Durango is located in Southwest Colorado. It’s best known for its historic buildings and easy access to the legendary San Juan Mountains. Durango, CO has so much charm in one little town, offering great restaurants, breweries, shopping, etc.
The surrounding mountains offer some of the coolest hikes in Colorado. Although many of the hikes are a decent drive from Durango, they are well worth the trek!
Whether you are looking to have a relaxing trip or indulge in some epic outdoor adventures, Durango is one of the best places for both.
Let’s dive into the best things to do in Durango, CO.
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Explore Historic Downtown Durango
Down Main Avenue in Durango you will find the historic downtown area which has tons of great restaurants, shops, bars, scenery, etc. The town was declared a Nationally Registered Historic District in 1980.
When you stroll through the town, you will feel the Old West vibe meets Southwest Colorado.
Definitely pop into some art galleries to see some great artist’s work. As well as many of the craft shops where you might find a fun souvenir.
Grab A Latte from Durango Coffee Company
Start off your trip by grabbing a delicious coffee from the Durango Coffee Company. The vibe of this coffee shop is funky, inviting, and unique. It is a great spot to connect and get some work done or grab a quick drink to go.
Also, they have some diabolical pastries! We got a blueberry muffin to share, and the flavors hit just right.
However if you plan to stick around, beware as it is definitely one of the most popular coffee shops in town. It was hard to find a seat when we first arrived and seats were quickly taken after people got up.
Ride On The Scenic Train Through Durango
One of the most popular things to do in Durango, CO is take a ride on the scenic train. The Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was established in 1881 and now serves as a scenic way for passengers to see the beautiful mountains near Durango.
The two main routes are a round-trip train ride from Durango to Silverton, with a 2-hour layover in the historic mining town of Silverton.
But this itinerary is 9 hours total with is 7 hours spent on the train. So they offer a couple of other options with shorter itineraries.
One option is to ride the train one-way from Durango to Silverton, and ride a coach bus back, or vice versa.
And lastly the Cascade Canyon option goes about half the distance to Silverton. With about 4 hours on the train and a 45 minute layover in Cascade Canyon, before returning back to Durango. This is the option we opted for to save a little money, and since we have already been to Silverton several times.
While prices vary greatly between routes and options. The cheapest options are around $90-110 dollars, with some presidential class tickets fetching up to over $250 per ticket.
The next decision to make is between the classic Steam Engine train or a newer Diesel Engine. The Steam train is the clear winner for historic charm, but costs a little more.
And finally, you can choose several different train car classes. The Standard Coach Class is the most affordable, and has seats that face forward with opening windows.
The Gondola Class has seats that face out, with completely open-air sides. It’s definitely best for unobstructed views, but you need to prepared for whatever weather you might encounter.
Some routes will offer Deluxe Class, First Class, and Presidential Class cars. Offering guests extra comfort, amenities, food, drinks, and more. If you have the budget, it may be worth the upgrade for you.
If you are hiker, the train is also a unique way to access very remote areas of the San Juan National Forest. Popular for multi-day backpacking trips, and summiting the local 14ers.
Book your tour today with Durango Train
Soak at the Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa
Have a nice relaxing soak at the Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa. They have over 32 natural hot spring mineral pools, a resort-style swimming pool, 2 cold plunge pools, a mineral hot spring rain tower, and a reflexology walking path.
Book A Reservation For the Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa
Dine in at Hermosa Cafe
Just next door to Durango Coffee Company is Hermosa Cafe. Jake and I were trying to get a full day of work in, so after breakfast, we hopped over to this cute cafe. They have great made-to-order sandwiches but also have a full coffee bar and great craft brews to choose from.
So you can either enjoy a nice relaxing day getting some work done or grab a delicious sandwich to go and take it along on one of the beautiful hikes listed below.
Hike Ice Lake and Island Lake Near Durango
One of my all-time top things to do near Durango, CO is hike Ice Lake and Island Lake. Although it might be a decent drive from the town of Durango, it will be well worth the adventure. It is located about an hour and a half from Durango. But along this hike, you will be rewarded with some of the best views you might ever see along a hike in Southwest Colorado!
The lollipop loop hike for Ice Lake and Island Lake is 6.5 miles with 2736 feet elevation change. It is a challenging hike, but the aqua blue color of Ice Lake and the aqua green color of Island Lake are some of the most stunning colored lakes you can hike to.
For more information on this hike, check out our post: Ice Lake & Island Lake.
Hike up to Columbine Lake
Columbine Lake is located about an hour from Durango, CO. It is yet another stunning aqua-blue lake in Southwest Colorado. But even the drive to this beautiful hike will be an adventure in itself.
The hike is 8.3 miles with 2,933 feet of elevation change. It is another pretty challenging hike, but the reward at the end is well worth the adventure.
For more details on this hike, check out our post: Columbine Lake, Silverton, CO: Ultimate Hiker’s Guide
Grab a Beer from Steamworks Brewing Company
We visited Steamworks Brewing Company on NFL Sunday and what a treat it was. We got front-row seats to the game we wanted, killer deals on pitchers of craft beer ($11), and amazing food! To say it was one of our top things to do in Durango, CO is an understatement!
We only got to try their juicy IPA and their Stout, but will hopefully be back to try more someday! For food, we both split Smokey Brisket Dip and the Southwestern Burger. Both are very delicious! Highly suggest their beer and food!
Check out their craft beer menu and food menu here!
Grab A Brew at Ska Brewing:
Ska Brewing is another awesome brewery located just south of downtown Durango. You will recognize a unique comic-style design on all of their beers cans.
Their tap room offers a great selection of different beers to try. Plus a kitchen serving tasty apps, and brick-oven pizza, and items from the grill.
Check out their beer menu here!
Go White Water Rafting in Durango, CO
One of the best things to do in Durango for outdoor enthusiasts is go on a white water rafting trip.
The rafting trip will be down the Animas River which can be quite an adventure. You can usually choose “Upper Animas” or “Lower Animas”.
With Upper Animas being a full-on adventure up to a class 4 to 5 or Lower Animas which is around a class 2. You will also have the option of a day trip or an overnight exploration down the river.
But if you need some thrill in your life, then be sure to book a rafting trip while you are exploring Durango, CO.
Book a White Water Rafting Trip in Durango
Cream Bean Berry
Cream Bean Berry completely blew us away. They offers some home-made products that are beyond delicious.
I don’t know how they do it, but I got their brownie sundae, which had both a vegan brownie, and vegan ice cream. And without seeing these labels, I would not have even noticed these were both vegan! And with some hot fudge, carmel, pecans, whip cream, and sprinkles, this Sundae was absolutely amazing!
And Jake went with a scoop of their Coffee and a scoop of their mint chocolate chip on a house-made waffle cone.
When you taste their ice cream, you can just tell they actually make the flavors with the real ingredients. That just gives every ice cream such an authentic and punchy flavor.
Plus they are an ultra eco-friendly business, so all-around, we just loved this place.
Lake Nighthorse
If you’re visiting in the middle of summer, you’re sure to be searching for a place to cool off, and Lake Nighthorse is the perfect spot. This lake’s clear turquoise color is just so inviting.
There’s plenty to do here. You can simply swim and enjoy the beach with a lifeguard on duty, let the kids play on the floating adventure park, or rent a pladdleboard or kayak.
Or if you have your own boat, most of the lake is open to motorized boats.
Do note though, that this lake can get pretty windy. So if you rent a paddleboard or kayak, you might have to work extra hard to get from point A to point B.
We have our own kayak, so we ventured out along the coast. We did find some nice little coves that were a little calmer for paddling.
Honeyville
A really unique shop just north of town is Honeyville. From honey itself to everything honey flavored. They take great care in bringing you the freshest honey from local beekeepers.
But the best part is you get to try all their different honeys, jams, syrups, and even wines and liquors.
Being able to try everything was kinda overwhelming, because it made me want to buy one of everything in the store.
After tasting their salad dressing made with local ingredients, we had to get some. And surprisingly, their Cold Brew Liquer was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. But just try some things that catch your eye, I bet you won’t be able to leave the store without buying at least one thing!
Farmers Market
Every Saturday in the summer, Durango downtown puts on a delectable farmers market. And this farmers market is a true farmers market with tons of local farms. So if you want to skip the grocery store and pick up some local produce, it’s a great option.
The location of the market alternates between Main Street and the TBK Bank Parking Lot downtown.
And besides the farmers market, simply strolling the one-of-a-kind shops downtown is a great activity. There are tons of stores with local goods, souvenirs, and really just about anything you might need.
Just some quick parking tips for downtown. Parking is free on weekends, but otherwise there’s metered parking throughout town, and a few paid lots. If you’re going to be in town for most of the day, the $5/day parking at the Durango Public Transit lot is our favorite option.
Visit Mesa Verde National Park Nearby
About 35 minutes from the town of Durango, you will find Mesa Verde National Park. There are many great viewpoints and hikes in the area. Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 and protects nearly 5,000 archeological sites. If you are a history buff and love to see how our human ancestors used to live at this spectacular site, you will love this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In order to see the cliff dwellings, you will need to book a guided tour with a park ranger. This helps preserve the archaeological sites. You can reserve tickets here or at the visitor center. But if you want a self-guided tour, you can check out Step House. There is usually a ranger on site to answer any questions.
If the archeological sites aren’t necessarily your style, you can hike to Mesa Verde Point Lookout, which is 2.1 miles with 531 feet of elevation change. It offers a stunning view of the valley.
Or if you don’t feel much like walking around, check out the 6-mile drive of Mesa Top Loop Road. It visits 12 archaeological sites, where you will find paved paths leading to the viewpoints. You can even follow an audio tour along your route!
Go Downhill Skiing at a Nearby Ski Resort
Photo by Logan Mayer on Unsplash
Colorado is most known for its epic ski hills. And while Durango, CO doesn’t have a ski resort in town, it has great access to some epic ski resorts nearby.
Hesperus Ski Area is a small ski area that is great for beginner skiers. It’s about a 15-minute drive from town.
Once you master Hesperus Ski Area, then head up to Purgatory Ski Resort. It is a great ski hill to visit next and much more advanced. It’s about a 30-minute drive from town. Purgatory Resort has a nice variety of easy cruisers to steep tree skiing. So there is a trail for everyone to enjoy here.
Find great deals on tickets to Purgatory Ski Resort.
If you are a true expert skier, consider visiting Silverton Mountain Ski Area. But this area doesn’t have a bunny hill or easy skiing terrain.
Find great deals on tickets to Silverton Mountain Ski Resort.
Take A Scenic Drive on the San Juan Skyway
One of the most stunning drives in southwestern Colorado is The San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway. The drive is a long 235-mile loop, but might be one of the most breathtaking road trips of your life.
It’s not necessary to drive the entire loop to enjoy the experience. A good shorter section to start with would be the 52-mile section from Durango to Silverton.
Some notable stops along this section are:
- Pinkerton Hot Springs: an easy to access natural spring along the road side. You can marvel at the stunning colors, and learn about how natural springs come about.
- Cascade Creek Falls: this is a short rugged hike right off the highway. It’s a quick descent into the canyon to this stunning waterfall that pours out a notch in the canyon. It’s not the best maintained trail, so if you’re not sure-footed, I’d maybe skip this one. It’s also a popular place for rock climbing.
- Molas Viewpoint: at the summit of this scenic byway you are offered a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains, Molas Lake, and beautiful meadows.
- Molas Lake: A stunning alpine lake at the top of the pass. It’s popular for camping, fishing, or just for a nice picnic.
- Silverton: If you didn’t take the scenic train ride to Silverton, then this could be the perfect time to check out this charming old mining town.
The drive starts from Durango and heads toward Silverton through the scenic San Juan National Forest. This next section is called the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray. Then, ventures over to Telluride, down through Cortez, and eventually back to Durango to finish the loop.
Follow along on a self-driving audio tour.
This trip will most likely take all day because it will be hard to not want to stop and take photos at every lookout point.
Grab A Drink At The Historic Strater Hotel
This beautiful building brilliantly keeps the spirit of the 1800s alive and well in downtown Durango. You can stay in one of their 88 unique Victorian style hotel rooms. But they also have 2 excellent bars and a restaurant open to the public.
We stopped into the Diamond Belle Saloon for happy hour from 4-6pm with live music daily at 5:30pm. The most famous of which is the resident ragtime piano player who is just excellent. He perfectly sets the mood with this 100 year old piano, that in itself is a work of art.
You can also stop over to their Office Spiritorium for creative cocktails, wine, and beer. And there is live music every Wednesday – Sunday from 6-9 pm.
Lastly, the Mahogany Grille is the upscale restaurant on site.
Book a room at the Strater Hotel’s historic 88 unique rooms.
Take A Stroll Down The Animas River Trail
If you are looking to get a little exercise, take a walk on the Animas River Trail. The trail is a 7-mile paved trail that parallels the Animas River. Start the trail in town and continue South along the river.
You might spot a few people tubing or paddling down the river in July and August when the river is much more tame. Or some fisherman catching some brown trout for dinner.
Book a Tubing Trip in Durango
Grab Supper & A Show at Bar D Chuckwagon
A famous thing to do in Durango is to visit Bar D Chuckwagon for supper and a show.
Dinner is served cafeteria style, so you line up with your tray as servers place some food on your tray. Then, sit back and relax as the Bar D Wranglers play some Western cowboy music.
There are also many other activities, such as train rides, roping, leather crafting, etc.
Enjoy The Great Outdoors on a Jeep Tour
Book a Jeep Tour in Durango for an epic off-roading adventure. The jeep trail tours start off by going west through La Plata Canyon and up to the top of Kennebec Pass. And make a stop at an old mining town established in 1875.
This ride will be bumpy as the jeep tours are off-roading on unpaved dirt roads. But drivers are experienced and know how to navigate the roads.
Book a Jeep Tour in Durango
Zip-Line Across The Treetops of the La Plata Woods
Looking for an adrenaline rush as you experience the beauty of the La Plata Woods? Join the thrill-seeking 2.5-3 hour zipline adventure over 12 different ziplines. The most unique part of the adventure is at the end where you can land on the deck of their rooftop patio or choose a 40-foot freefall from our giant tower.
Book A Zip Line Tour
Dine in At James Ranch Grill
An awesome restaurant that serves farm-to-table is James Ranch. They have a 4.8-star rating out of nearly 600 reviews, need I say more?
Since 1991, they have been raising their own grass-fed cattle. Any ingredients that don’t come straight from their ranch are outsourced from other local farmers.
Plus their motto says it all: Healthy Soil = Healthy Grass = Healthy Environment = Healthy Animals = Healthy Humans!
You definitely won’t be disappointed with a home-cooked meal from James Ranch.
Where To Stay In Durango
There are tons of great hotels and vacation rentals around Durango. Of course, we mentioned The Historic Strater Hotel earlier. But browse the map below to find other great accommodation options.
Takeaway For The Best Things To Do In Durango, CO
Durango is an awesome town to explore in southwestern Colorado. There are many activities to do in town or in the surrounding areas. Whether you stay for a weekend or a week there are plenty of great activities to keep you entertained, especially for nature lovers.
While we think the best time of year to visit Durango, CO is during the summer months, you can easily have a great time during any season.
We hope this guide for the top things to do in Durango, CO provides a nice variety of options to have the best time exploring this historic town.
If you are looking for more amazing adventures in Colorado, be sure to check out our post:
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