Durango Colorado

The city of Durango is in the southwest corner of Colorado near the Four Corners area. It’s located in a spectacular setting in the Animas River Valley, surrounded by the San Juan Mountains and sits 6,523 ft. above sea level. Durango was founded in 1880 and is the home of the Historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Fort Lewis College. Being in such a beautiful area, with both fertile valleys and spectacular 14,000 ft. peaks, aspen groves, alpine forest and other pines of the southwest region such as Ponderosa pine, Piñon pine and Juniper, there is beauty every direction you look. The geology of this area is truly breathtaking, colorful and varied with cliffs of purple and crimson in stark contrast to the deep greens of the foliage.

More Durango Town Facts

Region: Southwest	County: La Plata
Latitude: 37.27528	Longitude: -107.8800667	Elevation: 6,523 ft. (1,988 m)

Durango is the county seat of La Plata County, and is enjoyed for not only the beauty but the climate. They enjoy an ideal four seasons, including 300 days a year of sunshine and moderate temperatures. The city area receives a modest amount of snow during the winter compared with the more pronounced snowfall in the ski resort mountains. During the winter, mild and sunny days with temperatures between 10-50 degrees are common, snow melts quickly in the town and the summer temperatures rarely go above the 80′s. Beautiful spring days include warm sun, mild afternoon rain showers and incredible wildflowers and the autumn season is rich with colors and crisp mountain air.

Scenic Byways in the area provide many photo opportunities and scenery to enjoy. And certainly a ride on the famous Narrow Gauge railway is an event not to be missed. It runs from Durango to Silverton and you may purchase a round-trip ticket, or a one-way fare and either ride the bus back from Silverton, or ride the bus there and catch the train back to Durango. The round-trip outing can take the better part of the day, and you want to be prepared for any afternoon rain showers you may encounter coming back. Seats may be purchased for interior cars or outside cars which don’t limit the view, but can be damp in an afternoon rain.

Some of the most incredible scenery Colorado offers can only be viewed from the train that winds through the mountains on the way to and from Silverton. No automobiles or planes can access these views. Because gold was found in the area in 1860, miners, farmers and their families came to live here. The railroad was planned and built beginning in 1880, making it possible to reach the secluded river.

As far back as 2,500 years ago until the 1,300′s the Ancestral Puebloans lived in this area. Then centuries later the Ute Indians made this their home, moving into the abandoned cliff dwellings the ancient people had left behind. The location we know as Mesa Verde National Park and the Cliff Dwellings became part of the National Park system in 1906 and have been preserved for people to enjoy till today. Durango grew to include a municipal airport in 1929, Fort Lewis College in 1957, and Purgatory ski resort in 1965. The ski resort is now named Durango Mountain and has some of the best extreme slopes, back bowls and heli skiing you may ever encounter.

Durango has many things to see and do including most outdoor activities, tennis, golfing, fishing, hiking, biking, and all winter ski related sports in addition to the archeological wonders. They also have community art projects and displays, music, theater, farmer’s markets, walking tours, art galleries, restaurants, brew pubs and many wonderful restaurants to choose from. When your day is done and you are weary, come soak in the fabulous hot springs to relax! You may never run out of things to see and do in this beautiful city.