In the southwest corner of Colorado the charming, yet bustling town of Durango thrives. Sitting at an elevation of over 6,500 feet, this mile high city is a cornucopia of influence as Colorado flair meets the historic epoch of the wild west. All with a backdrop of awe-inspiring mountainous beauty. We visited in the summer and savored our long weekend in Durango, but this four-season destination left us wanting more.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Outdoor adventure abounds at a wide array of comfort levels. The Animas River Trail is a tranquil, paved path anyone can enjoy via varying modes of transportation. If you’re looking for a little more interaction with nature, the following options are sure to thrill.
Epic Explorations
Mountain biking trails are littered throughout the mountains as this area is a known mountain biking utopia. If you are flying in for a short trip, Pedal the Peaks has bikes available to rent. AllTrails and MTB Project are two awesome resources to consult out as you plan which trails to hit. Eager to give mountain biking a try, but are hesitant about navigating the journey? Durango Mountain Bike Tours is available to help guide you!
White Water Rafting on the Animas River is the perfect way to enjoy both an adrenaline rush as well as a historical recounting of Durango. Durango Rafting Company tours take you through some Class III rapids and run either 2 hours or 4 hours. The 4-hour experience includes three hours on the water and a delicious lunch from Serious Texas BBQ.
The Animas Mountain Trail is a beautiful six-mile loop that is easily accessible from town. This makes it an easy hike for visitors without a rental car to explore. We were looking for a shorter hike, so we did the Hogsback & Slime Gulch Loop, and it was humbling!! As you approach the summit, the trail becomes rather steep and narrow. As a group of moderately fit mid-20s to early 30s, we were able to do this loop in sneakers without poles, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that for everyone. The first portion of our descent was a combo butt-scoot/crab walk down. AllTrails reports it at 3.3 miles, but we must have done a bit of extra wandering as my Apple Watch tracked it at just under 4 miles. The view was amazing from the top!
Mesa Verde National Park is about 40 minutes outside Durango, so you will need to either rent a car or go with a tour group. If you choose to rent a car, be sure to pay your entrance fee before you go, as service in the park can get spotty. Durango River Trippers offers a 7.5-hour tour that allows for full exploration of the national park as well as lunch. Whether you go with a tour or adventure alone, the cliff dwellings transport you to another lifetime! Another must-see, the Park Point trail is a unique opportunity to overlook four different states from a single vantage point.
TRAVEL BY RAIL
The Silverton Train departs from the train station in downtown Durango, and takes you on a full day’s adventure. The ride is three and a half hours each way, allowing you to take in the uniquely southern portion of the Rocky Mountains. Throughout the journey, passes through Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge, and the Animas River Gorge. Riders are allotted a little over two hours in Silverton to explore before heading back on the train. The rush of the train ride and the breathtaking view make this worth every. single. penny!!!
BOTTOMS UP
For being a small town, Durango’s breweries really come out swinging. While we were there we made it to three of them and didn’t sample a single subpar beer. Steamworks and Carvers are both located in the heart of Downtown Durango. Carvers has a relaxing beer garden in the back of the building, with some funky large-scale outdoor decor. Not only were the beers good, but they have a large soft pretzel that is guaranteed to hit the spot. Steamworks had a line out the door when we walked by, but we were able to snag a couple stools at the bar. You can choose up to six beers for their flights, so we chose a variety and chowed down on some popcorn shrimp (a fantastic post-hike snack!) while we sampled. Animas Brewery is less central to the Downtown hub, but only a mile walk on the aforementioned Animas River Trail and boasts plenty of well-crafted beers. They have some outdoor seating and are family friendly, however don’t be surprised to wait a bit! While we waited, we were able to enjoy some beverages outdoors that feeds off the ambiance of the surrounding park and river.
If you enjoy a well-crafted cocktail, Durango Craft Spirits is a must-try— reportedly one of the best Old Fashioneds Salvador’s ever had! We love a breezy patio, but the experience was made even better by the knowledge AND quality service from the bartender.
GOOD EATS
When we arrived in Durango, we wandered through the downtown area, not overwhelmingly hungry, but peckish for a hearty snack. We knew we had struck gold when we landed upon 11th Street Station. The multi-food truck set-up provides a myriad of options to choose from. With pizza, smoothies, pressed sandwiches, gourmet sliders, poke, salads, sushi, and rolled ice cream, you’re sure to find something. In addition to the food, there is a bar and coffee shop– truly something for everybody! We both enjoyed refreshing smoothies that had us refueled and ready to go walk the Animas River Trail.
We didn’t make it to the Himalayan Kitchen, but we were intrigued by the allure of the Nepalese cuisine. We’d hoped to return and enjoy a meal there, but we simply ran out of time. If you stop in and give it a try, please let us know how it was!
You may think to yourself, “do I really need to stop by a chocolate shop while I’m visiting this pinnacle of outdoor exploration?” and the answer is YES! Run, don’t walk to Animas Chocolate Company. This bean to bar chocolatier creates decadent little chocolate treats. The customer service is above and beyond as someone will walk you through the case of chocolates, explaining each one, while you enjoy a sampler of “sipping chocolate”. It goes without saying the coffee and chocolate chip cookies were also divine.
Our friend’s rehearsal dinner was held at Serious Texas BBQ (the south one!), so we knew the barbecue would be good before we arrived because Tyler (the groom) does not mess around when it comes to good ole southern fixins’. Besides the food, the general atmosphere was far more ethereal than you’d expect for a BBQ joint with live music softly playing, a gorgeous overlook, and twinkle lights strung up over a cozy fire pit.
PARTY VENUE
If you know anyone looking for a stunning, mountainous adobe backdrop to their wedding vows, look no further! The River Bend Ranch Durango delivered magnificent views in spades. As a bonus, there were three paddle boats available to be raced around the pond!
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
