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.
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.
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 in 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!
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 scenic train ride runs from Durango to Silverton and is 45.4 miles one way. You will travel along the Animas River meandering through beautiful trees and mountains.
The train usually runs from early May to late October.
The cost starts around $60 for children and $94 for adults for standard class roundtrip train rides. But you can upgrade to Deluxe Class, First Class, or Presidental Class for an additional cost.
Book your tour today with Durango Train
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
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 archeology 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 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 archeological sites where you will find paved paths 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.
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
Photo by Rajiv Perera on Unsplash
Grab a cocktail or dinner at the Strater Hotel. Stepping into this 1887 building will take you back in time, with handcrafted woodwork and American Victorian walnut antiques.
They offer live entertainment nightly from 5:30-10pm.
Or you can even choose to stay in one of 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 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 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.
Soak at the Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa
Have a nice relaxing soak a the Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa. They have 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
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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