Base Camp Durango - You only have to unpack once.
Mesa Verde Country
Situated in the hills just 35 miles west of Durango,
Mesa Verde Country is the archaeological center of America. Mesa Verde
Country is home to Mesa Verde National Park, the Ute Mountain Tribal
Park, Hovenweep National Monument, the Anasazi Heritage Center, and
Crow Canyon Archaeological
Center. Mesa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
offers
an unforgettable and rare opportunity to see and experience the life
of the
Ancestral Puebloans. The park is open year-round and visitors may walk,
drive, or take a bus tour to experience thousands of archaeological
sites,
excellent interpretive loops, and scenic pullouts. Mesa Verde Country
is an
essential element of a southwest Colorado itinerary, and only a short
drive
from Durango.
Silverton, Colorado
The town of Silverton was founded in 1874 and
is now a National Historic Landmark. Silverton is nestled in a mountain
valley at 9,318 feet, surrounded by the San Juan National Forest
and thousands of acres of public land, and offers both recreation and
solitude, along with unparalleled natural beauty, and magnificent Old
Victorian charm. The buildings and mining-laden hillsides reflect a
simpler day of a bygone era, as does the Silverton lifestyle. It’s
a wonderful day-trip, situated just 49 miles north of Durango along
the scenic San Juan Skyway.
Ouray, Colorado
North of Silverton, just beyond the stretch of the
San Juan Skyway called the “Million Dollar Highway”, lies
the treasured town of Ouray (you-ray). The Million Dollar Highway is
one of the most scenic and spectacular mountain drives in North America.
This famous section of the Skyway winds through the iron-colored Red
Mountains, along the sheer sides of the Uncompahgre Gorge, through
tunnels and past cascading waterfalls. The town of Ouray is situated
at 7,700 feet, and is frequently referred to by visitors as the “Switzerland
of America” because of its quaint streets, old world charm,
and majestic setting. Ouray is located a scenic 2-hour drive north
from Durango.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Situated in a lush mountain valley surrounded
by pine-covered hills, Pagosa Springs is often considered to be one
of the best-kept secrets in the Four Corners Area. Just one hour east
of Durango along Highway 160, Pagosa Springs is a great day-trip from
Durango for fishing, golfing, hiking, biking and hunting. Additionally,
among the area’s main attractions are a 27-hole championship
golf course, Wolf Creek Ski area, and of course, the “healing
waters” of the Pagosa Hot Springs, one of the world’s largest
mineral springs.
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