I just found out I have to go down to Durango for a week of work (5/25-5/29). I will be staying and working in and around Durango but was wondering if anyone knew of some key places in the area that I should hit for sunrise or sunset. I will be with another co-worker but she's up for some afternoon hikes (she's not a morning person). Also, we both love food so if you know of any yummy places to check out we would be very greatful.
Wow, I wish my work took me to Durango. I get to go to Des Monies on the 1st of July. Go north towards Silverton & Ouray would be my suggestion; but there are others better qualified than me for that area.
LOL, I thinkI'm finally getting the cool locations. I used to get Buffalo, NY, Camden, NJ and Tulsa, OK so I did my share of hell holes. And I do environmental consulting so I don't go into nice office buildings, I end up at some sketchy industrial site in the middle of nowhere. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for 3 months in Antarctica! But I'm definitely excited about Durango
The best afternoon hike in my view is to the top of Animas Mountain. It's a scenic 5 mile round trip hike with great views of the Animas River valley. Close to town and not too difficult after a day's work.
To reach the trailhead from downtown Durango, head north on Main Avenue or Hwy. 550, make a left on 32nd Street to its end on W. 4th Avenue. Turn right and travel about 2 blocks to the end of the street where parking is available.
If you get off work before 5PM, consider taking a short raft trip on the Animas River.
High water for the season is happening right now, and the tourists aren't in town yet...a perfect combo! Check out Flexible Flyers for more info.
An excellent place for sunset photography is north of Durango along Hwy. 550 about 30 miles or so, and past Durango Mountain Resort ski area. From the highway, you can see great views of the Needle Mountains. Further north through Coal Bank and Molas passes, the scenery just gets better and better. Seasonal waterfalls can be seen from the highway, as well. Hopefully, mi amigo and neighbor Guy Schmickle can offer specifics.
Ahhhh, the dining. Don't need any help in this department!
Depending on your likes, there are several outstanding restaurants in town.
A few I prefer are:
Either Carver Brewing Co. and/or Steamworks Brewing Co. for great all around food and freshly crafted beer. Perfect for lunch!
For sushi and Asian foods, both the Sushitarian and East by Southwest are excellent choices. I think they're right across the street from each other, too!
For Mexican and New Mexican food, Gazpacho's is my favorite. I highly recommend any dish with carne adovada! That's pork marinated overnight in an 'adobo' sauce until falling apart tender.
I enjoy South Asian food (Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan) food very much, and the Himalayan Kitchen restaurant is the only one of it's type in the region for that style of dining. Check out the buffet!
The weekly 'alternative' newspaper called the Durango Telegraph always has coupons for 10% off lunch and 50% off a second dinner at the Himalayan if the two of you should dine together.
Note that there are other coupons and restaurant ads in this paper, which is available pretty much everywhere.
For gourmet dining, you can't go wrong at either the Cosmopolitan, the Cyprus Café (Mediterranean), or Ken & Sue's.
Or you can just stroll through downtown and let your senses do the choosing.
What sort of work are you doing? I'm a surveyor who often finds himself working in Durango. Perhaps I can join you for lunch.
Have you healed up from your trip in the Paria River canyon?
Aleksandra, i know what you mean about sketchy industrial areas. When I travel I am doing consulting at large trucking companies. Every time so far has been "at some sketchy industrial site in the middle of nowhere."
Enjoy Durango, I would definitely say that John is the man in the know.
Wow! Thanks John! Great ideas! I've been to Durango once (for one night) when I was doing my geology field camp back in college. I remember having a great time but details of that night are a little fuzzy I am pretty sure we were at a micro-brewery that had a horseshoe pit in the back ( how is that even legal btw? I am dangerous with those things sober!!!). And I am a huge fan of micro brews (like to brew my own every once in a while) so I am looking forward to revisiting that place.
And we're both social so if you want to get dinner or drinks (or hike/photo shoot) we're definitely open to that. Lunches might be though as we might only have half hour at most. We are doing groundwater and indoor air sampling at a site in Durango but I can't really share details of the project since it's a litigation case. One of those that "I'll tell you but then I'll have to kill you" kind of things
Hi Aleksandra. John's definitely got you set up foodwise...I'm ashamed to say that I don't eat in town all that often! I also agree with him in that Animas Mountain is the nicest hike close to town. The wildflowers are already blooming there and if you're lucky you may find some in which to frame the nearby La Plata range on the western half of the hike. If that looks promising you may want to return in the morning for a sunrise shoot.
The entire section of Hwy 550 between Coal Bank Pass and Silverton is always worth the while. However, I'm not sure if the aspens will have leafed out by the time you hit the area. I was up there a little over a week ago and everything was still bare. Regardless, the trio of lakes along 550 - Andrews, Little Molas and Molas - are always good subjects and can be shot at either sunrise or sunset (although they are all arguably better at sunset). If the roads aren't open to reach them, then you can park at the gate and its a less than a mile hike to get to either.
Another option is to check out the area adjacent to Lime Creek Road, a couple of miles north of the turn for Durango Mountain Resort on 550. The entire road should be drivable by the time you arrive (if you have a high clearance vehicle). Since it's a little lower, the aspen should be pretty close to leafing out there. Scout Lake (about 3 miles from the southern end of the road) is a nice place to photograph mountain reflections at either sunrise or sunset. Also, you could take the short hike to Potato like (about a mile and a half each way) which is nice in the late afternoon. The trailhead is right across the road from Scout Lake. There's also some nice creek scenery to be had on the northern half of this road. Feel free to shoot me an email if you'd like more specifics.
If you have 4WD, you might also take the road west of Durango that heads up past Mayday and La Plata into La Plata Mountains. Lots of vast, remote territory for hiking.
Discussion
8 repliesThanks in advance for any guidance!
The best afternoon hike in my view is to the top of Animas Mountain. It's a scenic 5 mile round trip hike with great views of the Animas River valley. Close to town and not too difficult after a day's work.
To reach the trailhead from downtown Durango, head north on Main Avenue or Hwy. 550, make a left on 32nd Street to its end on W. 4th Avenue. Turn right and travel about 2 blocks to the end of the street where parking is available.
If you get off work before 5PM, consider taking a short raft trip on the Animas River.
High water for the season is happening right now, and the tourists aren't in town yet...a perfect combo! Check out Flexible Flyers for more info.
An excellent place for sunset photography is north of Durango along Hwy. 550 about 30 miles or so, and past Durango Mountain Resort ski area. From the highway, you can see great views of the Needle Mountains. Further north through Coal Bank and Molas passes, the scenery just gets better and better. Seasonal waterfalls can be seen from the highway, as well. Hopefully, mi amigo and neighbor Guy Schmickle can offer specifics.
Ahhhh, the dining. Don't need any help in this department!
Depending on your likes, there are several outstanding restaurants in town.
A few I prefer are:
Either Carver Brewing Co. and/or Steamworks Brewing Co. for great all around food and freshly crafted beer. Perfect for lunch!
For sushi and Asian foods, both the Sushitarian and East by Southwest are excellent choices. I think they're right across the street from each other, too!
For Mexican and New Mexican food, Gazpacho's is my favorite. I highly recommend any dish with carne adovada! That's pork marinated overnight in an 'adobo' sauce until falling apart tender.
I enjoy South Asian food (Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan) food very much, and the Himalayan Kitchen restaurant is the only one of it's type in the region for that style of dining. Check out the buffet!
The weekly 'alternative' newspaper called the Durango Telegraph always has coupons for 10% off lunch and 50% off a second dinner at the Himalayan if the two of you should dine together.
Note that there are other coupons and restaurant ads in this paper, which is available pretty much everywhere.
For gourmet dining, you can't go wrong at either the Cosmopolitan, the Cyprus Café (Mediterranean), or Ken & Sue's.
Or you can just stroll through downtown and let your senses do the choosing.
What sort of work are you doing? I'm a surveyor who often finds himself working in Durango. Perhaps I can join you for lunch.
Have you healed up from your trip in the Paria River canyon?
Hope that helped...dobre podróze!
Enjoy Durango, I would definitely say that John is the man in the know.
And we're both social so if you want to get dinner or drinks (or hike/photo shoot) we're definitely open to that. Lunches might be though as we might only have half hour at most. We are doing groundwater and indoor air sampling at a site in Durango but I can't really share details of the project since it's a litigation case. One of those that "I'll tell you but then I'll have to kill you" kind of things
The entire section of Hwy 550 between Coal Bank Pass and Silverton is always worth the while. However, I'm not sure if the aspens will have leafed out by the time you hit the area. I was up there a little over a week ago and everything was still bare. Regardless, the trio of lakes along 550 - Andrews, Little Molas and Molas - are always good subjects and can be shot at either sunrise or sunset (although they are all arguably better at sunset). If the roads aren't open to reach them, then you can park at the gate and its a less than a mile hike to get to either.
Another option is to check out the area adjacent to Lime Creek Road, a couple of miles north of the turn for Durango Mountain Resort on 550. The entire road should be drivable by the time you arrive (if you have a high clearance vehicle). Since it's a little lower, the aspen should be pretty close to leafing out there. Scout Lake (about 3 miles from the southern end of the road) is a nice place to photograph mountain reflections at either sunrise or sunset. Also, you could take the short hike to Potato like (about a mile and a half each way) which is nice in the late afternoon. The trailhead is right across the road from Scout Lake. There's also some nice creek scenery to be had on the northern half of this road. Feel free to shoot me an email if you'd like more specifics.