Durango, CO
Durango is a fantastic small town located in southwest Colorado with so much to do. There is no way we can cover everything here, so we will focus on some of the highlights of our trip.
Going to Durango, CO for a long weekend? Follow our footsteps! Above is a Map of places we visited! Everything shown here is within a couple hours’ drive from Durango.
Purgatory Ski Resort
This is a great place to set up your base camp. The ski resort had several events going on while we were there during the summer. Our guess is that it’s a solid place to ski in the winter! Our hotel had access to an included sauna and hot tub. Durango is an expensive town and we found summer prices at Purgatory were less compared to Durango.
Ouray, CO
Ouray, CO is the farthest north we cover. Ouray is known as the “Swiss of the Americas” and didn’t disappoint. The area has some incredible mountains, beautiful waterfalls, and awesome hot springs. They have dedicated pool areas for the hot springs so bring a bathing suit! Cascade Falls (pictured) was one of the hikes in the area. Cascade Falls is a short hard hike, but it follows a picturesque creek and has an option to continue to climb higher for more views. Free parking is provided.
Bear Creek Falls (View Only)
This view is right outside of Ouray. It is a quick park and stop along the highway for some amazing pictures. Free Parking is provided.
Little Molas Lake
Little Molas lake is right off the main highway. It is a small lake nestled in the mountains and is incredibly beautiful. There are several hikes that start here with camping spots along the way. We suggest that you take time to find a path to hike. Free parking is provided.
Molas Pass
Molas Pass is another quick stop along the highway. There are free public bathrooms here for anyone to use. Take a moment to take a few pictures of this amazing view! Free parking is provided.
Our picture provided was from a different trip we took in April the year before.
Potato Lake
MUST SEE (If road allows):
Potato Lake (or Spud Lake) is one of our favorite hikes in Durango. The trailhead is located 2.8 miles down Lime Creek Road which is a rocky dirt road. We suggest getting a crossover sized vehicle or larger to attempt this road. There are plenty of rocks to bottom out your vehicle and plenty of opportunities to get your vehicle stuck in the mud if the road is wet.
The trailhead parking lot is not well marked but is still very apparent. There are plenty of places to park for free off to the left of the road. The trailhead and trail are both well marked and Once you get on the trail, you will see forest area, small creeks, views of the surrounding mountains, and at the top a beautiful view of the lake (pictured). The trail is an easy to moderate hike and is 2 miles round trip.
Mesa Verde
MUST SEE:
Entrance Fee: $15 per Vehicle
Stop at the Visitor Center for a map and tickets to enter the cliff dwellings.
Mesa Verde is a National Park near Durango. The drive itself changes from a temperate forest to a semi-arid desert in just a 36 mile drive. The park is filled with amazing views and a fascinating history. The park was established in 1906 to preserve the archeological heritage of the Pueblo people.
In Mesa Verde, you can see overlooks of the beautiful surrounding area, amazing wildlife, and the archeological evidence leftover from when the Pueblos inhabited the area. The park protects 5000 archeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings.
Overlooks
There is no lack of views from Mesa Verde. Three of the main views are marked on the provided Mesa Verde map along the top. All of the marked views offer free parking, a restroom, and a short hike.
Balcony House
MUST SEE:
Ticket Fee: $5/person
Buy tickets at visitor center before entering the park.
The Balcony House is known as the adventurous cliff dwelling. You can see this cliff dwelling by tour only. You will be able to hike down below the cliff dwelling and climb a ladder to actually go into the dwelling. Parking to see this dwelling is free and you will meet your tour guide at the entrance to the hike.
Cliff Palace
MUST SEE:
Ticket Fee: $5/person
Buy tickets at visitor center before entering the park.
The Cliff Palace is a large cliff dwelling and is a spectacular visit. This is the largest cliff dwelling you can visit in the park. You will go down a large staircase into the dwelling and be able to see up close the archeological evidence of the Pueblos living there. You can see this cliff dwelling by tour only. Parking to see this dwelling is free and you will meet your tour guide at the entrance to the hike.
Our Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Durango around 3 PM. Grab rental car, grab lunch, stop by a grocery store, and head to the hotel for the night. Enjoy the scenery and hot tub.
Day 2: Head to Potato Lake. Spend the morning driving off road to the parking lot, hiking, and returning. Follow the highway up to Silverton. Along the way stop at Molas Pass for pictures. Stop for lunch in Silverton. Drive to Ouray and visit the hot springs and hike to Cascade Falls. Head to Bear Creek Falls for a picture. Drive to Little Molas Lake and hike around. Return to the hotel for dinner, much needed rest, and the hot tub.
Day 3: Drive to Mesa Verde and stop at the visitor center. Mesa Verde takes a full day to explore! Take several tours of the Cliff Dwellings and stop for views at the overlooks.
Day 4: Spend the day celebrating a friend’s wedding!
Day 5: Head home.
Cost
Flights for us (HSV to Durango) (United): $270 x 2 = $540
Rental Car: $230
1 – 4 Night in Durango: $460 (Caught this on a special)(Purgatory Ski Resort)
Mesa Verde Park Pass: $15 per vehicle
Mesa Verde Cliff Dwelling Tours: $10 per person for 2 tours = $20
Total: $1265 for 5 Days/2 adults
Eat Like a Local
Places to eat: Suggestions from locals
- Steamworks Brewery $$ – Map
- Homeslice Pizza $$ – Map
- El Moro $$$ – Map
- Zia Taqueria $ – Map
- Rice Monkey $$ – Map
- Grassburger $$ – Map
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