Location: Durango
Top Things to do in Durango
What to do and see in Durango, Colorado (CO): The Best Things to do Good for Couples
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. San Juan National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 566 reviews
Wilderness area consisting of forested mountains, 14,000-foot peaks, scenic roads, geological formations, prehistoric communities and a narrow-gauge railroad.
Reviewed By 321MarkA - Larkspur, United States
The San Juan National Forest, alone or when combined with the Rio Grand National Forest (to the northeast) and the Uncompahgre (to the northwest), cover a lot of the San Juan Mountain range: very high, very rugged, very old mountains. If you like hiking (Ice Lake, Island Lake, Columbine, Piedra Falls, and more), camping (formal and dispersed), jeeping/ATVing (Alpine Loop, Black Bear, Red Mountain Pass, Ophir Pass, Engineer Pass, Corkscrew Gulch plus many many more) , skiing (Purgatory/Durango Mountain, Telluride, Wolf Creek) , hot springs (Pagosa Springs, Ouray, Ridgeway), native American history (Mesa Verde National Park, canyon of the Ancients) , steam trains (Durango Silverton RR), ghost towns (mining ruins, Animas Forks, Read Mountain mining district, Ironton, Eureka, Mineral Point and many many more), endless vistas and views, lively towns (especially Durango and Pagosa Springs), Old and active mining towns (Silverton and Creed), tubing/ float trips (Durango) and much much more. You can spend weeks in this area and only see a small portion of it. Highly highly recommended vacation spot.
2. 4 Corners Whitewater
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 234 reviews
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.
3. Ice Pirates Snowmobile Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 199 reviews
Located in Silverton, Colorado, Ice Pirates Backcountry Adventures is part of the new nationwide Polaris initiative called Polaris Adventures. Polaris Adventures is the first-ever national network of ride and drive experiences. With premium rental agents such as Ice Pirates, also known as Outfitters, in select locations, Polaris Adventures is able to offer some of the best destinations for riding in America.
4. The Colorado Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 79 reviews
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.
5. Soaring Tree Top Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,216 reviews
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.
6. Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,348 reviews
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!
7. Durango Dog Ranch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 98 reviews
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.
8. Snowmobile Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 816 reviews
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.
9. Rapp Corral
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 264 reviews
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.
10. Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,102 reviews
Durango Rafting & Adventure Tour company at its Finest! For over 34 years we have been serving up the greatest adventures southwest Colorado can offer. We offer 2 hour and 4 hour River Raft Trips, Inflatable Kayak Trips on the Animas River and Wilderness expeditions on the Dolores River. We are located in the heart of downtown Durango, Co. Our tours include, Jeep Rentals, RZR Rentals, Zipline, train packages, 4x4 tours, Guided Mesa Verde Tours and Stand Up Paddle Boards.
