Durango Hotel Guide

Tucked away in the southwestern corner of Colorado, almost 400 miles from the state capital, Durango may seem about as remote as it gets. But hours away from any major population center is exactly where this easygoing town wants to be.

For the more than 14,000 residents and hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit each year, Durango isn't in the middle of nothing. It's right in the middle of everything.

Durango was founded at the rim of the San Juan Mountains in 1881 as a railroad hub to transport precious metals from nearby mining villages. But after the gold rush died down, the town looked up to find itself in the midst of another natural resource: the spectacular splendor of the surrounding environment.

While strongly hanging onto its history, Durango has transformed itself over the years from a mining town into a Mecca of another sort. With countless miles of world-class mountain biking trails, a nearby ski resort, its own natural hot springs and a navigable river running right through town, Durango has become an outdoor-lover's dream destination.

The area's big wintertime draw is the ski center 25 miles north of town - Durango Mountain Resort (once tantalizingly called Purgatory), which, like Durango itself, bills itself as a likable alternative to more chichi vacation spots. Alpine aficionados can choose the convenience of slopeside lodging, or they can opt for accommodation closer to the more happening heart of town.

Unlike other ski areas that turn into ghost towns in summer, Durango prides itself on being a year-round player. In fact, summer is the town's peak season. Come springtime, skiers and snowmobilers are replaced by mountain bikers racing around Durango Mountain and nearby areas. Rafting and kayaking in the Animas River, fishing at local waterways and golfing at one of Durango's three courses round out the warm-weather selections.

But since the town itself was founded by a railroad company, perhaps it makes sense that one of the area's biggest attractions is its historic 120-year-old train. Over 200,000 passengers per year are impressed by the scenery of rugged canyons and picturesque valleys en route from Durango to Silverton, a quaint Victorian village to the north. History buffs who come for the train will likely enjoy a stay in downtown Durango, where some of the old Victorian hotels are tourist attractions in themselves.

Nearly four hours by car from Santa Fe and six from Denver, Durango can hardly be considered in the neighborhood. But thanks to almost 20 daily flights on both major and minor carriers at the Durango/La Plata County airport, Durango's not as out of the way as it used to be. As for getting around the town itself, a trolley runs up and down Main Avenue, and many hotels offer shuttle service to the ski area, but a car is a necessity for anything beyond these basic routes.

Due primarily to the fair-weather popularity of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango lodging is definitely seasonal. Accommodation at the height of the train's summer calendar is tighter and more expensive than at other times of the year. This, however, is music to skiers' ears, as Durango is one of the few ski towns where most rates actually go down during the winter.

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