Durango Family Guide: Activities Perfect For Families
Things To Do With Kids In Durango
There’s truly something for everyone in Durango — and that includes plenty of things to do in Durango with kids. Durango family activities can entertain even the pickiest of little ones. Make memories with your family and enjoy the Four Corners Region in a way everyone will appreciate. Our Durango family guide includes a list of 10 things to do in Durango with kids. Get ready to explore the mountains and more!
Climb Aboard The Durango Train
All ages will appreciate the majesty and power of the Durango-Silverton train ride. From special rides like the annual Polar Express and Christmas rides to the Railroad Museum in Durango, the train gives your family a chance to explore the region’s railroad history. The entire family will take in beautiful, scenic views as the Durango train chugs down the track. Make memories that will last a lifetime.
Durango Train
Visit The Botanic Gardens
The Durango Botanic Gardens are free and open to the public. This is a great spot to explore as a family, and a great way to teach your kids about the many different plants, trees, flowers and more that can be found in the area. Guided tours are available (seasonally dependent) and the gardens are constantly changing and expanding.
Durango Botanic Gardens
Parks With Playgrounds
Santa Rita Park, nestled on the banks of the Animas River, is an outdoor wonderland for the whole family. The park features play equipment, grassy areas to toss a frisbee or kick a soccer ball, picnic areas and scenic views of the river. The Santa Rita Park playground got a makeover in 2016, so it features new and safe equipment the little ones will enjoy. Climb, slide, play and have a ball at the playground.
Durango Parks
Lake Nighthorse
Lake Nighthorse is perfect for a family day out! Kids will love the Wibit Aqua Park – an inflatable water playground open all summer and the calm waters are great for swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. With lifeguards on duty and rentals available, it’s an easy, fun-filled day for everyone.
Lake Nighthorse
Gravity Lab
Gravity Lab in Durango is an indoor rock climbing gym that’s perfect for a fun outing with the whole family. With climbing walls for all skill levels, it’s a great place to challenge yourself, have some fun, and spend quality time together. Gravity Lab’s friendly atmosphere and variety of routes make it an exciting experience for everyone.
Gravity Lab
Make A Splash At The Rec Center
There’s more to Downtown Durango than restaurants and breweries. The gem of downtown might be the Durango Recreation Center. This family-friendly destination features more than 70,000 square feet of fun — including an indoor pool and seasonally-open outdoor splash pad. Little ones will have a blast zipping down the 160 foot water slide, while adults might enjoy a relaxing yoga class or a game of pickleball. The Durango Recreation Center is located at 2700 Main Avenue, Durango, CO.
The Powerhouse
Experience science and technology up close and personal at this family-friendly museum. Formerly operating as a power plant, The Powerhouse science center is an interactive science center for kids with exhibits and activities centered on energy. The center, which is open all year round, is a dynamic place for field trips, special events and brings to the fore hands-on learning activities for your kid.
The Powerhouse
Go Wild At The Fish Hatchery
There’s something fishy in Durango and this is a very good thing. The Durango Fish Hatchery stocks local waters with rainbow, brown, Snake River and native cutthroat trout along with kokanee salmon. Here you can see the fish from egg to adult. Be sure to bring quarters to get food to feed the fish. The hatchery is also home to a wildlife museum.
Fish Hatchery
Explore Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde is a fun and beautiful place to explore with your family, and it is easy to sneak in a little bit of education as well. This national park is full of natural and ancient man-made wonders that you don’t want to miss. Tune into an audio tour or book a guided tour of Mesa Verde to further enhance your trip to this UNESCO Heritage site.
Mesa Verde Tours
Sit Down To A Family Dinner
Kids can have picky palates and it can be difficult to find a venue for a family dinner than can please the whole family. Thankfully there are quite a few kid friendly restaurants in Durango. You can grab some food for a picnic, sit down and enjoy a burger and fries or even get the whole crew dressed up for a more upscale dining experience. The opportunities are endless and you can choose whatever fits your family best.
Kid Friendly Dining
Zipline Tour
There are places to zipline in Durango that give you the feeling of being on top of the world. The largest zip line adventure in the country, Soaring Tree Top Adventures features exclusive spans over breathtaking mountain panorama, crosswise over Aspen and Old Growth Ponderosa forest.
Soaring Tree Top Adventures
Check Out The Durango Library
The Durango Library and Botanic Gardens is a literature-lover’s dream. Special programs for adults and kids make the library a family-friendly destination for locals and visitors alike. Surprisingly, the Durango Library is known for more than its great collections of books and resources. One of the best things about their Durango Library is the view it offers of the Animas River and Animas City Trail. See deer and other animals wading in the water and enjoy great people watching from the trail view.
Animas River Trail
Get together and explore the Animas River Trail. In fact, many of the things to do on this list are great stops on the trail: the Botanic Gardens, library, fish hatchery, Santa Rita Park, and The Powerhouse. The 7 mile stretch can be walked or biked through the heart of Durango.
Animas River Trail
Skating At Chapman Hill
Chapman Hill Ice/Roller Rink is located at 500 Florida Road and offers roller skating in the warmer months and ice skating in the winter. They have open skating hours on Tuesdays between 3:00 and 5:00 pm; Skate rentals are only $3 and it’s $7 for children and $8 for adults to skate.
With so many things to do in Durango with kids, it’s time to start planning your next adventure. Browse Durango lodging and more to make the most of your next vacation to family friendly Durango.