Amy's Guidebook
Food scene
T's Smokehouse & Grill
3 Depot PlGreat burgers and Cajun food, friendly staff, near the train station
Gorgeous views of the Hermosa Valley, good burgers and locally grown food. Large outdoor lawn to enjoy a meal. They also have a market to pick up delicious goodies and you can schedule a farm tour.
35 locals raden deze aan
James Ranch Grill
33846 US Hwy 550Gorgeous views of the Hermosa Valley, good burgers and locally grown food. Large outdoor lawn to enjoy a meal. They also have a market to pick up delicious goodies and you can schedule a farm tour.
French style bakery, delicious bread, breakfast and lunch food and treats. Small amount of seating, food to go works well here. For a more French café feeling head down to 8th street and sit down for a cup of simply delicious coffee and a green chili croissant. Both locations serve the same items.
41 locals raden deze aan
Bread
42 Co Rd 250French style bakery, delicious bread, breakfast and lunch food and treats. Small amount of seating, food to go works well here. For a more French café feeling head down to 8th street and sit down for a cup of simply delicious coffee and a green chili croissant. Both locations serve the same items.
Delicious Asian fusion restaurant! Limited seating, groups should get food to go.
16 locals raden deze aan
Rice Monkeys
1050 Main AveDelicious Asian fusion restaurant! Limited seating, groups should get food to go.
Food truck court with vintage decor and extensive outdoor seating. Lots of variety in available foods- everyone can have something different! Backcountry Gourmet’s giant breakfast burritos combined with a nitro coffee at the coffee bar is the best way to start the day. In the evenings Ernie’s bar serves refreshing beverages.
33 locals raden deze aan
11th Street Station
1101 Main AveFood truck court with vintage decor and extensive outdoor seating. Lots of variety in available foods- everyone can have something different! Backcountry Gourmet’s giant breakfast burritos combined with a nitro coffee at the coffee bar is the best way to start the day. In the evenings Ernie’s bar serves refreshing beverages.
Best wings in town, pizza, and lots of delicious beer! Local summer favorite is the Mexican Logger :)
39 locals raden deze aan
Ska Brewing Co
225 Girard StBest wings in town, pizza, and lots of delicious beer! Local summer favorite is the Mexican Logger :)
This is the closest dinner restaurant to the house, about 2 miles down the hill. Sushi and Asian offerings, very yummy.
26 locals raden deze aan
Pop Sushi
42 Co Rd 250This is the closest dinner restaurant to the house, about 2 miles down the hill. Sushi and Asian offerings, very yummy.
Delicious chocolate and coffee, handcrafted with love.
7 locals raden deze aan
Animas Chocolate Company
920 Main AveDelicious chocolate and coffee, handcrafted with love.
Most delicious ice cream in town! Hand crafted down town in a classic little ice cream shop, they have outdoor seating in summer and to-go containers of ymminess too!
13 locals raden deze aan
Cream Bean Berry
1021 Main AveMost delicious ice cream in town! Hand crafted down town in a classic little ice cream shop, they have outdoor seating in summer and to-go containers of ymminess too!
Originally a bakery Carvers is now a delicious brewery with a wide selection of food offerings. Comfortable, homey atmosphere and a big back patio for summer dining- a longtime local favorite for brunch, lunch or dinner.
50 locals raden deze aan
Carver Brewing Co
1022 Main AveOriginally a bakery Carvers is now a delicious brewery with a wide selection of food offerings. Comfortable, homey atmosphere and a big back patio for summer dining- a longtime local favorite for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Mountain biking/ Hiking
An extensive trail system with 2 main trailheads. Mainly used by mountain bikers but also popular with runners and hikers. Intermediate and advanced biking, some upper level beginner trails. If you get on the ridges you get great views of the gulch and the town valley.
Classic Durango trail, super fun bike loops. The trail head near the Horse Gulch medical center and Velorution Cycles leads to an extensive trail system used widely by mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners.
12 locals raden deze aan
Horse Gulch Hiking Trail Head
Horse Gulch RoadClassic Durango trail, super fun bike loops. The trail head near the Horse Gulch medical center and Velorution Cycles leads to an extensive trail system used widely by mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners.
Multiple trail heads on the west side of town. You can bike for miles or hike the hogs back and look out over town and the valley.
9 locals raden deze aan
Overend Mountain Park Hidden Valley Trailhead
915 Hidden Valley CirMultiple trail heads on the west side of town. You can bike for miles or hike the hogs back and look out over town and the valley.
Trail leads up Animas Mountain to get views of the valley and looking toward the north mountains. Trail head just west of the north City Market. There are a lot of loose rocks on the trail, I find there are better trails for biking but some people do bike on it. Lovely hiking trending uphill.
Animas Mountain East Trailhead
3269 W 4th AveTrail leads up Animas Mountain to get views of the valley and looking toward the north mountains. Trail head just west of the north City Market. There are a lot of loose rocks on the trail, I find there are better trails for biking but some people do bike on it. Lovely hiking trending uphill.
The best beginners/ kids/ fun and easy mountain bike trail in Durango. Flowy characteristics, some elevation gain but no huge climbs or crazy decentes. Either a short couple mile loop can be done or a 5 ish mile loop. There is a little pump track at the trail head, super popular with kids. Also you can hook in to the Horse Gulch system if you want a longer/ more challenging ride.
Spur Line Trail
925 Oso Grande DrThe best beginners/ kids/ fun and easy mountain bike trail in Durango. Flowy characteristics, some elevation gain but no huge climbs or crazy decentes. Either a short couple mile loop can be done or a 5 ish mile loop. There is a little pump track at the trail head, super popular with kids. Also you can hook in to the Horse Gulch system if you want a longer/ more challenging ride.
Skiing and Mountain Biking
Purgatory Sports
93 Skier PlAbout 30 minutes from Durango this is a fun little mountain on the way to Mancos or Cortez. 1 lift leads to blue terrain. Also has a tubing hill that is a lot of fun for kiddos!
11 locals raden deze aan
Hesperus Ski Area
U.S. 160About 30 minutes from Durango this is a fun little mountain on the way to Mancos or Cortez. 1 lift leads to blue terrain. Also has a tubing hill that is a lot of fun for kiddos!
Indoor Recreation/ Exercise
Our rec center is a great place to spend a few hours playing basketball, racquetball, climbing an indoor climbing wall, swimming in the pools or getting in a great workout. They have a playground right next tot the building that is really fun. We go often for the pool facilities. They have both a lap pool and leisure pool, lazy river, large hot tub, two diving boards and a big water slide. In the summer there is an outdoor splash pad too!
Our Rec center offers something for everyone. Great pool facilities- both a lap pool and leisure (kids) pool, hot tub, diving boards, a big water slide and an outdoor summer splash pad. Also there are aerobic and free weight facilities, a walking track, basketball and racquetball courts, a climbing wall, and a playground right outside to boot. It is right next to the Animas river trail, a really fun place to spend time.
14 locals raden deze aan
Durango Community Recreation Center
2700 Main AveOur Rec center offers something for everyone. Great pool facilities- both a lap pool and leisure (kids) pool, hot tub, diving boards, a big water slide and an outdoor summer splash pad. Also there are aerobic and free weight facilities, a walking track, basketball and racquetball courts, a climbing wall, and a playground right outside to boot. It is right next to the Animas river trail, a really fun place to spend time.
Ice rink in winter and skate rink in summer, in winter there is also a ski hill right outside with a rope tow. Check their website for open skate times and ski hours.
8 locals raden deze aan
Chapman Hill Ice Rink
500 Florida RdIce rink in winter and skate rink in summer, in winter there is also a ski hill right outside with a rope tow. Check their website for open skate times and ski hours.
Dog Park
A large area near town where dogs can run and play. Borders the river, across the river from Santa Rita park and the whitewater park.
The best place in town to let a dog run free! Dogs and their people are typically friendly, the area is extensive and you can hike while your dogs have fun.
Durango Off Leash Area
The best place in town to let a dog run free! Dogs and their people are typically friendly, the area is extensive and you can hike while your dogs have fun.
Sightseeing
9 miles of paved riverside path, from Oxbow park to La Posta Road (Home Depot). Multiple access points through town. Beautiful Cottonwood trees grow all along the trail. It is a lovely place for a stroll or leisurely bike ride!
7 locals raden deze aan
Animas River Trail & Greenway
501 Camino Del Rio9 miles of paved riverside path, from Oxbow park to La Posta Road (Home Depot). Multiple access points through town. Beautiful Cottonwood trees grow all along the trail. It is a lovely place for a stroll or leisurely bike ride!
A recreational lake for motorized and non-motorized craft. Great for paddle boarding (rentals available), cruising on a kayak or fishing. There is a great beach for sunbathing and family fun as well!
38 locals raden deze aan
Lake Nighthorse
A recreational lake for motorized and non-motorized craft. Great for paddle boarding (rentals available), cruising on a kayak or fishing. There is a great beach for sunbathing and family fun as well!
A hundred foot hike gets you to a historic shelter with picnic tables and spectacular views of Durango, the La Plata mountains and the Hermosa Valley up to the West Needle mountains.
The hike is short with about 15 stairs, it is somewhat steep at the top and has loose gravel on it. Walkable by most children and adults :)
Lions Den
2401 Rim DrA hundred foot hike gets you to a historic shelter with picnic tables and spectacular views of Durango, the La Plata mountains and the Hermosa Valley up to the West Needle mountains.
The hike is short with about 15 stairs, it is somewhat steep at the top and has loose gravel on it. Walkable by most children and adults :)
Climbing
Boulder garden with zero approach.
Easy access from the road, fun variety of bouldering problems on Dakota sandstone. From town head west on 25th towards the Colorado Trail head. At a Y intersection of 204 and 205 turn left (away from the CT). You’ll go past Turtle lake, the road curves sharply to the left and there is dirt parking on the right side of the road. No signs, no parking lot, usually there are a couple cars but not too many. The boulders are across the road, the warm-up boulder is visible from the road. Frolic and enjoy!
Turtle lake bouldering
Easy access from the road, fun variety of bouldering problems on Dakota sandstone. From town head west on 25th towards the Colorado Trail head. At a Y intersection of 204 and 205 turn left (away from the CT). You’ll go past Turtle lake, the road curves sharply to the left and there is dirt parking on the right side of the road. No signs, no parking lot, usually there are a couple cars but not too many. The boulders are across the road, the warm-up boulder is visible from the road. Frolic and enjoy!
Lots of top-rope options as well as sport climbing routes. A shorter area called the Schoolhouse is good for kids or beginners. Short hike to climbing and some shady belay spots are available near the actual “X” rock.
X Rock
Lots of top-rope options as well as sport climbing routes. A shorter area called the Schoolhouse is good for kids or beginners. Short hike to climbing and some shady belay spots are available near the actual “X” rock.