A Selection of the Most Popular Durango, CO, Activities & Attractions
There is never a shortage of things to do in Durango, CO, while staying in any of our centrally-located vacation rentals. No matter the season, you will find an abundance of fun Durango activities to enjoy, ranging from winter skiing to summer white water rafting. Take a ride on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for some educational fun and breathtaking views or explore local shops and eateries in the historic downtown Durango. To ensure that your visit to our vacation rentals is one to remember, we have compiled all the best things to do in Durango, CO, for you. Feel free to ask our knowledgeable staff for more information about the area and discounts on these great Durango activities!
Don’t forget to download our free Vacation Guide to Durango, CO, before your trip! It’s loaded with even more of the best things to do in the area, top restaurant recommendations, upcoming events, and more.
Outdoor Activities in Durango in the Summer
Need help planning the ultimate summer trip to Durango, CO? This charming town in the mountains offers endless opportunities for fun and excitement! Take a look at our list below for some of the best things to do in Durango, CO, in summer. No matter what you decide to do, you’re guaranteed to have the time of your life!
Adventure Tours
We have partnered with Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours, Durango’s premier adventure boutique. With an untarnished safety record and our 34 years in Durango, Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours offers the safest, finest whitewater rafting and adventures in town. Choose from their many exciting trips and discover a voyage that only Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours can offer! Check out the tours!
Guided Fishing
In 21 years of service, Duranglers has provided their clients and customers with some of the most diverse fisheries, experienced guides and knowledgeable staff in the country! Duranglers has been a source for area fishing in Durango, CO for years.
Whitewater Rafting
This destination is overflowing with amazing things to do in Durango, CO, outside, with one of the more adventurous ones being whitewater rafting. If you are interested in participating in this thrilling activity, you should enlist the services of the amazing Durango Rivertrippers. They even offer multiple guided tour options through our website!
Hiking
If you’re looking for the best place for a rejuvenating hike, filled with gorgeous scenery and breathtaking natural features, Durango, Colorado, is the ideal destination for you. This area is bursting with countless hiking trails and wilderness areas, each one containing their own unique components and landmarks. If you’re looking for free stuff to do in Durango, Colorado, hiking in Durango is the perfect activity!
Horseback Riding
One of the best ways to see this terrain up close is to participate in Colorado horseback riding! This state is filled with countless spots to take a trip by horseback; Durango, in particular, has amazing ranches staffed by friendly guides and, of course, magnificent horses.
Mountain Biking
Durango has all the ingredients for an incredible day outside on your bike: breathtaking scenery, wonderful weather, and countless trails of varying difficulty. You’ll find plenty of beginner mountain bike trails in Durango as well as more challenging trails for the more experienced bikers.
Purgatory Alpine Slide
While you’re here, one popular Durango, CO, attraction you absolutely have to visit is the Purgatory Alpine Slide. This is a beloved activity for countless people, especially those who love an adrenaline rush!
Golfing
If you’re looking to improve your golf game while you’re visiting Durango, try teeing off at one of the many golf courses in Durango, CO. With beautiful mountain views and relaxing places to cool off, you’ll love spending an afternoon golfing in Colorado.
Things to Do in Durango, CO, in Winter
Durango Skiing
Great skiing. Great weather. No lift lines. Durango, CO, skiing offers the same type of skiing most folks look for at a large resort, but in a quaint, charming setting. If you’re a winter sports enthusiast wondering where the best destination is for your next ski vacation, be sure to visit Durango, Colorado!
Cross-Country Skiing
While some are excited about downhill skiing, many are also looking forward to cross-country skiing in Colorado. There are numerous trails within this region that are ideal for this activity. Take a look at some of the best places for cross-country skiing in Colorado and start planning your winter getaway out West today!
Snowshoeing
If you are interested in exploring the winter wonders of the West on foot, you need to try snowshoeing in Colorado. This fun Durango winter activity is definitely one of the best things to do in Durango, CO, in winter if you love scenic landscapes and fun winter activities!
Ride the Polar Express
One of the best things about winter in Durango, CO, is that the Durango & Silverton train transforms into the Polar Express! This exciting holiday adventure includes hot chocolate, a live rendition of the popular book and an appearance by the Jolly Old Elf himself!
Sleigh Rides
There are so many things to do in Durango, CO, in the winter; however, sleigh rides in Colorado might be one of the most beloved winter activities. Not only does Durango contain the fantastic Purgatory Resort, but it also is home to several great companies for sleigh rides in Colorado.
Ice Skating
Chapman Hill, a ski area near historic downtown Durango, has a skating rink that’s popular among locals. During your next stay with Durango Colorado Vacations, stop by the Chapman Hill Ice Rink for a fun Durango attraction!
Durango Dog Ranch
Gretchen and Gregg are seasoned guides who have been training and running dogs for over 10 years at the Durango Dog Ranch. Join them for a dog powered exploration of the snowy peaks of Southwest Colorado. The enthusiasm of being whisked along the trail by Siberian and Alaskan huskies is a feeling you will not soon forget.
See the mountains as very few have ever seen them on picturesque mountain trails. Warmth and safety are of the utmost importance. Hot drinks, fresh snacks, and a camaraderie between human and canine are just some of the highlights. This Durango attraction is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Even More Things to Do in Durango, CO, in Winter
From holiday shopping in Durango, CO, to enjoying winter festivities in historic downtown Durango, there is a wide variety of things to do in Durango, CO, in winter. Whether you want a thrilling adventure or a quiet, cozy afternoon, you’ll find the perfect activity for you here.
Entertainment in Durango
Casino Gambling
If you’re looking for some fun and you like to gamble, there are two nearby casinos in Colorado, each with their own unique and exciting qualities. Sky Ute Lodge and Casino, the closer of the two, is only 20 minutes south of Durango. The Ute Mountain Casino is located just about an hour from Durango, CO.
Durango Arts Center
The Durango Arts Center is a nonprofit, community-based arts organization dedicated to advancing the visual and cultural arts for the enrichment of the individual and the community. For artists traveling to Durango, visiting the DAC is one of the best Durango activities around.
Durango Colorado Community Concert Hall
Durango loves live music. Frequent performances throughout the year at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College offer many outlets for musicians and their fans. Intimacy is what you’ll find from any seat in the house. Even the back row of the balcony is only 89 feet from the stage. You’ll leave the performance wanting to return.
Durango Colorado Old Fashioned Melodrama
Located next to the Historic Strater Hotel at 7th St. and Main Ave. in historic Downtown Durango, Colorado, the world famous Diamond Circle Melodrama is a wonderful excursion back in time and one of the best Durango activities, to a bygone era of heroines, villains, and oh yes, the hero too.
Independent and Art House Films
The Abbey Theatre in Durango, CO is a small, independent theater that features an eclectic blend of the best entertainment available in the Four Corners region and Nationally. The theatre operates as both a state of the art cinema, featuring primarily “art house” films; and an intimate live concert venue attracting national and regional acts.
Guided Tours
Gold Mine Tours
The underground world of the hard rock miner is rarely seen by “outsiders.” Now you, too, can go “on shift” and see the earth from the inside out. A one hour guided tour through Old Hundred Gold Mine takes you 1/3 mile into Galena Mountain where you follow the vein and learn how mining was done. You’ll get to see and experience actual operating mining equipment in a real mine setting. Outside, the awesome scenery is worth the visit alone. At Durango, you can’t go wrong with exploring old gold mines. This attraction is easily one of the best things to do in Durango, CO.
Helicopter Tours
One of the best things to do in Durango, Colorado, is to see it from another perspective, and you can do so with a helicopter tour. There are several different types of helicopter tours with varying times and locations. If you love sightseeing, this is an activity you don’t want to miss!
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Get a taste of the Old West on the Durango Silverton Train. It’s one of the most unique things to do in Silverton, CO, and Durango. You can take a step back 100 years in the past while aboard the train. Today, the trail is still operated as a tourist train line called the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG).