Things to Do in Durango
The Durango & Silverton narrow gauge railroad, Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings, the Animas River Trail, hot springs and summer fun at Purgatory. Each guide covers hours, admission, time needed and RV parking.
Durango, Colorado · Things to do
Guides
9 guides
Hours, fees & tips
Free to visit
3 of 9
Admission is on each guide
Elevation
6,500 ft
Around the area
Best time
May–Oct
For getting out and about
Updated October 31, 2026 · Each guide covers hours, admission and RV parking
What to do
Things to do in Durango
Each guide covers hours, admission, time needed, RV parking and what’s nearby.
Animas Museum
Step into the 1904 Animas City School, a sandstone schoolhouse turned free local history museum, with a restored 1905 classroom, Wild West stories and an 1870s log cabin on Durango’s north side.
Animas River Trail
A paved shared-use path that follows the Animas River for nearly 7 miles through Durango, linking riverside parks, downtown and the public library.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Ride a coal-fired steam train 45 miles up the Animas River canyon to the old mining town of Silverton, on a line in continuous operation since 1882, then browse the free railroad museum beside the downtown Durango depot.
Durango Adventures and Zipline Tours
Fly 12 fast ziplines through the ponderosa pines about a mile west of downtown Durango, then take on the 45-foot adventure tower or axe throwing, all year, rain, snow or shine.
Lake Nighthorse
A 1,500-acre reservoir about two miles from downtown Durango, with a sandy swim beach, a boat ramp and stocked trout, open from spring until the winter closure in mid-November.
Mesa Verde National Park
Walk the overlooks above Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings on a high green mesa about 35 miles west of Durango, where the park protects nearly 5,000 archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.
Oxbow Park & Preserve
A 93-acre city park and riverside preserve on Durango’s north side, with a sandy beach, a paved boat ramp on the Animas River and quiet preserve trails where more than 100 bird species have been recorded.
Pinkerton Hot Springs
A rust-orange mound of mineral rock that steams beside US-550 north of Durango.
Purgatory Resort
Ski 1,635 acres of San Juan Mountains terrain about 25 miles north of Durango on US-550, with the 2026/27 season scheduled to open November 20 and a new steep-terrain lift on the way.
Thank you to the people behind these photos. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Animas Museum: Jeffrey Beall on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Animas River Trail: cogdogblog on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Carol M. Highsmith on Wikimedia Commons (Public domain); Lake Nighthorse: Jeffrey Beall on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Mesa Verde National Park: mark byzewski on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); Oxbow Park & Preserve: Carol M. Highsmith on Wikimedia Commons (Public domain); Pinkerton Hot Springs: Carol M. Highsmith on Wikimedia Commons (Public domain); Purgatory Resort: Stagefright07 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0). Photos for Durango Adventures and Zipline Tours are credited on each guide. The header photo is the Animas Museum card image.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with the attractions, businesses or areas listed on this page unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including each attraction’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, admission, rules, policies, amenities and other details are set by each attraction or operator and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with the attraction. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.