About Durango CO

Durango, Colorado, nestled in the southwest corner of Colorado, may be best known for its close proximity to Four Corners National Monument - the only place in the U.S. where four states - Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado - intersect. Visitors can take in the incredible view of all four states from the vantage point set in the Navajo Nation. 

With an elevation of 6,512 feet, this historic mountain town lies at the foot of the San Juan Mountains in San Juan National Forest. Purgatory Ski resort overlooks the town from its perch 25 miles north of town with 88 trails, 10 lifts and 206 inches of snow per season.and close proximity to Four Corners National Monument. It is the only place in the U.S. where four states - Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado - intersect. Visitors can take in the incredible view of all four states from the vantage point set in the Navajo Nation. 

With an elevation of 6,512 feet, this historic mountain town lies at the foot of the San Juan Mountains in San Juan National Forest. Purgatory Ski resort overlooks the town from its perch 25 miles north of town with 88 trails, 10 lifts and 206 inches of snow per season.

Recreation

The possibilities for outdoor recreation in the Durango area are limitless! They include off-roading, white water rafting, skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing, backpacking, hiking, camping, ziplining, horseback riding and enjoying the pristine beauty of nearby Valecito Lake. But perhaps the most famous attractions and reason tourists flock to the area, are the astounding ancient Native American ruins. Days can be spent exploring the former homes of  natives at Hoveweep, Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, Chaco Canyon and the Aztec ruins. The newest national monument, Chimney Rock, was a sacred site used as a celestial observatory and seasonal calendar for the Puebloan tribe over 1,000 years ago.

Entertainment

People of all ages can enjoy a scenic ride aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that winds through he majestic mountains and spectacular canyons of San Juan National Forest. The coal-fired, steam powered locomotive has been in continuous operation since 1882. At Christmas time, the train is magically transformed into a Polar Express, based on the award-winning book. All of the characters from the book come to life on the train with a final destination of the North Pole and a visit to Santa and his elves!  

Arts & Culture

Culture is on full display in Durango's historic downtown among the art galleries, live music venues, live theaters and museums. The town also offers many food and drink establishments - breweries, cafes, diners, coffee shops and restaurants. Durango is proud of their farm to table eateries that serve locally grown organic food and beef raised locally.

Schools

With a comfortable population of 17,557 (2013 census), Durango is a lively, energetic college town home to Fort Lewis College with an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students. For the younger students, the city provides public, private and charter schools. Durango's public schools rank at the higher end of Sperling's rating spectrum with scores ranking 7-9 out of 10. 

Climate

The Durango climate is fairly typical of a Colorado mountain town with summer highs in the 80s and lows in the 40-50s. Winter highs are in the 40s and lows in the teens. Durango residents enjoys an average of 266 days of sunshine per year. The average annual rainfall is 20 inches and average snowfall is 106 inches, perfect for creating a Winter Wonderland!