Find some adventure at Purgatory Mountain Resort!
Offering seven activities for the whole family including the Inferno Mountain coaster, alpine slide, mountain bike park, scenic chairlift, treasure panning, kids off-road track and more. Summer activities will open in June.
Daily Operations 7 days a week June until August.
Weekends only into October
See website for full details.
Mesa Verde National Park
Explore the history and sites of ancestral Pueblo people who made Mesa Verde their home for over 700 years. Mesa Verde National Park entrance is located a half hour away from Durango, but plan for an hour to get to the top of the mesa to see the cliff dwellings. Click here for directions.
Make sure to stop at the visitors center at the base of the park for a map, exhibits and information (open daily from 8:30 am to 4 pm). Once you enter the park you will drive for approximately 21 miles to the first cliff dwelling. Many of the cliff dwellings can be seen from the Mesa Top Loop Road.
There are several options to see many cliff dwellings from overlooks and Step House can be visited without a ticket during hours of operation. Click here for information about self-guided tours.
To tour most cliff dwellings, you will need to purchase tour tickets in advance. There are two options for tours, Ranger- Assisted Tours and Ranger-Guided Tours. Ranger-Assisted Tours are a time-entry experience that allows visitors to move through a cliff dwelling at their own pace and in a socially distanced way. Rangers will be stationed along the route to provide interpretation. Ranger-Guided Tours are more intimate, in-depth tours. The rangers will guide small groups into the parks backcountry to visit several of the park's lesser-seen cliff dwellings.The 2023 Tour season will run from May 14 through October 22.
Ranger-Assisted Tours include:
Ranger-Guided Tours include
Visit the Cliff Dwelling Tour Tickets page for more information and tour times. Tickets are available online up to 14 days in advance. Tour tickets can only be purchased on recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.
Be sure to visit Mesa Verde National Park's website for more information on what is open and available prior to your trip.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Enjoy a beautiful adventure on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This is a not to be missed trip offering spectacular views traveling through the heart of the San Jan National Forest. The Railroad offers different excursions that include a shorter ride to Cascade, or a full-day ride all the way to Silverton. Both offer spectacular views. Don't forget to bring your camera!
The Scenic Roundtrip train to Silverton starts on May 6, 2023:
This trip is 3½ hours each way with a stop of 2 hours in the historic mining town of Silverton. This is a magical journey that takes you through the San Juan National Forest with breathtaking views of the mountains and the Animas River. There will be two daily train excursions to Silverton.
Steam Trains run daily from May 6, 2023 to October 28, 2023. The Silverton Steam Train departs at 9 am daily May-October. Additional departure times are available in August and September.
Diesel Trains run daily from May 20, 2023 to August 13, 2023. Departs at 8:15 am *This is the only train excursion offering wilderness access for backpackers.
Skyway Tour:
This is a service option that is available for 2023 Silverton summer season excursions. Passengers can choose to ride one way by a deluxe motor coach to Silverton or from Silverton to return to Durango. The bus/train service cost $29 (plus 8% historic preservation fee) per person and added to the one-way train price. The bus service is available 7 days a week May 20 through October 14. See website for further details on times and booking.
Cascade Canyon Express May 26-May 29 and June 7- August 13, 2023
The Cascade Canyon Express excursions depart from the Durango Depot daily at 9:45 am. The excursion is 5.25 hours and will arrive back at the depot at 3 pm. This is the same route as the full day tour but will only travel to the halfway point of Cascade Canyon (between Durango & Silverton). On this journey you can experience the iconic canyon views along the highline with breathtaking scenery, and incredible geological features that are deep in the wilderness. During the layover in Cascade Canyon, enjoy lunch, photo opportunities or walk along the Animas River. Box lunches are available for pre-order.
Excursions available May 26- May 29 and June 7- August 13, 2023
Schedule:
Durango Departure Time: 9:45 am
Cascade Canyon Arrival: 11:45 am
Cascade Canyon Departure: 12:45 pm
Durango Arrival: 3 pm
Please visit DurangoTrain.com for full information and reservations.
Located along the Animas River, the Powerhouse Science Center is housed in an historic coal-fired steam power plant. The Powerhouse offers hands-on, interactive science for all ages. It is open year-round and is a great place for family adventures.
Current hours of operation: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9am-4pm. Closed Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Admission: Adults $9, Senior, Military, Student $7 and Children 3-17yrs $9 (Babies 1 year old and under free)
Access to the Powerhouse is off 12th Street and Camino Del Rio or by the way of the Animas River Trail. Limited parking is available. Click here for directions.
Visit The Powerhouse Science Center website for full details.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
The Railroad Museum is a must see for train enthusiasts, families, and history buffs. The museum is free and is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. This 12,000 square foot museum provides many artifacts that tells the history of railroading. It includes giant interactive train model, authentic train cars and engines the kids can explore. Pre-arranged guide tours are offered during business hours.
Click here for directions.
Animas Museum
Located in the North Main District, they offer a variety of exhibits and program for all ages. The museum is housed in the former Animas City school building, and features an authentic restored classroom from the early 1800s. Located at 3065 West 2nd Avenue. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, Saturday 10-4pm and Wednesday & Friday 1pm- 4pm. Click here for more information.