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Summer in Durango is about more than just the activities. It’s about special moments shared with special people, wild adventures under the southwestern sun and making more time for unforgettable memories.

Summer in Durango

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<a href="https://www.durangotrails.org">Durango Trails</a> helps build and maintain trails while educating trail users. Volunteer your time or donate to help Durango's trail networks continue to delight people for years to come.

Help Maintain Trails

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We offer a summery take on dogsledding with scooters and overland tours from June–October. Once the snow falls, we offer two hour and half day sled dog adventures in the San Juan Mountains. Being whisked along the trail by huskies is a feeling you will not soon forget.

Durango Dog Ranch

The Kennebec offers an atmosphere of casual elegance in warm, comfortable surroundings. We serve Mediterranean inspired cuisine, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients. We also have an extensive wine list, local beers, vegetarian and gluten-free options!  Come enjoy beautiful views of the La Platas from our patios and peruse the work of featured artist, Susan Reed. We feel a memorable meal encompasses excellent cuisine, creative stimulation, good wine, and the company of friends!

Kennebec Cafe

4-star rating —Golf Digest. Number 8 Best Colorado Course to Play —Golfweek.

Dalton Ranch Golf Club

Our delicious meats, cheeses and vegetables are produced on the James Ranch using organic, sustainable, grass-based practices and have been for over 50 years. We strive to use organic ingredients in everything we serve from our peppercorns, sauces to pickles. What the families at James Ranch do not produce, we do our best to purchase from local, organic vendors that take pride in their quality products and ingredients. "Summer seasonal specials include: Our Signature Veggie Burger, Steak Salad, Strawberry Spinach Salad and more.

James Ranch Grill

James Ranch is ten miles north of Durango, Colorado in the beautiful Animas River Valley. Here, you will find 400 acres of high altitude, irrigated pastures, crystal clear flowing water, 100% grass fed and finished beef cattle, grazing Jersey milk cows, a spruce tree nursery, an organic vegetable and flower garden, and busy families who utilize organic growing practices in the day-to-day operation of the ranch and their enterprises. Explore the philosophy of the James Ranch families, their enterprises, and the good things going on at our ranch for the land and community.

James Ranch

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Evenings are relaxed at the ranch, where you can grab picnic table or sit on a blanket under the setting sun while listening to live music.

Kick Up Your Heels at James Ranch

Named one of the coolest small towns in America, Durango sits in sunny, Southwestern Colorado. A gateway for all your itineraries. Enjoy Mesa Verde National Park, Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge or any of the outdoor activities to excite even the most novice adventurer!

Hampton Inn - Durango

Join us in our new location and let us serve you with love through our amazing food and service. Stop in and enjoy fun and exciting flavor combinations that will have you coming back for more!

The Yellow Carrot

Experience the adventure of traveling by a historic steam-powered or diesel locomotive on the same tracks miners, cowboys and settlers of the Old West took over a century ago. Wind through spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million-acre San Juan National Forest for an unforgettable journey.

Please note: The Durango &amp; Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is open and is running year-round.

<a href="https://www.durangotrain.com/cascade-canyon-winter-train#.X5cRi1NKi3I/?utm_source=colorado_com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sponsoredarticle">The Cascade Canyon Winter Train</a> and <a href="https://www.durangotrain.com/events/polar-express%E2%84%A2-train-ride#.X5cRxlNKi3I/?utm_source=colorado_com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sponsoredarticle">The POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride</a> begin running mid-November. 

<a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/durango-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-train-colorado-backcountry-packages">Read more about adventures on the Durango Train.</a>

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum

See soaring geological features and fantastic scenery on this short excursion in an <a href="https://www.durangotrain.com/">open-air gondola</a>.

Ride the Cascade Canyon Express

Chimayo Stone Fired Kitchen is a modern American bistro. We specialize in from-scratch Southwestern and Mediterranean cuisine, featuring fresh salads, small plates, artisanal pizzas, fire-roasted steaks, seafood and Latin-inspired entrees-all uniquely prepared in our stone-fired hearth ovens.

Chimayo Stone Fired Kitchen

From fashionable dresses to mountain-inspired decor to ski gear and toys, Durango is full of shops with the best souvenirs for you.

Find the Best Souvenirs

One of the most unique dining experiences in Durango can be found at Primi Pasta and Wine Bar. The owners of Primi brought the tastes of their travels to Italy back with them to Colorado to serve up authentic, handmade Italian foods and Italian wine in the area.

Primi Pasta & Wine Bar

Attend one of the classical concerts held each July at Music in the Mountains.

Attend Music in the Mountains

Hop on CO-240 for 30 minutes to Vallecito for the night.

Head to Vallecito

Pine River Lodge offers 27 Cabins nestled under huge Pines overlooking Vallecito Lake. Each cabin has a Full Kitchen, Separate Bedrooms ( King, Queen, or Double bed), 1 to 2 1/2 Baths, A/C, Decks/Porches, Satellite TV, BBQ grill, &amp; Firepit. Cabins are located 75 feet to 350 yards from the Vallecito lakeshore. Families &amp; Family Reunions will enjoy the Huge Playground/picnic area and Indoor Pool. For your convenience we have a guest Laundry, the Office has Central WI/F, &amp; Guest Business Center. Here at the lake - Hiking Trails in both the San Juan National Forest &amp; Weminuche Wilderness, Fishing from rental Boats or shoreline, boat ramp for your boat, &amp; Restaurants if you don't want to cook! Vallecito is home to a large variety of birds including both Bald &amp; Golden Eagles &amp; Osprey! At the end of a fun filled day enjoy a beautiful shimmering moon over the lake with a multitude of stars overhead. Winter activities include cross country skiing or snow shoeing on the Nordick Trail &amp; ice fishing. Purgatory &amp; Wolf Creek ski areas are approximately 1.5 hours away.

Pine River Lodge

Home to La Comida Ranchera Mexican Food Restaurant &amp; Vallecito Liquors. We have Groceries, Gas, Propane, Ice Cream, Beverages, Espresso, Fudge, &amp; More.

Vallecito Lake Country Market

Vallecito Lake is the premier recreational lake in the Four Corners. Offering fishing boat, pontoon boat, kayak, SUP, and canoe rentals along with slips, buoy service, fuel, and store, Vallecito Marina is a full service operation open 7 days a week from May through Sept

Vallecito Marina

Our lunch and dinner menu features specialty burgers and Colorado Craft beers, while our Start Fresh breakfast menu focuses on the morning classics. Thirteen high definition TV's promise no bad seat in the house, and our daily Hoppy Hour will keep your glass full!

Gray Copper Tavern

Duranglers Flies and Supplies is the premier fly shop and fly fishing guide service in the Four Corners region.  Located in Durango, Colorado, we guide on the San Juan River Tailwater,  Animas, Los Pinos, Dolores, Rio Grande, Piedra, and high mountain creeks.

Duranglers Flies & Supplies

The <a href="https://thesanjuanangler.com/">San Juan Angler</a> also offers a local guide service for fly-fishing.

San Juan Angler

Enjoy handcrafted cuisine while stepping back in time in the ambiance of the Victorian Old West as we serve you an array of eclectic culinary specialties. Handcut Steaks, seafood, and vegetarian options. In-house sommelier, full-bar, great wine selection.

Mahogany Grille

Taste test title-holding craft beverages around Durango.

Sample Local Beer, Wine and Spirits

Trip Advisor ranked #2 for guest satisfaction. Our clean, newly renovated 25 room motel features flat screen TV's, exceptional in room WI-FI, mini fridge &amp; microwave. Our friendly staff is happy to help guide you to Durango's treasures; brews, culinary or scenic.

Adventure Inn Durango

Fresh homemade breads, pastries, cookies and deli sandwiches served daily in this popular bakery - a gathering spot for breakfast and lunch. From whole wheat to rye, and from ginger snaps to scones, Bread is fast, friendly and fantastic.

Bread

Durango's rafting companies are just waiting to take you on the adventure of a lifetime.

Raft the Animas River

Serving wraps grilled to order on our fresh, homemade dough.

RGP's Flame Grilled Wraps

The 1904 Animas city school building is a charming local history museum which offers a variety of exhibits and programs for all ages. It's also home to a research library and photo archives.

Animas Museum

Seven small, but robust food truck options encircle the original service station now turned Ernie’s Bar, which pours craft brews, libations, coffee and more. From tacos to pizza, sushi to Indonesian cuisine, these independent food truck kitchens can cure any craving.

11th Street Station

Colorado's newest scenic byway, offers access to dramatic mountain scenery and layers of history, from the storied pasts of our earliest American Indian inhabitants to the golden age of railroad travel and rise of Wild West towns bustling with gold-seekers.

Tracks Across Borders Scenic & Historic Byway

The General Palmer Hotel is a prestigious, Victorian-style hotel. The Historic General Palmer Hotel will pamper you with, luxury, service, and first-class amenities. Helping you to "Create memories that will last a life time".

General Palmer Hotel

Oscar's Cafe - A 50's style diner serving award winning breakfast and lunch. We are a family operated cafe for the last years. Voted a local's favorite!

Oscar's Cafe

The Main Avenue of Durango is lined with historic buildings just waiting to tell you their story.

Go on a Historic Walking Tour

Breakfast and Lunch Sandwiches Bagels right next to where main meets the train.

Durango Bagel

Durango's scenery is exquisite, so learn how to take the perfect photo of it at a workshop hosted by Over the Hill Outfitters.

Take a Photography Workshop

If you're standing in the Diamond Belle Saloon, located in Durango, Colorado, you just may have stepped back in time. Revered as one of the most famous original ragtime piano bars in the Wild West, the Belle plays host to the world's finest ragtime entertainers.

Diamond Belle Saloon

Lay your head to rest under a blanket of stars at this Silverton campground.