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37 Best and Fun Things To Do In Durango, Colorado


TouristWire Editors

Tucked away in the mountains of southwestern Colorado is this small town with all the makings of an ideal vacation spot.

Though often overlooked in favor of some of the more well-known towns in the area, Durango is jam-packed with things to offer visitors.

The natural beauty of its surroundings in particular is a big draw for anyone who enjoys outdoorsy activities like hiking, biking, fishing, and skiing, while its proximity to the Mesa Verde National Park also adds to its appeal.

The town is also home to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a historic railway that offers scenic rides through the high mountain terrain.  

If we’ve piqued your interest in this hidden gem of a town, keep reading for a list of everything else it has to offer so you can plan your trip accordingly

The 37 Most Popular Things To Do In Durango, Colorado

37. Buckley Park

5.0 ★★★★★ (1 review)

Location: 1250 Main Ave Durango CO

36. Great Old Broads for Wilderness

5.0 ★★★★★ (3 reviews)

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Credit: Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Google Maps

Location: 555 110 Rivergate Ln B1 Durango CO

Tel:  970 385 9577

Web Address:   https://greatoldbroads.org/

35. Horse Gulch

5.0 ★★★★★ (3 reviews)

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Credit: TRAILSOURCE.COM, License, Flickr

34. Perins Peak State Wildlife Area

4.8 ★★★★★ (6 reviews)

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Credit: Kelly Klaes, Google Maps

Location: Durango CO

33. Fish Hatchery

4.8 ★★★★★ (9 reviews)

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Credit: Unknown author provided, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 151 E 16th Street Durango CO

32. Santa Rita Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ (11 reviews)

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Credit: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 111 S Camino Del Rio Durango CO

Web Address:   https://durangogov.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Santa-Rita-Park-28

31. Dalla Mountain park

4.9 ★★★★★ (14 reviews)

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Credit: Bill Waltz, Google Maps

Location: Durango CO

Tel:  970 375 5000

30. Animas City Mountain

4.6 ★★★★★ (15 reviews)

800px-nighthorse reservoir and durango%2c colorado %2814518417223%29

Credit: Ken Lund, License, Wikimedia commons

29. Smelter Mountain

4.7 ★★★★★ (19 reviews)

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Credit: License, Wikimedia commons

28. Scenic Aperture

4.9 ★★★★★ (26 reviews)

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Credit: G. Lamar, License, Flickr

Location: 708 Main Ave Durango CO

Tel:  970 385 5853

Web Address:   http://durangogallery.photography/

27. Overend Mountain Park Hidden Valley Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ (34 reviews)

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Credit: Brendan Miller, Google Maps

Location: 915 Hidden Valley Cir Durango CO

Web Address:   https://allparx.com/places/overend-mountain-park-hidden-valley-trailhead/

26. Center of Southwest Studies

4.7 ★★★★★ (36 reviews)

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Credit: Leah Mitchell, Google Maps

Location: 1000 Rim Dr Durango CO

Tel:  970 247 7456

Web Address:   http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/

25. Pastorius Reservoir

4.1 ★★★★☆ (48 reviews)

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Credit: Anne Zalbowitz, Google Maps

24. Gudy’s Rest

4.8 ★★★★★ (52 reviews)

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Credit: M Cyr, Google Maps

Location: Colorado Trail Durango CO

23. Dalton Ranch Golf Club

4.3 ★★★★☆ (68 reviews)

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Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 589 Co Road 252 Durango CO

Tel:  970 247 7921

Web Address:   http://daltonranch.com/

22. Durango Botanic Gardens

4.7 ★★★★★ (82 reviews)

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Credit: Durango Botanic Gardens, Google Maps

Location: Animas River Trail 1900 E 3rd Ave Durango CO

Tel:  970 880 4841

Web Address:   http://durangobotanicgardens.org/

21. Animas Overlook Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ (88 reviews)

800px-durango public library

Credit: McGhiever, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: Durango CO

20. Whitewater Park

4.5 ★★★★★ (101 reviews)

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Credit: Ken Lund, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 107 Camino Del Rio Durango CO

Web Address:   https://durangogov.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Whitewater-Park-31

19. Durango Wildlife Museum

4.6 ★★★★★ (102 reviews)

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Credit: Andrew Foster, Google Maps

Location: 151 E 16th Street Durango CO

Tel:  970 247 0855

Web Address:   https://durango.org/discover-durango/fish-hatchery-and-wildlife-museum

18. Lake Nighthorse

4.5 ★★★★★ (127 reviews)

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Credit: Warman Hall, Google Maps

17. Animas City Park

4.6 ★★★★★ (174 reviews)

800px-nighthorse reservoir and durango%2c colorado %2814518417223%29

Credit: Ken Lund, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: E 32nd Street Durango CO

Tel:  970 375 7321

Web Address:   https://durangogov.org/facilities/facility/details/Animas-City-Park-1

16. Durango Community Recreation Center

4.5 ★★★★★ (184 reviews)

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Credit: Durango Community Recreation Center, Google Maps

Location: 2700 Main Ave Durango CO

Tel:  970 375 7300

Web Address:   https://durangogov.org/515/Recreation-Center

15. Dallabetta Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ (185 reviews)

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Credit: Daniel Weber, License, Flickr

Location: 12120 13452 La Posta Road Durango CO

Web Address:   https://durangogov.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/6

14. Oxbow Park and Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ (194 reviews)

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Credit: Daniel Weber, License, Flickr

Location: 500 Animas View Dr Durango CO

Tel:  970 375 7321

Web Address:   http://durangogov.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/33

13. Schneider Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ (195 reviews)

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Credit: jcsullivan24, License, Flickr

Location: 950 Roosa Ave Durango CO

Web Address:   https://durango.org/listing/schneider-park/1843/

12. Chimney Rock National Monument

4.5 ★★★★★ (449 reviews)

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Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 3179 CO 151 Chimney Rock CO

Tel:  970 883 5359

Web Address:   https://fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/specialplaces/

11. Purgatory Resort

4.5 ★★★★★ (2,978 reviews)

800px-purgatory at durango mountain resort entrance gate and sign

Credit: Jeffrey Beall, License, Wikimedia commons

10. San Juan National Forest

4.8 ★★★★★ (4,240 reviews)

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Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: Colorado

Tel:  970 247 4874

Web Address:   https://fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

Our Top picks

9. Durango Trails

4.7 ★★★★★ (10 reviews)

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Credit: cogdogblog, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 900 Main Ave Durango CO

Tel:  970 259 4682

Web Address:   https://durangotrails.org/

8. Animas Museum

4.6 ★★★★★ (62 reviews)

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Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 3065 W 2nd Ave Durango CO

Tel:  970 259 2402

Web Address:   http://animasmuseum.org/

7. Durango Arts Center

4.7 ★★★★★ (106 reviews)

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Credit: Al_HikesAZ, License, Flickr

Location: 802 E 2nd Ave Durango CO

Tel:  970 259 2606

Web Address:   http://durangoarts.org/

6. Four Leaves Winery

4.9 ★★★★★ (115 reviews)

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Credit: Four Leaves Winery, Google Maps

Location: 528 Main Ave Durango CO

Tel:  970 403 8182

Web Address:   http://fourleaveswinery.com/

5. Chapman Hill Ice Rink and Ski Area

4.5 ★★★★★ (228 reviews)

Location: 500 Florida Road Durango CO

Tel:  970 375 7395

Web Address:   https://durangogov.org/512/Chapman-Hill

4. The Powerhouse – Science Center-TinkerLab

4.5 ★★★★★ (312 reviews)

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Credit: The Powerhouse – Science Center/TinkerLab, Google Maps

Location: 1295 Camino Del Rio Durango CO

Tel:  970 259 9234

Web Address:   https://powsci.org/

3. Durango Adventures and Zipline Tours

4.9 ★★★★★ (506 reviews)

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Credit: Durango Adventures and Zipline Tours, Google Maps

Location: 20673 US 160 Durango CO

Tel:  970 759 9880

Web Address:   http://durangoadventures.com/

2. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

4.7 ★★★★★ (5,025 reviews)

800px-train by the durango and silverton narrow gauge railroad

Credit: Michael Gäbler, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 479 Main Ave Durango CO

Tel:  888 872 4607

Web Address:   http://durangotrain.com/

1. Mesa Verde National Park

4.8 ★★★★★ (8,097 reviews)

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Credit: Ken Lund, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: Mesa Verde CO

Tel:  970 529 4465

Web Address:   http://nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Final Words:

Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Durango, Colorado! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!

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