Durango Hiking
Durango Hikes | Surrounding Areas

Animas City Mountain
This is an easy half-day hike complete with beautiful vistas of all of Durango and wildlife! There is also a mountain biking trail that parallels the hiking trail. The hike is about 6 miles round trip.

Directions: Take Main Avenue north and take a left (west) on 32nd Street. Follow 32nd street to its end at 4th Avenue, turn right and follow it to the end where you will see a gravel parking lot.

Hogsback
This 2-mile round trip hike is a great day hike . It' s located near the southern boundary of the Durango Mountain Park. Be careful, parts of this hike are steep.

Directions: Follow Main Avenue and go west on 22nd. At the top of Crestview Mesa this street becomes Montview Parkway; continue west to Glenisle, then go south to Leyden, and then west again. Follow this street to the end of Leyden. The trailhead is across the wooden bridge.

Barnroof Point
This moderate 5-mile hike is on the Colorado Wildlife and Bureau of Land Management Property. Plenty of deer, elk and grouse roam this land. At the top there are spectacular views of the La Plata Mountains with a mystical valley in between.

Directions: Go west on U.S. Highway 160 for 3.5 miles -this road turns left sharply. Don't turn left, keep going straight through the gate, park there and begin your hike. This trail is only open
April 1 - Nov. 14.

Dry Creek to Durango
This hike is an easy 5-mile (one way) hike with great opportunities to see wild game, as it is a wildlife feeding area. Deer and elk are seen in abundance, but on a rare occasion, it is possible to see a bear or two.

Directions: Go west on U.S. Highway 160 for 3.5 miles -this road turns left sharply. Don't turn left, keep going straight through the gate. Continue for 2 miles north to where the road splits; take the right side for .25 miles to the cattle guard. Go right and downhill in front of the cattle guard to the parking area and begin your journey. The Division of Wildlife prohibits public access to this area from Nov. 15 - July 15.

Perins Peak
This is a difficult 5-mile hike which offers cool sites and history. This area is home to the endangered Peregrine Falcon, and as a result, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has closed the trail from Nov. 15 - July 15. Up the trail a ways you can see the site of an old mining town, Perins City. You will come upon Boston Coal Mine, one of the largest coal mines in the first 25 years of the 20th century.

Directions: From Main Avenue go west on 22nd. At the top of Crestview Mesa this street becomes Montview Parkway; continue west to Glenisle, then go south to Leyden, and then west again. Follow this street to the end of Leyden. Begin hiking west near the drainage, past the last house on the street. There is a trail following a dried-up (most of the year) stream.

Other Hikes in Surrounding Areas
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Cunningham Gulch
This strenuous hike offers beautiful views and, at the right time of year, an abundance of colorful wildflowers. This hike is 2.6 miles one way and its trailhead is at 10,500 feet.

Directions: From the junction of U.S. Highway 550 and CO 110 at the Southwest end of Silverton drive northeast on CO 110 (Greene Street) through Silverton. 1 mile from the junction, go right (east), staying on CO 110. Go 4.1 miles and take a right on San Juan CR 4 (Forest Service Road 589) toward Stony Pass. After 1.7 miles the road forks, keep right (south) on CR 4A, go 1.7 miles to another fork. If you don't have 4-WD, park here. If you do have 4-WD, continue across the creek. Keep to the right as the road switchbacks to the top of the unmarked trailhead.

Fourmile Lake Loop
This hike is a moderate to strenuous 13.2 mile loop. This scenic lake hike is a lengthy one-day trek or a pleasant two-day backpack trip. On this hike you will be bombarded with wonderful sights like waterfalls, wildflowers, wildlife, and a beautiful lake. The trail begins at an elevation of just under 9,000 feet.

Directions: head west on U.S. Highway 160 from the junction of Hot Springs Boulevard and 160 in downtown Pagosa Springs. After 0.2 miles, take a right (north) on Lewis Street. The road forks immediately; keep straight (north), driving on paved Fourmile Rd. (Archuleta CR 400). In 7.3 miles, the road becomes Forest Road 645. You will enter the San Juan National Forest. Drive another 1.3 miles to a fork with Forest Road 634, keep to the right (northeast) here on Forest Road 645. Continue for another 4.6 miles to unmarked trailhead. There are no facilities.

Vallecito Creek Trail
A breathtaking hike along a creek with pools and waterfalls. The first few miles are terrific for a day hike or the entire trail is excellent for a 4- to 5-day backpack trip. This hike is easy to moderate for the first few miles, but as you go up further it gets a bit strenuous. The trail is 19.5 miles one way and begins at 8,000 feet.

Directions: This hike is 18 miles east of Durango via U.S. Highway 160. From Bayfield: head north on Vallecito Lake Road (La Plata CR 501). After 18.8 miles the road forks, bear left (North) for 2.8 miles on La Plata CR 500 to reach Vallecito Campground and trailhead parking. There is a picnic area and outhouse at the trailhead.