General Information

Elevation
6,512 feet above sea level.

Climate
Transition zone between semi- arid and mountain, summer daytime temps in the 70's and 80's, nighttime lows in the 50's.

Population
Approximately 15,000 in Durango. Approximately 44,000 in La Plata County.

Town History
Durango was founded in 1880 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, when they extended their line from Durango to Silverton in order to haul precious metals from high country mines. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad now hauls only tourists. Last year about 200,000 people rode the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

National Forest
San Juan National Forest

Mountain Range
San Juan Range of the Rocky Mountains

Special Events
Durango offers a wide range of events throughout the year for all types of interests. Visit www.durango.org for the special event calendar.

Movies
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, City Slickers, Cliffhanger, National Lampoons' Vacation, Night Passage, Ticket to Tomahawk, Around the World in Eighty Days, How the West Was Won, and Tracker are just some of the many Hollywood classis filmed in the area.

Ski Resort
Durango Mountain Resort, formerly Purgatory Resort, is located 25 miles north of Durango. 1200 acres of terrain is served by 11 lifts with an average snowfall of 260 inches and 2,029 feet of vertical drop. Offer a wide range of summer and winter events and activities. The Alpine Slide, winding mountain slide, is open from early June to early September.

Casino
Slot machines, blackjack, poker, video poker, keno and bingo are available at the Sky Ute Casino and Lodge, less than 30 minute drive from Durango.

D&SNGRR
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been in continuous operation for over 120 years. Two museums display at either end of the line. The Durango museum located in the roundhouse of the D&SNGRR offers 12,000 square feet of exhibit space with full-size locomotives, historic coaches, railroad collectibles, books, lamps, locks, art, photos and china. Guests also enjoy an up close view of the "Working" portion of the roundhouse, where skilled mechanics keep the train's vintage coal fired, steam-operated locomotives in tip-top condition. The Silverton depot is home to an intimate mining exhibit and freight yard museum.

Archaeological Sites
Southwest Colorado is the archeological center for the United States. Explore the ancient dwellings once inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans at Mesa Verde National Park. The park was selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of The Best Places of a Lifetime to Visit as well as named the #1 Monument in the World by Condé Naste Traveler. Take a longer trip and also visit Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Chimney Rock, the Anasazi Heritage Museum, Hovenweep. Canyon of the Ancients National Monument and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park are also within an hour's drive of the Durango area.

Museums
Visit the Center for Southwest Studies, the Southern Ute Cultural Center, the Animas History Museum and Durango & Silverton round house museum. The Grand Motorcar and Piano Museum exhibits a million-dollar collection of antique cars.

Culture & Arts
Durango offers a wide variety of art galleries and art walks. The 17,000 sq. ft. Art Centers sponsors multiple exhibitions year-round.

Camping
Over 900 campsites within a 40-mile radius of Durango.