Visit Durango, CO

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Durango is southwest Colorado's largest town, with a population of approximately 15,000, (45,000 in La Plata County). It is near the Four Corners junction with New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, and is nestled between red sandstone bluffs in the Animas River Valley. To the north lie the peaks of the San Juan and Needles Mountains, which rise to an average elevation above 10,500 feet. To the west are arid desert lands, and to the south lies the southern border of the two million acre San Juan National Forest, and stark canyon country.

The area's world-class attractions include: Mesa Verde National Park, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Historic Downtown, and Vallecito Lake. Enjoy skiing at Durango Mountain Resort, fly fishing, rafting the Animas River, and mountain biking. Durango has something for just about everyone.

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Interesting Facts about Durango & the 4 Corners

• Durango's name comes from the Basque word Urango meaning water town.
• Durango, home of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNGRR) is located in the Animas River Valley and is surrounded by the San Juan Mountains in La Plata County, Colorado.
• Durango is located at the intersection of US Highways 160 and 550 and the city comprises 5.6 square miles.
• Colorado Governor A.G. Hunt gave our town its name after Durango, Mexico.
• The downtown Durango area has almost as many restaurants per capita as San Francisco, the restaurant capital of the western United States!
• Anasazi Indians were the first settlers in the area but vacated the four-corners around 1300.
• The term Anasazi Indians has been replaced with Ancestral Puebloans.
• Mesa Verde National Park was established as a National Park in 1906.
• The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company founded the town of Durango in 1880.
• The Durango railroad depot looks the same as it was constructed in 1882.
  
• The railroad tracks reached Silverton in July 1882. Laborers were paid an average of $2.25 a day.
• The narrow gauge rails are thirty-six inches apart, while standard gauge rails are fifty-six inches apart.
• Locomotives used by the D&SNGRR are from the 470-480 series, manufactured between the years of 1923-25.
• The D&SNGRR has carried over three hundred million dollars in precious metals.
• The roundhouse burned on February 10, 1989. The fire destroyed the roundhouse and damaged 6 of the locomotives. This did not prevent the train from running as scheduled that year in May.
• The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad carries approximately 200,000 passengers a year.
• The D&SNGRR uses 10,000 gallons of water per round-trip and 12,000 pounds of coal; the coal is shoveled one shovelful at a time.
• The Animas Rivers official name is El Rio de las Animas Perdidas, roughly translated, this means, The River of Lost Souls. The Spanish explorers named the river after several explorers traveled on the river and were lost. Their bodies were never found, and last rites could not be administered, being devoted Catholics, they believed the dead mens souls could not enter heaven and would be relegated to Purgatory.
• This legend also explains the name of our ski mountain, Purgatory Resort. Purgatory Creek is near lift 4 at the ski area. Purgatory Resort was renamed in 1999 and is now known as Durango Mountain Resort at Purgatory. The original resort opened in 1965.
• The word, Hermosa means beautiful in Spanish. Hermosa Cliffs is located north of Durango.
• The Animas is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the entire Western United States.
• There is a two-mile stretch on the Animas River that is gold medal water. Gold Medal water has the highest quality of fishing for large trout. Lures and flies only in this stretch of water.
• Average yearly peak flows are measured in Durango at around 5,000 cubic feet per second. During years of high runoff, the volume reaches 7,000 cubic feet per second.
• The Strater Hotel, Durango's elegant landmark, was built in 1887.
  Jack Dempsey fought Andy Malloy on October 7, 1915 in the Jarvis Suites Hotel. Dempsey, born in southern Colorado, became the heavy weight champion in 1919.
  
• The Iron Horse Bike Classic began in 1972. The road bikers race the D&SNGRR to Silverton on Memorial Day weekend. It is the longest continuously run cycling event in the United States.
• Fort Lewis College was originally an Indian school located on the Ute Reservation.
• Many buildings in historic downtown Durango are built with bricks and stone due to a city ordinance that was enacted after a fire in the summer of 1889 that damaged seven blocks on Main Avenue.
• The local newspaper, The Durango Herald was originally The Durango Democrat in the 1880s.
• The honeybees in Honeyville live for 6 weeks working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also fly at speeds as fast as 14 miles an hour.
• The Diamond Belle Saloon opened its doors in 1957 and has a bullet hole in the far east drawer behind the bar.
• Diamond Circle Melodrama had its first production in 1962.
• 1,200 members of the Southern Ute Tribe live in Ignacio.Trimble Hot Springs' mineral water contains the following minerals: zinc, sulfate, sodium, potassium, phosphate, nitrogen, manganese, magnesium, lithium, iron, fluoride, chloride, calcium and boron.
• The Columbine, Colorado's state flower, thrives in moist, cool habitats of the Sub-Alpine zone.
• Louis L'Amour wrote the Sackett Series, a set of western novels while staying at The Strater Hotel.
• The original owner of the Strater Hotel, Henry Strater, was a pharmacist.

Climate
Transition zone between semi- arid and mountain, summer daytime temps in the 70's and 80's, nighttime lows in the 50's.

Elevation of Durango
6,512 feet above sea level

Cowboy vs. Bull in a Durango Rodeo

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DURANGO HISTORY
Durango was founded in 1880 when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built a track to Silverton and established Durango as the hub of its rail system to transport ore from the mountains to smelters in Durango. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad now only hauls visitors to Silverton, and in 2006 will have been in continuous operation for 125 years.

Many of the original buildings constructed by Durango's pioneers are still standing and are used today in the historic districts of Main and Third Avenues.

Kayaking & Rafting

The Animas River is a nationally known river for competitions and training for the finest kayakers in the world. Short, day-long and overnight guided rafting trips.

Movies
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, City Slickers, Cliffhanger, National Lampoons' Vacation, Night Passage, Ticket to Tomahawk, Around the World in Eighty Days, How the West Was Won, and Tracker are just some of the many Hollywood classics filmed in the area.

Ski Resort
Durango Mountain Resort, formerly Purgatory Resort, is located 25 miles north
of Durango. 1200 acres of terrain is served by 11 lifts with an average snowfall of 260 inches and 2,029 feet of vertical drop.The resort offers more than just skiing, there are a wide range of summer events and activities as well. The Alpine Slide, winding mountain slide, is usually open from mid June through early September.

 

D&SNGRR
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been in continuous operation for over 120 years. Two museums display at either end of the line. The Durango museum located in the roundhouse of the D&SNGRR offers 12,000 square feet of exhibit space with full-size locomotives, historic coaches, railroad collectibles, books, lamps, locks, art, photos and china. Guests also enjoy an up close view of the "Working" portion of the roundhouse, where skilled mechanics keep the train's vintage coal fired, steam-operated locomotives in tip-top condition. The Silverton depot is home to an intimate mining exhibit and freight yard museum.

Archaeological Sites
Southwest Colorado is the archeological center for the United States. Explore the ancient dwellings once inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans at Mesa Verde National Park.The park was selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of The Best Places of a Lifetime to Visit as well as named the #1 Monument in the World by Condé Naste Traveler. Take a longer trip and also visit Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Chimney Rock, the Anasazi Heritage Museum, Hovenweep. Canyon of the Ancients National Monument and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park are also within an hour's drive of the Durango area.

Museums
Visit the Center for Southwest Studies, the Southern Ute Cultural Center, the Animas History Museum and Durango & Silverton round house museum.

Culture & Arts

Durango offers a wide variety of art galleries and art walks. The 17,000 sq. ft. Art Centers sponsors multiple exhibitions year-round.

Camping
Over 900 campsites within a 40-mile radius of Durango.

Cycling
Explore the San Juan Skyway or see the Durango area on a bike. Mountain bike rentals available. Durango is a renowned destination for mountain bikers.

Fishing
Fish in the "Gold Medal"Animas River, that runs through Durango or on any of a number of high mountain streams and lakes within an hours drive. Private "no license" ponds are also in the area. Guided trips available.

Glider Rides
Soar over the Animas Valley and San Juan mountains in the peace of a glider.

Golf
Two 18-hole golf courses open May thru October weather permitting.

Hiking
Hike many maintained trails around the area. Trails for all age levels and abilities.

Horseback Riding
Hourly, half day, all-day and multiple day rides. Fall color rides also available.

Hot Springs
Trimble Hot Springs located is a National Historic Site with day spa facilities

Hunting
Big and small game hunting during season.

Mountain Biking
Half-day, full day and multiple day guided tours and rentals. Trails for all ability levels. Durango hosted the 1990 World Mountain Bike Championships and one of the World Cup Mountain Biking competitions for 2001. It was also named the "The Cycling Mecca" by Bicycling Magazine.

Rock Climbing
Guided and self guided experiences to satisfy your challenging requirements.

Swimming
Public swimming at the Durango Community Recreation Center, Trimble Hot Springs, and at various hotel properties.

Shopping
Large variety of one-of-a-kind stores, art galleries,and boutiques.

Evening Entertainment
Durango has many excellent restaraunts, there are year-round concerts and entertainment. Eat a real "Old West" supper and enjoy a western show at the Bar-D, an evening out for all ages. And be sure to check out the Durango Melodrama at The Strater Hotel this summer.