Top 10 Outdoor Activities in Durango, Colorado (CO)

September 5, 2021 Fernanda Pittenger

Once a frontier mining town, Durango draws thousands of tourists year-round for the myriad outdoor recreational activities and scenic beauty. Mountain bikers, rafters, kayakers, horseback riders, rock climbers, hikers, campers, hunters and fishermen are drawn to the two-million acre San Juan National Forest and to the San Juan mountains, the largest range in the Rockies. But the city's biggest tourist draw is a nine-hour historic train ride in a vintage steam locomotive. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which hauled precious metals in the 1880s, now takes tourists for a 47-mile, open-air journey through mountains and forests and past abandoned mines to historic Silverton and back. Children and train buffs will relish the chance to climb into a locomotive and pore over railroad memorabilia at the railroad's museum. Skiers flock to the Durango Mountain Resort in winter, which also offers hiking, fishing, rafting and horseback riding in warmer months. Slow down your pace with a stroll past splendidly restored Victorian buildings in historic Downtown Durango and wind up a very active weekend in a local brewpub or saloon.
Restaurants in Durango

1. 4 Corners Whitewater

Excellent
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5.0 based on 234 reviews

4 Corners Whitewater

Join 4 Corners Whitewater for river rafting trips in Durango and Telluride, Colorado. We offer raft trips down the Lower Animas and San Miguel Rivers which are suitable for the entire family. For you adrenaline seekers out there, join us for an adventure of a life time on our action packed Upper Animas river trip.

2. The Colorado Trail

25th Street, Durango, CO 81301 +1 970-385-2950 http://www.coloradotrail.org/
Excellent
87%
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5.0 based on 79 reviews

The Colorado Trail

Spanning some 500 miles from Denver to Durango, this path crosses many different elevations and environments, including eight mountain ranges, seven national forests, six wilderness areas and five river systems, making it one of the most fascinating and scenic trails in the state.

Reviewed By debbien884 - Nashville, United States

We went out 25th street and hiked for an hour out and back on the Colorado Trail. Picked up some people that had been out in tents for 39 nights.

3. Soaring Tree Top Adventures

Excellent
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5.0 based on 1,216 reviews

Soaring Tree Top Adventures

Soaring Tree Top Adventures is a full day zip line adventure that takes you over 27 different zip line spans through Old Growth Ponderosa forest and Aspen groves and across the Animas River. Remotely located in the San Juan National Forest near Durango, CO and only accessible by the Durango & Silverton Train, Soaring is unique Colorado zip line adventure that has been enjoyed by guests ages 4-94! Price includes First Class train transportation to/from the property via the historic Durango & Silverton train, 5.5 hours Soaring across the 27 zip line spans, an Ecology tour interspersed in your day, a four-course gourmet lunch in the trees on a platform overlooking the Animas River, and all Sky Ranger guides and equipment. Reservations are required.

4. Mountain Waters Rafting & Adventure Company

Excellent
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5.0 based on 1,495 reviews

Mountain Waters Rafting & Adventure Company

Since 1981! Family & High Adventure Rafting, 4x4 Jeep Trail Tours, Mesa Verde National Park Tours, Official Durango Silverton Train Raft & Rail Package, Zip Line, Rock Climbing, Bicycle & SUP Rentals, Value Packages, Group, Military & Senior Discounts.

5. Over the Hill Outfitters

Excellent
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5.0 based on 160 reviews

Over the Hill Outfitters

Over the Hill Outfitters offers everything horseback from one and two hour rides on their 1200 acre private quarter horse ranch to horsemanship clinics, photography workshops,5 day horseback expeditions and a Continental Divide Ride in the heart of the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan National Forest. We also provide guided hunting, drop camps and a packing service.

6. SheRide Snowboard Camp for Women

223 Blue Rdg, Durango, CO 81303-3627 +1 970-769-8397 [email protected] http://www.sheride.com/index.htm
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5.0 based on 16 reviews

SheRide Snowboard Camp for Women

7. Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours

Excellent
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5.0 based on 2,348 reviews

Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours

Discover the magic of river rafting, guided jeep tours and Mesa Verde tours with Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours in Southwest Colorado. We offer 77 trip options for ages 4 to 84. Options include whitewater rafting adventures on rafts or inflatable kayaks, beginner stand-up paddle boarding instruction, jeep trail tours, Mesa Verde Tours and packages with a one-way ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train. Explore. Escape. Experience. And Always, Live with Adventure! Contact us today to plan your adventure!

8. Durango Dog Ranch

Excellent
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5.0 based on 98 reviews

Durango Dog Ranch

The Durango Dog Ranch is a mushing adventure company offering year-round dog sledding experiences. In summer, visit the ranch, tour our working dog sled kennel, and take an overland adventure in the mountains with the sled dogs via cart or scooter depending on ability.Summer visits take about an hour and are informative and fun.They are at our ranch in Hesperus, 15 west of Durango and run approx. $75 per person.Available 6/1-10/1. In winter, we have two hour traditional dog sledding trips at our purgatory resort kennel location or in the National Forest throughout the San Juan Mountains.Winter tours are on a snow and we go where the best trails are. It is fun and adventure for the whole family on a dogsled on snowy trails. Sleds fit two adults or 375 pounds comfortably(lap children can be added for a small fee).These adventures are a per sled price of $325 and are available as soon as trails are snowcovered usually 12/1-4/1.

9. Snowmobile Adventures

Durango Mountain Resort, Durango, CO 81301 +1 888-210-9864 [email protected] http://www.snowmobiledurango.com
Excellent
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5.0 based on 816 reviews

Snowmobile Adventures

We will show you how to ride one of our Polaris snowmobiles and send you out with one of our mountain guides. We have the most variety to offer with 35,000 acres of terrain, over 75 miles of trail, plus our own trail grooming equipment. There is a lot to choose from: meadow play grounds, old mine sites, stage coach trails, mountain passes, scenic overlooks, old log cabins, or just sight seeing and playing in the snow. Most importantly we will have fun - that's our specialty.

Reviewed By DaBenn15 - Denton, United States

My son and I went on this tour and we had a blast!!! Awesome guide, great machine, beautiful terrain!!! Would definitely do this again, maybe even do the 3 hour tour next time.

10. Rapp Corral

51 Haviland Lake Rd, Durango, CO 81301-8779 +1 970-247-8454 http://www.rappcorral.com/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 264 reviews

Rapp Corral

We offer the absolute best in mountain trail riding and wonderful winter sleigh riding in the San Juan National Forest, just twenty miles north of Durango Colorado! Rapp Corral is an Equal Opportunity Service Provider/Employer and operates under Special Use Permit #COL770 from the USDA Forest Service, San Juan National Forest.

Reviewed By LJH6 - Owasso, United States

We took the last sleigh ride of the season and we enjoyed every minute. The area is in a drought and the snow was pretty low, but the scenery was still very pretty and we enjoyed the ride. Our guide was super friendly and talked to us about the area and we enjoyed the conversation. We chose to go at 2pm and I am glad we didn't choose later in the day, as the sunsets in the mountains pretty quick and the later ride could have been much colder as the sun would have been behind the mountain. The hot cocoa at the end of the ride was delicious and the young lady who served it , was very nice and we enjoyed chatting with her. Definitely take blankets and dress warm, we were fine but the wind was quite brisk , so glad we were prepared. I would love to come back in the summer or fall for trail rides.

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