Durango Fall Planning Guide
Activities And Fall Things To Do In Durango (September, October + November)
Plan for your upcoming visit this fall with our fall planning guide. Fall is the optimum time to book a vacation package to Durango, Colorado. Travel+Leisure Magazine includes Durango, Colorado in their article about driving along the Continental Divide. Sherman's Travel named Durango number 4 on their list of Top Ten Easy Fall Weekend Getaways, naming Durango an "easy-going Colorado mountain town" that "proposes the perfect autumnal escape," while also pointing out the San Juan Skyway and the beautiful bright golden aspens, as well as the pueblo cliff dwellings of the Mesa Verde National Park.
Ride The Durango Train
In operation for over a century, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the most unique ways to take in the spectacular views offered by the San Juan Mountains and the Animas River. The train is a popular fall destination, providing spectacular views of the fall foliage through the mountains. If you want to experience Colorado in the fall, the Durango train is a must-do.
Autumn Arts Festival
Durango's Autumn Arts Festival welcomes over 6,500 visitors celebrating the creativity & craftsmanship of southwestern Colorado's artistic community each year. This year's festival is happening September 19-20. The event hosted by the Durango Arts Center showcases media like ceramics, jewelry, painting, glass, sculpture, photography, and more.
Festival Info
Visit The Farmer's Market
The Durango Farmer's Market is a great way to see some of the best Durango has to offer with fresh produce, delicious meals, local musicians, and a family friendly atmosphere. This year you can find it every Saturday morning in the TBK Bank Parking Lot (259 W 9th St.) through October 31. And be sure to catch the special Thanksgiving Farmer's Market on November 21 at La Plata County Fairgrounds.
Farmer's Market
Fall Hiking In Durango
The Durango area boasts literally thousands of miles of incredible hiking trails. Choose from trails that promise an enjoyable afternoon stroll, or for the more ambitious, seek out a trail that clambers across the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Experience the thrill, and the relief, of emerging from your hike into pristine alpine meadows. Plan an escape that taps into your love for the outdoors.
Fall Hikes
Zipline Through Fall Colors
Ziplining is the best autumn vacation activity to get your heart pumping. Zipping through the air is such special way to appreciate Durango’s pristine mountains, alpine meadows and beautiful rivers. Consider ziplining as new way to experience fall leaf colors. Zip through a canopy of sparkling golden aspen leaves, and experience the San Juan Mountains as most people have never seen them before.
ZipliningFall Foliage
Fall foliage in and around Durango is truly breathtaking! Historically, leaves start to change in mid-September and peak before October ends. High-altitude places see color changes first, and we’re starting to see colors peak in the high hills above Silverton and Lake City! The aspens are boasting their beautiful golden yellow glow, and grasess and low scrub oaks are losing their summer green.
More Things To Do During Fall
There are plenty of fun fall activities to enjoy in Durango. Enjoy the crisp outdoors by the Animas River, hiking through the gold aspens of the San Juans or just stroll through the shops of historic downtown. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, check out a zipline adventure, a jeep or ATV tour or maybe even a rock climbing adventure.
Outdoors
Durango Fishing
The Durango area has some of the best quality fishing in the USA. From the San Juan mountain high country to the semi-arid San Juan river tailwater, world class fly fishing for trophy size trout awaits the angler year-round. The wild and free-flowing Animas river can be fished in the middle of town to remote high country lakes in the middle of the largest wilderness area in Colorado.
Durango Fishing