Durango is a region in southwestern Colorado known for its diverse landscapes, ranging from high-desert terrain to alpine forests, making it suitable for a variety of outdoor pursuits. The San Juan Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop, offering extensive trail networks for high-country adventures. The Animas River flows through downtown, complementing the region's natural features. This geographical variety supports several sports like road cycling, hiking, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more.
For those seeking outdoor activities,…
239
Routes
4.7
(504)
Average rating
6589
People visited
4.0
(3)
5
hikers
21.0km
07:16
1,020m
1,020m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
4.8
(26)
101
hikers
10.8km
03:13
340m
340m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.2
(52)
75
hikers
13.1km
03:26
100m
100m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
5.0
(2)
59
hikers
9.18km
02:22
40m
40m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5
runners
21.0km
03:11
1,030m
1,030m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
100
runners
11.5km
01:12
50m
50m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
5.0
(3)
45
runners
12.4km
01:26
330m
330m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
5.0
(1)
44
runners
14.3km
01:53
520m
520m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.
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4.9
(23)
147
riders
25.2km
02:56
890m
890m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
5.0
(7)
74
riders
29.8km
01:46
270m
270m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
5.0
(11)
68
riders
28.4km
01:58
410m
410m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
5.0
(17)
111
riders
33.2km
03:15
920m
920m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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17
riders
27.4km
02:03
550m
540m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
8
riders
51.0km
03:55
1,060m
1,060m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
19
riders
20.0km
01:39
470m
470m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
18
riders
35.8km
02:34
620m
620m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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56
riders
41.5km
04:26
1,060m
1,060m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
4.4
(5)
431
riders
40.6km
01:50
350m
350m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
5.0
(4)
335
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
276
riders
72.8km
03:26
870m
870m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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26
riders
36.2km
02:49
890m
890m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
3.0
(2)
83
riders
27.5km
01:43
240m
240m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
87
riders
34.5km
03:16
980m
980m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
5.0
(4)
68
riders
32.8km
03:12
930m
930m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Durango offers a variety of outdoor activities including Road cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. The region features over 240 routes across diverse landscapes, from high-desert terrain to alpine forests.
Road cyclists can explore routes like the Lake Nighthorse and Wildcat Canyon Loop, which is around 15 miles (24 km). The Baker's Bridge loop is approximately 30 miles (48 km). Longer trips to Navajo Reservoir or Silverton via Highway 550 are also available. More details can be found in the Road Cycling Routes around Durango guide.
Hiking trails in Durango range from the mostly flat Falls Creek Loop to challenging routes like Engineer Mountain and sections of the Colorado Trail. Mesa Verde National Park, a short drive from Durango, also offers miles of hiking trails. For more options, consult the Hiking around Durango guide.
Durango provides extensive mountain biking opportunities, including popular areas like Twin Buttes, Horse Gulch, Overend Mountain Park (also known as Test Tracks), and Dry Fork. Purgatory Resort offers challenging singletrack and downhill runs. The MTB Trails around Durango guide provides further information.
Yes, the Animas River Trail is a hard-surface, shared-use path suitable for all ages and skill levels, ideal for casual cycling and walking. The Falls Creek Loop offers a mostly flat hiking experience. Many trail systems are designed to accommodate various abilities.
The region features the majestic San Juan Mountains, the Animas River flowing through downtown, and Lake Nighthorse for water activities. Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also nearby. The diverse ecosystems range from high-desert terrain to alpine forests.
Many trailheads and water access points are conveniently located within a 45-minute drive of downtown Durango. Several trail systems, such as Horse Gulch and those on the Fort Lewis College Mesa, are situated directly in town, offering easy access.
Durango offers year-round recreation. While summer is popular for hiking and biking, the region also supports winter activities. These include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking, allowing for diverse outdoor experiences throughout the year.
Durango's outdoor routes are highly regarded on komoot, with more than 13,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes have an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on nearly 600 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for Durango, including Road Cycling Routes around Durango, Hiking around Durango, MTB Trails around Durango, Cycling around Durango, Running Trails around Durango, Gravel biking around Durango, and Mountain Hikes around Durango.
The Durango Visitor Information Center can be reached by phone at (970) 247-3500. For group sales inquiries, the numbers are (970) 459-9055 or (866) 631-7013. The official tourism website is VisitDurango.com.
Durango is popular for various cycling disciplines, including road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and gravel biking. The region's diverse terrain supports everything from paved scenic routes to challenging singletrack and high-country trails.