Durango Area Campgrounds

Durango Area Campgrounds

Durango owes its origin to industry, namely smelting the ore brought down the Las Animas River valley from Ouray. Though tourism is now the main source of revenue in the area, the town still carries an air of hard work. A hint of soot still graces its buildings. Though the town has no direct views of soaring peaks, a short drive in any direction but south will add those views to the skyline. The big draw here is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which hauls 200,000 travelers a year through the San Juan Mountains. If you’re looking for a unique experience, check out the RailCamp, which allows you to “camp” in the wilderness in a modified railroad car parked off the main line. Southern Colorado’s finest dining can be found among the restaurants of Durango. Other activities include swimming in the municipal pool, playing tennis, touring museums, golfing, and soaking in the hot springs. For something to do outside the confines of the city, look for rafting trips, glider soaring, four-wheel driving, and horseback riding. There’s enough here to keep a family occupied for a week or more. To the northeast of town lies the lovely Vallecito Reservoir, which offers a wealth of activities all its own. Water sports such as skiing, tubing, and boating rule, but the lake has been known to produce some trophy-sized fish. There is no shortage of campsites in the area. Navajo State Park straddles the New Mexico border and adds 71 sites to the mix of national forest camps found throughout the area. Campgrounds included in this eTrail are: Navajo State Recreation Area, Haviland Lake, Junction Creek, Lower Piedra, Pine River, Purgatory, Transfer Park, Vallecito Reservoir (Graham Creek and Old Timers, Middle Mountain, North Canyon, Pine Point), and Vallecito.

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