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About Durango
About Durango
Durango has about 19,000 residents and more history than most towns in Colorado, and it has not turned that history into a costume. The Old West legacy and modern mountain culture sit alongside each other here, with serious country in every direction. That mix is what brings people who want the real version rather than the packaged one.
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is the best-known attraction, a historic steam train that runs scenic trips through the San Juan Mountains. It gets you into country that is hard to reach otherwise, and the ride covers the region's mining heritage and railroad history along the way.
Sitting at the base of the San Juan Mountains gives the town easy access to Colorado's alpine terrain. San Juan National Forest is close by with hiking trails, mountain biking routes, and camping, and the lakes and streams in the area handle fishing and water recreation.
The historic downtown district has shops and restaurants in older buildings that carry the area's heritage, and the Animas Museum nearby covers the region's past. Preserving both that character and the land around it has been a steady local priority.
Durango keeps drawing visitors for the outdoor recreation and the history both, and the mountain character of the place is a large part of why they remember it.
- Population
- 19,000
- Elevation
- 6,512 ft
- Best time
- Summer & Winter
- Known for
- Historic Railroad
What's the deal with Durango?
Durango is one of the older towns on the Western Slope and it leans into that Old West history without feeling like a museum piece. It's a real working town with a busy downtown, and it happens to sit at the doorstep of some serious mountain country. That mix is why people stick around.
What is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad?
It's a steam train that runs north through the San Juan Mountains, and it's been doing it since the mining days. The ride takes you along the Animas River into country you can't easily reach by car. Yes, it's touristy, but it's also the genuine article and worth the ticket.
What is there to do outdoors in Durango?
The town backs right up to the San Juan National Forest, so trails are never far. Durango has a strong mountain biking reputation if that's your thing, and the San Juan Skyway loops out from here for one of the better drives in the state. Fishing and camping fill out the rest.
Is the downtown worth walking around?
It is. Durango's historic main drag is lined with shops and restaurants, and the Animas Museum is the spot to dig into the town's mining and frontier years. You can cover most of it on foot in an afternoon.
How do I get to Durango?
Driving, you'll come in on Highway 550, and Durango is about six hours southwest of Denver, so it's a haul. The Durango-La Plata County Airport handles flights if you'd rather skip the drive. The New Mexico border sits about an hour south, which surprises some people.
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