By: Sarah Frey
I recently got back from a wonderful outdoor adventure to Durango, Colorado. It is a gorgeous small town nestled within the San Juan Mountains, near the Animas River, that seems to be a quiet haven for rock climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts alike. Whatever you choose, Durango is likely to have your journey waiting. From zip-lining, white water rafting, to hiking, or climbing—whether off-road or on the trail—Durango has plenty of options. If ever there was a place considered an adventurer’s introduction to paradise, this is it.
Lodging: Local Living
While my boyfriend, his family, and I were in Durango we wanted to live like the locals. On the drive through town when we first arrived, I could see some decent hotels amid the shops and stores, but I was completely in awe when we arrived at our home for the week. We rented a cabin about twenty minutes outside of town using a service like Airbnb called VRBO in Durango. If you really want to get the most of your experience on a trip, I recommend giving this route a shot. That way, you don’t just get to experience the culture, you get to live it! Staying in a hotel has never really been our style, and local living gives a more genuine and memorable experience of the trip. And besides, finding a cabin to stay in provides unbeatable views to boot. Waking up every morning in Durango Colorado to the mountains and a lake was nothing short of breathtaking.
Essential Shopping
Groceries:
Hand in hand with choosing to live locally on a trip are the visits you will need to take to the grocery store. For us, natural and organic is the way to go, so we made sure to stop by one of the local Co-ops when we collected our supplies. Any visit to the store to get the food items you need will rest on the length of your stay. Collecting groceries accordingly is important, because you will not want to purchase too much at once, and it isn’t ideal to have to run to the store every day of the trip. Staying properly hydrated is incredibly important too, even more so if visiting Durango means dealing with elevation changes, so make sure that you visit the beverage aisle and stock up with water. Besides that, not everyone likes to cook for themselves, so restaurants are always a valid option for the days you do not have the desire to cook.
Gear:
When heading to an outdoor hot spot like Durango Colorado, making sure you have all the gear you will need for your excursion is a must! My boyfriend and I found ourselves needing a few additional rock-climbing supplies for our adventures, so we chose one of the few outdoor stores to venture into. It is best to be prepared and have everything you might need before leaving home, yet sometimes things get missed or you find that you don’t have all the gear and tools you actually need, especially if you haven’t done much in the way of adventuring outside before. The best advice when packing everything is to triple-check your gear, but in the circumstance that something does get missed, Durango has plenty of options that will have your back.
Locals’ Restaurant Recommendation: Tequilas
Restaurants are always important for traveling as the need for sustenance follows you wherever you go. Being able to enjoy food and immerse yourself in every part of the culture is one of the greatest experiences on vacations. One of our days in town, a local offered a recommendation to a restaurant named Tequilas. And let me tell you, the food did not disappoint! This Durango restaurant had so many food choices to pick that it was difficult to decide, but eventually, all four of us chose our meals. By far, my favorite part of the meal was the fried ice cream my boyfriend and I shared for dessert. Sadly, I do not have any pictures to share because it was just so good; even so, I would highly recommend getting the ice cream to go with your meal.
Things to Be Aware Of
Temperature Changes:
When heading outdoors it is important to be aware of your climate. This year Durango weather was warmer than usual when we visited at the beginning of October, but no matter what time of year you decide to visit, the temperature will fluctuate from morning to evening. The temperature varied by at least 20 degrees, with a nice chill in the morning and evening, and reaching up to the upper 70s during the afternoon. Such a wide gap in temperature change means that layering is of utmost importance. Packing a sweatshirt is a must if you are planning a hike where you will leave early in the morning, and if you get chilled easily as most women do, it will be your lifesaver when moving from sun to extended amounts of shade. I noticed when my boyfriend and I were out on the rocks one afternoon that climbing in the shade was much cooler than in the sun, and I actually preferred to keep my long sleeves on during those afternoons. According to a local we talked with on the trails, Durango would normally have snow in October, but as it was unusually warm we needed minimal warm clothing items and could get by with short sleeves and shorts or short sleeves with pants if we chose it.
Altitude:
In addition to temperature changes, dressing for the altitude you are staying at is something to consider as well. As everyone in our troupe was traveling from Minnesota, elevation was higher in Durango Colorado than we were used to. On the days we knew we would be out for several hours, we made sure to pack extra water in our refrigerated backpack along with our snacks.
Biological Needs:
Women have a unique challenge when it comes to being outdoors for an extended time. While it is certainly not the most pleasant thing to discuss, needing “to go” is part of human biology and an important factor when thinking about excursions outdoors. On some trips, you might be able to get away with holding your bladder until you return to the luxury of the cabin, but spending the day outside means there is an inevitability in needing to stop for a bathroom break. Since Durango was my first real adventure into the outdoors, this necessity was a rather uncomfortable lesson to learn, but I quickly learned to come prepared with some toilet paper and a baggie to stash it for any unexpected moments on the trail. Next time I plan to do it as more experienced hikers do—keep a bandana ready to go.
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Activities
Outside of outdoor adventures, there are a few honorable mentions in terms of activities that this town has to offer. Durango is where the outdoors shine, but more than the athletics I spent my time enjoying, there is also a museum here for those that appreciate their history. There are so many more things to do in Durango than I can speak for so I will only mention the activities my boyfriend and I did during our outdoor endeavors.
Turtle Lakes Bouldering:
This private spot was a collection of large boulders hiding within the trees near our cabin home. I was not able to spend as much time there as I would have liked, but the moments I did take there were splendid fun as we tried to climb several different boulder problems. I even got to top out for some cool shots of the area as well. Outdoor climbing is so different from climbing in the gym, and while the gym is great to learn on before working your way outdoors, nothing compares to the experience of problem-solving your way up real rock. Bouldering is a welcome challenge if you’re used to top-roping or sport climbing, and I would highly recommend giving this rock-solid haven a visit just to have a go at trying it yourself. Reaching the top of the rock offers a very satisfying feeling and it is near impossible to beat the gorgeous views.
Rock Climbing:
Lemon Reservoir was actually a bit of a drive from Durango, but despite nearly an hour’s trip from our cabin and the decent hike to follow, it was well worth the effort it took to get there. While the Reservoir offers campgrounds, hiking trails, and horseback riding trails, we were primarily there to spend our time climbing up the granite rockfaces. Our chosen location for rock climbing was picked in advance on the Mountain Project app that showed visuals of the routes and let us know the difficulty of the climb, so anyone new to rock climbing outdoors can easily enjoy the experience. We hiked over fallen trees and up steep rock to get to our routes for the day, and after setting up, we were able to appreciate climbing the rock for the next several hours. There was a consensus among us that we loved this spot so much that we decided to come again on a different day to explore even more of this beautiful area! From the river to the cliffs and the trees, the peace and tranquillity that Lemon Reservoir has to offer its inhabitants is truly awe-inspiring.
Zip-Lining:
On one of our first days in Durango, my boyfriend and I researched the exciting ventures that might be offered to us. Among them, we discovered Durango Adventures and their zip-lining tours. I have always wanted to try zip-lining but never had the opportunity to try, so I was pleasantly surprised to see there was a place for us to engage this thrill. The website offers multiple different tours, but we chose to get the most for our money and picked the largest zip-line tour they offered: the 12-line tour. When we got to Durango Adventures, we went through a video tutorial session with our fellow zip-liners before our two guides took us outside to prep our gear. Soon after, we were geared up and ready to go. After a short hike filled with the banter of our tour guides, and a brief pause to let anyone test out the safety and braking equipment with a cable connected to some trees on flat ground, our troupe finally made it to the first zip-line. Stepping out in faith turned out to be a huge thrill, and two hours of laughter and bonding later, everyone made it safely back to the main building. Not only is zip-lining a great adventure to test yourself with but when thrill-seeking can also become a bonding experience, there is no better opportunity to take a leap outside your comfort zone.
Hiking:
Our last full day in Durango was spent hiking on the Colorado Trail. Starting early in the morning offers a wonderful, brisk air as you get moving forwards. We passed over bridges and streams as we walked up the mountain. We walked with steep, sloping hills to our left and a smattering of rocks and trees above us on our right. The trail took us higher and higher, and before we knew it we were overlooking a valley of trees with mountains in the distance. Here, a local that had passed us by mountain-biking up the trail was resting on a bench and enjoying the view before him. We talked for a while, and it was these moments of very real connection that I found myself so engaged in on the trip. When it was time to head back down, time seemed to simultaneously slow and speed past me. I hopped over rocks and moved fluidly through the bends in the trail. I followed behind my companions and simply enjoyed their company and those who passed us along the way. The trail itself is exceptionally long, and while you are likely to come across a few people on your journey, there are long stretches where it is just you and nature. Even if you do not want to spend more than an hour on this trail the scenery is unquestionably worth your time. Some views are worth every ounce of expended energy to get there.
Final Thoughts
Spending most of my waking hours in the outdoors was a blast, and if I had the chance, I would go back to Durango in an instant. Whether you are traveling solo or accompanied by a partner, Durango is worth the trip! There is so much to do there even in different seasons, and a week can be a challenge to accomplish everything on your list of things to do. From experiencing good food, zipping through the tree line, climbing up sheer cliffs, to soaking up the sun on outdoor hiking adventures, there is so much that is worth the adventure seeker’s time.
What are your impressions of Durango Colorado?
Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Sarah Frey
Avid outdoor adventurer and enthusiast, Sarah enjoys staying active by partaking in various activities from kayaking to nature walks. In the summer, she gets outside to bike, hike, and rock climb as much as she can. In the winter, her climbing is limited to the gym, but she still makes every effort to enjoy the fresh air despite the Minnesotan chill, so she takes to Cross Country skis on the trail.
I would like to do this someday! Colorado is on my list and one thing I want to do is hike and see all that beautiful scenery! Love this post
Thank you! Yes, you definitely should visit Colorado! There are so many beautiful places there even beyond Durango.
Looks dreamy indeed! The photos are totally breathtaking! I miss the heights (it’s very flat where I live and I try to avoid travel due to known reasons)
Durango seems like an interesting place to be. And yeah, I agree with you. Climbing in a shade is better than climbing in the sun. I think that applies to everything. Shades are cooler than sun rays.
Colorado is awesome – so beautiful and incredible! You briefly touched on this, but I want to make sure it’s covered since the altitude and dryness REALLY affect certain people. Make sure to drink more water than you think you need. You’re likely to experience dry skin and feel thirsty more often.
Oh wow, Durango looks incredible. Colorado has always been on our bucket list as outdoor travel lovers. There is so much to see and the sights all look breathtaking. Hopefully, the travel restrictions regarding the border will be lifted soon so that we can go visit the US again!
Yes for sure! What are some other places you’ve visited? I’m always looking to add places to my own bucket list!
Missing those landscapes! I want an outdoor adventure soon! Man, this pandemic hits. This one made me miss hiking.
Seeing this makes me miss the outdoors so much! I’m glad you were able to try zip lining there! The thrill and excitement are truly one of a kind! 🙂
They are one of a kind! I definitely want to go again sometime. 🙂
It seems like such a stunning place to explore. I’d love to go hiking there and see the lovely scenery.
Colorado is such a beautiful state. I have only been once when young. I definitely want to visit again soon.
Durango Colorado looks like fabulous destination. With a lot of activities to do one has a good choice to pick from. I would love to go hiking. Staying with the locals and interacting with them is the real take away. Would love to do it.Thanks for the detailed guide.
For sure! We met a few friendly folks during our stay and it was enjoyable to talk with them, however brief.
I used to live in Colorado. Durango was one place we never got to see. Time to make a trip back!
Sorry to be “that guy” but this blog post showed up in my Google feed this morning, probably because I live in Durango, and I feel compelled to correct one thing for you. The Animas is the River that runs through town, not the mountains. Durango is nestled in the San Juan mountains. Also there is collection of peaks outside town called the La Plata mountains, and there is a small mountain in town called Animas City Mountain, but there are no “Animas Mountains”
I appreciate your willingness to critique me! I should have double-checked with my boyfriend as I was actually unsure about calling them the Animas Mountains. Our cabin was near the Animas and I had latched onto that information without actually confirming it. I should be able to correct this to make the article more accurate though!
Durango Colorado is a place that is perfect for me. There is nothing that I did not like in the list, be it rock climbing or bouldering, I would have loved to have done them. I have visited similar kinds of places where I have camped and hiked around. Something I really love to do. And yes zip lining is an activity that I try to do at most places (if they have) I visit.
Your outdoor adventure at Durango Colorado really looks wonderful and it is truly a nature lovers dream destination. It is good you have given option on where to eat. I would also stop at Tequillas and would have ice-cream after the meal as per your suggestion. Hiking looks great here, though I have never tried zip-lining but would try here as the view must be really breathtaking. Thanks for all tips and suggestions.
I can’t wait to be able to travel again! This looks like it was an amazing trip!
Durango Colorado looks beautiful and has lots to offer. Thank you for the tips for being outside and active as a woman. It’s true we have different sets of challenges than men so it’s good to keep those things in mind when making these types of plans. I have never been to Colorado but hope to visit one day with my girls to explore.
You definitely should! Even if you don’t visit the Durango area there are so many amazing places in Colorado to explore. I’ve been to Colorado several times now and every trip has been a wonderful experience.
What a neat place to visit. This sounds like a great destination for different things to do.
Colorado is famous for its natural landscapes and therefore having a cabin as accomodation is a great idea. Not surprisingly people come rock climbing and bouldering here. The zip lining sounds like good fun and I would like to try it.
From what i’ve read and understood, Colorado is one hell of a place for outdoor and adventure lovers. Am glad you mentioned the point about the fluctuation in the temperatures, as that is something which a lot of people don’t anticipate, and end up falling sick due to the chill.While i love hiking and trekking, i would love to give a shot at bouldering and rock climbing too.
Preparing for the weather is so important. You definitely should give them a shot! If you’ve never been you can always start in a rock climbing gym. I was climbing indoors for about a year and a half before I ventured outside with it and I don’t regret learning one bit.
My husband and I went to Colorado for the second time in March, we are so ready to go again! I’m excited for our kiddos to get a bit older so they can fully appreciate and understand what they are experiencing. This definitely seems like a perfect location!
Colorado is such a magical place for outdoor activities so I love reading articles about the best areas to visit in the beautiful state. I loved the details of living like a local, this is my preferred way to travel so it’s great to hear how others accomplish this as well from the VRBO cabin to the local organic shopping. And all the different activites were inspiring – though I’m not brave enough for bouldering or some of the more extreme options the hiking looked perfect and the views well worth it.
This seems quite adventurous . I love exploring such awesome places,
This looks like an amazing trip! Great tips too! Staying local instead of in a hotel in a beautiful place like this is a great idea.
What a fun, beautiful hike!
What an amazing place! Colorado is on my must see list!
I’m glad you picked the longest zip-line tour. Everytime I’ve ever been, I’m always happy I went with the longer one. Once you really get into it, the time seems to fly.
Yes, and I don’t regret it! I’d love to zip-line again somewhere else too.
I had no idea that Durango, Colorado, offers so many activities for active recreation lovers. The views are fabulous. Turtle Lake Bouldering seems to be challenging for me. But I would like to try zip-lining and hiking in the area for sure. It seems to be a perfect idea for a weekend trip.
Yes, there were so many things I wanted to try that we never had the time to get around to! Zip-lining and hiking are great; there are so many options.
My family and I just visited Durango last summer. You are right, there are so many outdoor adventures await you in this city. And yes, temperature changes from morning to midday to evening. Even in summertime you need a light jacket.
Gorgeous but scary!! I am not great with heights!
Working with heights isn’t actual natural to me either! I started going to a rock climbing gym to work on that fear, and even now the first wall I climb is still scary.
Wow, Durango Colorado looks amazing. Thank you for this detailed guide, especially about the ‘things to be aware of’. It’s very useful for foreign travelers who may not be familiar with the local climate. I think rock climbing is not for me, but I’d definitely enjoy zip lining and hiking there.
I’m glad to provide helpful information to people traveling in the outdoors! This was one of my first trips where the primary focus was to be outside and I wanted to include information I would’ve liked to know before going. You should definitely try ziplining and hiking!