Winters in the southwest can be pretty mellow and peaceful. Here are a few things to do if you don’t want to spend your time on the slopes
There are two major hot springs within an hour of Durango
Pagosa Hot Springs has around 20 pools of varying temperatures and is located 60 miles from Durango
Trimble Hot Springs is located on the outskirts of Durango on the way up towards purgatory. Trimble Hot Springs has 2 large pools and is similar in price to Pagosa Springs
It’s fun to walk down the historic main street and check out the galleries and shops. Many local artists have galleries in Durango and the shops are unique. Just past Starbucks on the south side of the historic downtown area, there is the train station for the Durango/ Silverton railroad. In the winter you can check out the train museum or take the train up to cascade canyon
The restaurants are very good in Durango. Many restaurants feature food from local sources
Many of the trails right outside of Durango are good for hiking all year round. The trails have very pretty views and are great for hiking or trail running. The Animas River Trail that starts at 29th street and goes about ten miles downriver. The river trail is plowed and very pretty in the winter. The north end of the 10-mile Animas River trail is near home depot
If you’re looking for something active to do with the kids, the Durango Rec Center has a very nice pool and hot tub as well as a full gym. The Durango Rec Center is affordable
If you do ski Purgatory, formally known as Durango Mountain is the closest, only 40 minutes away from Durango. Purgatory is great if you’re learning to ski. If you’re an expert skier or snowboarder you may want to check out Telluride or Wolf Creek
Both Telluride and Wolf Creek are about an hour and a half away from Durango with good conditions. Silverton is also good for experts. Silverton is a less traditional resort with expert skiing. Silverton is located 60 miles to the north of Durango