Durango: Strater Hotel, Train to Silverton, Wit's End (102)One of the best-kept secrets in Colorado is the town of Durango, founded in 1880 and located in the valley of the San Juan Mountains. This rustic and beautiful western town offers horseback riding, fly fishing and easy access to nearby ski resorts. Decorated with antique Victorian furniture and offering a popular saloon, the Strater Hotel is a great place to visit and acquire a feel for the town.
Turn back the clock and ride the train, an icon that some consider the historical heart of the town, into the neighboring town of Silverton. The journey lasts over three hours and is an exciting trip through the sharp curves of the local mountains. Conclude your tour of Durango at the 500-acre Wit's End Guest Ranch and Resort. Stay in renovated guest cabins that date to the 1870s, and try being a real cowboy—wrangling classes are $50 an hour.
Durango Facts:
- Purgatory Ski Resort is located 25 miles north of Durango and receives approximately 250 inches of snow per year
- Much of the wallpaper in the Strater Hotel was stenciled by hand.
- Durango's trains have been featured in more than 10 films, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
- The Iron Horse Bike Classic is an annual event pitting bikers against the Durango train
Contact Information:
Wit's End Ranch
800-236-9483
www.witsendranch.com
Strater Hotel
www.strater.com
Resources:
Guide to Historic Durango & Silverton (Cordillera Press Historic Mining District Series)
by Duane A. Smith
Durango Website
www.durangocoloradousa.com
