Photographed and Written by Randy and Caly Behymer

Durango, Colorado, offers a plethora of things to see and do. Whether you want to spend a day being pampered at a hot spring or want to try your hand at some outdoor adventures, Durango has it all. Deciding where to start will be the hardest decision to make.

Be sure to download your FREE copy of Top 10 Things to do in Durango, Colorado by clicking here! Join in on the fun as Randy and Caly talk about Durango on the RVD Podcast by clicking here!

10. Take a Walk—Stroll through historic downtown Durango. This city is full of charm and easy to navigate on foot. Several historic (and famous) hotels grace the streets of this town and offer a great place to step back into time for a quick beverage or a bite to eat. Browse art galleries, pick up some unique clothing from a boutique and don’t forget to grab your Christmas ornament from the Christmas in Durango gift shop. There are plenty of restaurants to feed your grumbling tummy; try 11th Street Station, a local food truck park, for something different.

9. Visit Ancient Dwellings—Home to more than 4,500 archeological sites, Mesa Verde is a chance to step back in time. A National Park since 1906, the park offers up-close encounters with Ancestral Pueblo structures, hiking trails, camping and interpretive programs. There are just a few hiking trails in the park, ranging from easy to strenuous, and some paved walking paths to view the cliff dwellings. Pro tip: If you have a National Parks Passport Book, this park offers two stamps—one for Mesa Verde and one for Yucca House National Monument. You can find both at the visitor center.

8. James Ranch—A local favorite, a visit to the James Ranch is a day well spent. The James Ranch is a conglomeration of seven different agricultural businesses. Known for its grass-fed and finished beef, the Ranch has branched out over the years to offer artisan cheese, a restaurant, a market, gardens, a tree farm, vacation rentals and an event venue. Take a self-guided tour or sign up for a homesteading class and learn valuable farming skills like orchard restoration and animal husbandry.

7. How Sweet It Is—You’ll find Honeyville across Highway 550 from James Ranch. Imagine everything made with honey and about honey packed into a large factory store. Honeyville is home to wine, liquor, seasonings, health and beauty products, jams, jellies and sauces—all made from a bee’s hard work. Even if you aren’t a fan of the sweet, sticky product, the store has plenty to offer besides honey, like home goods and décor, children’s toys and fun items for your garden.

6. Catch a Dinner with a Show—Open Memorial weekend through September, the Bar D Chuckwagon Suppers offers guests a traditional chuck wagon dinner and a musical and comedy show. Pile up your plate with fixins’ like steak, roast beef, potato, baked beans and biscuits. Be sure to arrive early and enjoy all the grounds offer, like a train, art gallery, working leather shop and blacksmith shop, gift shop, chocolate shop, shooting gallery, wagon ride, chapel, playground, gold panning, horseshoes and roping.

5. Wildlife Museum and Hatchery—Durango is home to Colorado’s oldest state-owned fish hatchery. Started in 1927, the hatchery works at restocking waters across the state with native fish to 1.5 million fish for 2023 alone. Try calling ahead to schedule a tour and see firsthand how the hatchery works as they raise fish from egg to release. Be sure to visit the wildlife museum for a display of Colorado’s animals.

4. Visit a Historic Saloon—Belly up to the Diamond Belle Saloon, located inside the Strater Hotel, grab a libation and sit back and enjoy the entertainment. Ragtime piano music plays and servers dress in period clothing in the original saloon that turned drug store, then saloon again in 1957. Check out the original tin ceiling, upper plate glass windows and stained-glass window over the door, all from 1887.

3. Take a Wild Ride—Book a white-water experience down the Animas River through Durango if you want adventure. Try your hand at Class I, II, III, IV or V rapids as experts guide you through some of the 22.5 miles of accessible waters the river offers. There are plenty of raft companies in Durango, and all are sure to provide a thrill of a lifetime.

2. Take a Dip in a Hot Spring—Durango Hot Springs opened in 2019, and more than 300,000 visitors a year come to relax in their healing, oxygenated waters. Thanks to the low sulfur content, you won’t find any stinky sulfur water here; Durango Hot Springs’ water doesn’t smell. Guests can find kids- and adults-only sections, food trucks, spas and dry saunas on the grounds, making relaxation easy. Future expansions include adding a hotel, fine dining and glamping.

1. Take a Ride on History—Open in 1882, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway operates eight engines year-round across their 3-foot-wide track that runs 45 miles between Durango and Silverton. The train is a National Historic Landmark and is a must-do activity when visiting Durango. The 45-mile stretch has run continuously since 1881, along the Animas River through some of the most gorgeous land you may ever see. Be sure to visit the free Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Museum while visiting Durango.

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