Guidebook for Durango
Food Scene
Excellent breakfast and lunch. Two minutes away on foot. Patio/outdoor seating in season.
12 locals recommend
Hermosa Creek Grill
32223 US-550Excellent breakfast and lunch. Two minutes away on foot. Patio/outdoor seating in season.
Dalton Ranch Golf Club
589 Co Rd 252The closest "fancy" sit-down restaurant. Golfing open to the public.
Quick, easy sit-down and to-go smoked meat and sides. Try the family "big six" assortment, which will feed a family of about four.
12 locals recommend
Serious Texas BBQ North Durango, CO.
3535 Main AveQuick, easy sit-down and to-go smoked meat and sides. Try the family "big six" assortment, which will feed a family of about four.
They close pretty early, but a nice, modern comfortable place to have a cup of coffee. Try their College Drive location for a late-night caffeine experience.
21 locals recommend
Durango Joes Coffee
732 E College DrThey close pretty early, but a nice, modern comfortable place to have a cup of coffee. Try their College Drive location for a late-night caffeine experience.
The only coffee place in town that is open past about 7 or 8pm. Often crowded, and parking lot is small.
21 locals recommend
Durango Joes Coffee
732 E College DrThe only coffee place in town that is open past about 7 or 8pm. Often crowded, and parking lot is small.
Simply awesome steak and American-fare restaurant. And, if you go in on your birthday and can prove it's your birthday, you (but not your party) get half off your meal.
Long-time Durango favorite.
30 locals recommend
Ore House
147 E College DrSimply awesome steak and American-fare restaurant. And, if you go in on your birthday and can prove it's your birthday, you (but not your party) get half off your meal.
Long-time Durango favorite.
Occasional live Irish bands. Decent fish and chips and other entrees. I remember when this was the old Burns Bank. Lovely dark wood and nice architecture.
8 locals recommend
The Irish Embassy Pub
900 Main AveOccasional live Irish bands. Decent fish and chips and other entrees. I remember when this was the old Burns Bank. Lovely dark wood and nice architecture.
Shopping
Durango treasure. Truly an awesome place to go as a family. In season, watch the bees through transparent piping. Honeyville just installed a masterpiece copper still for whiskey, bourbon, etc.
18 locals recommend
Honeyville
33633 US-550Durango treasure. Truly an awesome place to go as a family. In season, watch the bees through transparent piping. Honeyville just installed a masterpiece copper still for whiskey, bourbon, etc.
If you need to mail a package or a letter, this is often easier access than the post office, with lots of parking. Post office is always packed and their parking lot is tiny.
Mail Room & Copy Center
10 Town PlazaIf you need to mail a package or a letter, this is often easier access than the post office, with lots of parking. Post office is always packed and their parking lot is tiny.
Everything Else
Great place to soak after a day of alpine recreation.
68 locals recommend
Trimble Spa and Natural Hot Springs
6475 Co Rd 203Great place to soak after a day of alpine recreation.
The only mini-golf in town. Right on the river. Eat, play mini-golf, and walk the trail accessible right from their back door.
18 locals recommend
Serious Texas BBQ South Durango, CO.
650 S Camino Del RioThe only mini-golf in town. Right on the river. Eat, play mini-golf, and walk the trail accessible right from their back door.
If you need to rent a car, use enterprise. They will often pick you up, too, which is a bonus.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
26977 US-160If you need to rent a car, use enterprise. They will often pick you up, too, which is a bonus.
Drive is stunning. Town is at the height of cool-ness in the summer. Largely shuttered in the winter season, except for the excellent alpine ski area.
77 locals recommend
Silverton
Drive is stunning. Town is at the height of cool-ness in the summer. Largely shuttered in the winter season, except for the excellent alpine ski area.
This is our go-to cross-country ski, snowshoe, and winter mountain-biking locale. About 10 minutes away.
In summer, take your lake kayak, paddle board or canoe and relax, exercise, or fish.
Haviland Lake Campground
Haviland Lake RoadThis is our go-to cross-country ski, snowshoe, and winter mountain-biking locale. About 10 minutes away.
In summer, take your lake kayak, paddle board or canoe and relax, exercise, or fish.
Sleigh rides, in season. They bundle you up and take you around Haviland Lake.
23 locals recommend
Rapp Corral
51 Haviland Lake RdSleigh rides, in season. They bundle you up and take you around Haviland Lake.
NOTE: As of Fall, 2018, access to Hermosa Creek Trail from Hermosa is officially restricted due to last season's wildfires that decimated much of that area. There is still access to the south end of the ecosystem via Junction Creek Trail and hiking north.
The area is closed mostly due to timber stands that are burned out on the inside, but still standing, and have potential to fall on hikers. Also there is mud and erosion damage due to snow and rain runoff.
******************
Fantastic hike, bike. Serene meadows, gentle creeks. Great day hike.
For the advanced, hike for several miles & drop down into town at Junction Creek road & Main. I've seen bears (and with bear cubs) & mountain lions.
Hermosa Creek Trail
Forest Srv RoadNOTE: As of Fall, 2018, access to Hermosa Creek Trail from Hermosa is officially restricted due to last season's wildfires that decimated much of that area. There is still access to the south end of the ecosystem via Junction Creek Trail and hiking north.
The area is closed mostly due to timber stands that are burned out on the inside, but still standing, and have potential to fall on hikers. Also there is mud and erosion damage due to snow and rain runoff.
******************
Fantastic hike, bike. Serene meadows, gentle creeks. Great day hike.
For the advanced, hike for several miles & drop down into town at Junction Creek road & Main. I've seen bears (and with bear cubs) & mountain lions.
Day hike for moderate hikers. Look out over the entire Animas Valley. Breathtaking "lowland" view.
I wouldn't personally recommend for beginners. Slippery terrain in places.
NOTE: this is a seasonal trail, closed from fall to spring as a wildlife habitat.
6 locals recommend
Animas City Mountain
Day hike for moderate hikers. Look out over the entire Animas Valley. Breathtaking "lowland" view.
I wouldn't personally recommend for beginners. Slippery terrain in places.
NOTE: this is a seasonal trail, closed from fall to spring as a wildlife habitat.
Hike Cascade Creek to Engine Creek. Beautiful, isolated & peaceful. Depending on the erosion from spring runoff, could be mild to difficult hike.
Waterfall at the confluence, and a frigid pool.
Engine Creek
Hike Cascade Creek to Engine Creek. Beautiful, isolated & peaceful. Depending on the erosion from spring runoff, could be mild to difficult hike.
Waterfall at the confluence, and a frigid pool.
Hiking destination. Moderate difficulty. Partially single-track. Switchbacks up the side of the red cliffs. Great family hike, but not for toddlers.
The top of the mountain is splendid.
Haflin Canyon
Hiking destination. Moderate difficulty. Partially single-track. Switchbacks up the side of the red cliffs. Great family hike, but not for toddlers.
The top of the mountain is splendid.
Ska Brewing Co
225 Girard StLocal microbrewery. Tours.
Essentials
It's fairly new, clean and the locals are friendly and helpful.
Deli offers pizza, sandwiches, and hot/cold meals.
21 locals recommend
PJ's Gourmet Market
67 Trimble LnIt's fairly new, clean and the locals are friendly and helpful.
Deli offers pizza, sandwiches, and hot/cold meals.
Animas Wine & Spirits
67 Trimble Crossing DrFine selection of wines, beers, and spirits. Clean and new. Friendly staff.