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)
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)
Credit: TRAILSOURCE.COM, License, Flickr
34. Perins Peak State Wildlife Area
4.8 (6 reviews)
Credit: Kelly Klaes, Google Maps
Location: Durango CO
33. Fish Hatchery
4.8 (9 reviews)
Credit: Unknown author provided, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 151 E 16th Street Durango CO
32. Santa Rita Park
4.4 (11 reviews)
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)
Credit: Bill Waltz, Google Maps
Location: Durango CO
Tel: 970 375 5000
30. Animas City Mountain
4.6 (15 reviews)
Credit: Ken Lund, License, Wikimedia commons
29. Smelter Mountain
4.7 (19 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
28. Scenic Aperture
4.9 (26 reviews)
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)
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)
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)
Credit: Anne Zalbowitz, Google Maps
24. Gudy’s Rest
4.8 (52 reviews)
Location: Colorado Trail Durango CO
23. Dalton Ranch Golf Club
4.3 (68 reviews)
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)
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)
Credit: McGhiever, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Durango CO
20. Whitewater Park
4.5 (101 reviews)
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)
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)
Credit: Warman Hall, Google Maps
17. Animas City Park
4.6 (174 reviews)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Credit: Jeffrey Beall, License, Wikimedia commons
10. San Juan National Forest
4.8 (4,240 reviews)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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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