Durango, Colorado

Durango, Colorado Downtown

Picture the perfect western mountain town, and it would probably look a lot like Durango, Colorado. Durango is the biggest and busiest city in these parts, and it's slightly more refined than its northern neighbor Silverton (our next stop). Yet, the city holds onto its turn-of-the-20th-century charm with a great downtown filled with brick-front stores and restaurants.

Strater Hotel, Downtown Durango, Colorado

Another shot down Durango's Main Avenue. The building in the center of the picture is the historic Strater Hotel, a fixture in downtown Durango since 1887. Each of the hotel's 93 rooms are decorated in the Victorian style, and filled with fine antiques.

You can check prices at the Strater Hotel's website. While the smallest room during the busy summer season will probably cost you at least $150, that's not much more expensive than the run-of-the-mill chain motels nearby.

Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Station

Most visitors who visit Durango plan their visit around a ride on the incredibly scenic D&SNGRR, or Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The old steam engines chug through the San Juan Mountains, departing as many as four times daily during the busy season. Winter trips are available as well, but they don't go all the way to Silverton.

Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Station

While a train ride to Silverton will probably cost you $60 or more, access to the train station, the rail yard, and of course the gift shops, is free.

"Narrow Gauge" means the train's tracks are closer together than a standard railroad. The narrower width made the railroad easier to construct, as it navigated sharp turns in the mountains. Among other facts you'll find on the train's website:
-The train is coal-fired
-The engines can reach a top speed of 18 mph
-The locomotives used on a daily basis were built in 1923 and 1925

I returned to Durango in 2006. You can check out my second visit here.

<< Previous
Colorado Hotels
Colorado Attractions Map
Request Free Brochures on Colorado
Next >>

Telluride: Bridal Veil Falls
Tomboy Road
Tomboy Ghost Town
San Juan Skyway

Silverton
4wd Roads Near Silverton
Million Dollar Highway

Share your thoughts!

In order to better manage your comments, TakeMyTrip now uses Facebook to allow you to leave comments for other visitors to this page, and your friends. Please use the form above (you might need to log into your Facebook account first). If you have a message specifically meant for the website creator, send an email to feedback takemytrip.com. And don't forget to LIKE TakeMyTrip.com's Facebook page!

Day 6
<< Previous | Next >>

Follow TakeMyTrip on

The Hotel Telluride
229.00 - 269.00

Cortez Super 8 Motel
74.89 - 81.89

Cortez-Days Inn
80.99 - 114.99

National 9 Inn Sand Canyon -Cortez
48.60 - 76.00

Cortez Travelodge
52.01 - 69.01

Durango/Purgatory Super 8 Motel
95.88 - 115.88

Historic Strater Hotel Durango
175.00

Wyndham Durango
109.80 - 122.00

View this website's best photos in the Gallery

Colorado Travel
Photography Tours
Family Vacations
Hiking & Trekking Pkgs.

Keywords:
Colorado San Juan Skyway Durango Train Station Silverton Narrow Gauge

I welcome your feedback. Your thoughts will make this a better website. Click Here to Contact Me.
All photographs on this website may be available for purchase. Many are featured in the Gallery.
Click here for information on ordering prints.