor Durango attractions include Vallecito Lake, one of the prettiest Alpine lakes you can imagine. With acres and acres of water and shoreline primed for fishing, swimming, horseback riding, and enjoying the scenery, the lake is dotted with guest ranches, mountain lodging providers, and cabins.

The top-rated Durango Mountain Resort offers 85 ski trails, 11 lifts, and more than 1,200 acres to explore. After ski season ends in April, the resort transforms into a summer sports paradise, with a chair lift, mountain biking and hiking trails, a music festival, climbing wall, and the Alpine slide.

After a day of adventure, those enjoying Durango vacations will find plenty of places to relax. A favorite way to chill in Durango Colorado is to book time at one of the spas. For generations, visitors have escaped to the mountains to soak in the therapeutic hot springs. At Trimble Spa and Natural Hot Springs, vacationers can relax in the healing waters, sign up for a wellness treatment, and watch their cares vanish with a restorative spa treatment.

Durango hotels, condos, bed-and-breakfast inns, and other rentals, run the gamut to reasonable and comfortable to luxurious. No matter what the budget, vacationers will find a welcoming place to wind down after a day of fun. The restaurants also suit a variety of budgets and appetites. Between the breweries, casual cafes, fine-dining establishments, and global flavors will delight everyone enjoying Durango vacations.