Durango
Durango, Colorado, is the perfect mountain town from the Old West.
The beautiful town of Durango is in southwest Colorado, in the Four Corners area that shares borders with Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Animas River, views of the San Juan Mountains, food made with ingredients from the area, cultural influences, and nearby historic sites make this mountain town a great place to start an unforgettable journey.
Roots in the Old West
As you walk down Main Avenue, you’ll feel like you’re back in a time when cowboys and criminals walked the streets. Iconic old hotels have been carefully kept and are decorated with things from the early 1800s. Some places in downtown Durango are so historic that they are listed on the National Register. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is another thing that shows how the town has roots in the Old West. The steam engine was made in the early 1800s and was used to move ore from Silverton, Colorado. On the same lines, the train now takes people through the tall San Juan Mountains, along the Animas River, and past stunning views and waterfalls.
Native American History and Culture
Mesa Verde Country is the historical heart of the United States. It is in the hills 56 kilometers west of Durango. Some of the best-preserved cliff houses of the Ancestral Puebloans can be seen in Mesa Verde National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Hovenweep National Monument, the Anasazi Heritage Center, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Canyons of the Ancients, and Chimney Rock National Monument are some other great places to see prehistoric and Native American history. The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College shows off bright Navajo and Pueblo art, crafts, and treasures.
Hikers and people who love the outdoors will find lots of fun things to do in and along the Animas River, which flows through Durango. You can ride your bike on the city’s many single-track mountain bike trails, which connect directly to the famous Colorado Trail and go all the way up to Denver. Before you go on the 782-kilometer walk, take a day trip first. Purgatory Resort is about 32 kilometers from downtown and has things to do all year long. In the winter, you can ski and snowboard, and in the summer, you can go epic mountain riding.
Shopping, art, and fun in downtown
Historic hotels like The Strater, Rochester, and General Palmer, as well as restaurants, art galleries, and small shops, make Durango’s downtown area a great place to be. Celebrations like festivals, live music, and other events happen all year long. Craft beer fans can get a cold one at either Carver Brewing or Steamworks Brewing. At the Ore House, you can enjoy fine dining in an Old West-style setting, or you can try a range of foods from the food trucks at 11th Street Station. The Diamond Belle Saloon is known as one of the best original ragtime piano bars in the Wild West. Don’t miss the El Moro Spirits & Tavern, which is where “Durango’s Strangest Shootout” happened in 1906 between the sheriff and the city marshal.