Hotels in Durango, Colorado

A little about Durango...

Durango (Navajo: Kinlání) is a city in La Plata County, Colorado (USA). According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 15,501. It is the county seat of La Plata County.

Durango is nestled in the Animas River Valley surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. The Animas River - El Río de las Animas Perdidas or the River of Lost Souls - runs through downtown and boasts gold medal fly-fishing waters and is very popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking and canœing. Durango is an outdoor activity paradise - Hiking, mountain biking, road biking, backpacking, rock climbing, hunting, year-round fishing, kayaking, rafting and golfing - to name just a few.

In the winter, Durango has easy access to five major ski areas, including Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, located just 30 minutes north of downtown. Located 35 miles west of Durango is Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Ancestral Puebloan Cliff Dwellings. Durango is also well known for another historical attraction, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a heritage railway which travels from Durango to the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado on steam-powered trains with rolling stock dating back to the 1920s and before.

Purgatory Mountain:
Nearest city: Durango, Colorado
Base Elevation: 8,793 ft (2,680m)
Top Elevation: 10,822 ft (3,299m)
Vertical Drop: 2,029 ft (618m)
Skiable Area: 1,200 acres (486 hectares)
Number of Lifts: 10 lifts
Uphill Lift Capacity 15,050/hour
Types of Lifts: 1 High Speed Six Person
1 High Speed Quad
4 Triple Chairlifts
3 Double Chairlifts
1 Magic Carpet
Number of Trails: 85 Trails
Trail Ratings: 23% Beginner
51% Intermediate
26% Advanced/Expert
Terrain Parks: 2-Paradise Freestyle Arena
Pitchfork Terrain Garden

Also Durango is home to the Snowdown Festival , an event which includes fireworks and a parade. The centerpiece, the parade, usually occurs the last Friday of January or the first Friday of February.

Fort Lewis College is situated on a 500ft mesa (bluff) overlooking downtown Durango, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Pueblo Community College is a small community college located on Camino del Rio. San Juan Technical College, located outside of Cortez, Colorado, 45 miles away, offers EMT certification in Durango.