One of the most underrated national parks! Rich in history, this park offers an incredible glimpse…read moreinto the past. Seeing the ancient cliff dwellings in person is an unforgettable experience they're remarkably well preserved and stand as a testament to the people who lived here centuries ago. We visited over Memorial Day weekend, and the weather couldn't have been better. The drive to the park is beautiful, with stunning scenic views along the way that make the journey just as enjoyable as the destination. If you want to tour the cliff dwellings, be sure to make a reservation in advance, as they can fill up quickly. The visitor center is modern, informative, and very well maintained. We also hiked the Petroglyph Point Trail, and the surrounding rock formations and views made it a memorable experience. Overall, this is a fascinating national park that's often overlooked but absolutely worth visiting. We'd love to come back again someday it's definitely a must-visit!

All National Parks are amazing, but it's rare to find one that has such a a fascinating…read moreanthropological history as well as incredible views and landscapes. We visited in Late June, and although it was warm, the heat was very bearable. Definitely recommend registering for a tour (don't wait - they fill up quickly!) while planning your visit so you can get a better understanding of and a close up look at the cliff dwellings. Also, be aware that some of the tours are strenuous so read the descriptions before making your choices. I knew what they were before heading to Mesa Verde, but experiencing it first hand and getting to walk on in the ancient dwellings really made it come alive for me. The scenic drive was incredible as well. So many beautiful vistas and historical stops along the drive. We were here for one full day and saw quite a bit - Cliff Palace, Balcony House (Both guided tours - check the website before booking since you need to account for travel time in between), and scenic drive with stops along the way. Loved it here!

Beautiful lake for boating, fishing or hiking around. Great area for adventure. Have been coming…read morehere for 48 years.

I live here. It's great, quiet, beautiful, lots of hikes, water sports. Nice people, locals and…read morevisitors.

Had a great experience picking up my access pass! Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable. I…read moreappreciated that I was able to bring in my printed file to pick up a pass in person.

The most enchanting National Forest I've visited in 2021. I hiked to the Rainbow Hot Springs. The…read moreRainbow Hot Springs is a 10 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Pagosa Springs. Also located in the San Juan National Forest. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, San Miguel and San Juan Counties!! They have plenty of campgrounds (with friendly campground hosts) and nearby Horseback Riding opportunities. I came here with a good friend of mine, as we visited South Fork, CO. The weather was perfect in May of 2021 and I needed a Chilly Mini for my neck. We spotted some gorgeous waterfalls and really unique plants. San Juan appeared to have had a forest fire in the last 5 years, because we definitely witnessed some aftermath. Lots of old, dead and burned down tree trunks. The trail is fairly easy, a little rocky, but such a great cardio workout for your calves. We spotted some wonderful rivers that kept my friend and I very cool.

Came here for the first time on 6/10/26. We were on a trip to Durango and wanted to take the kids…read moreswimming. This pool is huge! We were only in the kid area and the lazy river but still great. My kids had a blast with all the slides. The staff was very friendly. The locker rooms were very clean. Thank you!

It had been years since we've been here and it still doesn't disappoint like 7 years later!…read more $7.50 adult day admission, $6.50 for kids. Just $20 for an all day pass and access to classes, rock walk, indoor water park with slides and lap pools, splash pad outside... really great facility. We brought our own towels because it's a $1 rental and we had some in our car (a summer staple!). Best part was no sunscreen! Coming from Arizona and staying at Purgatory for the week to enjoy cooler weather, the no sunscreen part is pretty exciting. My kids rave about this place (now 11 and 13 years old). The rock wall is no joke, either! Unlimited access during open hours (special hours for rock wall, but generally closed after 4pm). Kayaks in the pool at 6pm on Wednesdays for a $5 rental? What is the Colorado? Super cool way to learn!

Durango was never on my radar until my fellow hikers recommended it. It is a quaint city and this…read moreriver trail is nice for a stroll or a 9+ mile bike ride. It is mostly in good condition with about 20 percent with cracks that will give you a jolt. The final down river section has two modest inclines. Nice crossovers over wooden bridges. No bathrooms. Thank goodness for Albertson's right off the trail. Parking around Downtown is metered. About five-six blocks away from the river is free street parking. The white water launch park (in one of the photos) has a parking lot with a steam engine locomotive. Free or not I am unsure. Placards along the trail to note the development of the city. Stop for lunch in one of the many options on Main St.

Beautiful trail. A must-see if visiting or living in Durango. This trail is long so we started at…read morethe main point where there is a park with swings and benches.

Nice fishing set up but needs more trees and a playground for the kids. I am not a fisher but hubby…read moreis and we sometimes have our grandkids with us. Most kids only sit still for a little while. A playground would be awesome!

Great place to take the kids fishing. My son caught this 20" and about 4lb trout on 12/4/2021.read more

Simply amazing. I would stop by the visitor center and museum first before exploring the pueblos…read moreand other locations that make up this national monument. The visitor center and museum have a lot of artifacts and information about how scientists research the artifacts and structures of the Pueblo peoples. It helps put into context the other sites that are part of this national monument. It kind of made me feel like an archaeologist when I identified some potsherds later on my hikes and could identify which Pueblo Era they came from. Definitely worth a stop!

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Visitor Center are a worthwhile destination or a…read moreshort diversion, if you are in SW Colorado. Inside, there are educational movies about the history of the Puebloan Indians who inhabited the plains 1200 years ago, and then suddenly left about 1300. There are numerous exhibits about these people, their tools, their cooking implements, their arrow heads, basketry, housing, etc. It is well laid out and then there are descriptions of several deserted Pueblos within an hour or two of the visitor center. Your national park pass will get you entrance, or a small fee if you don't have one. With the Federal workforce cuts, staffing is minimal, so be patient and respect the work these Rangers do for us every day. Wish I had visited this site before I went to Mesa Verde National Park last year as it added an additional perspective to the way some of our SW native Indians lived.

This cute little park runs right along the Animas River and is a stop on the Animas River Trail…read more We visited twice during our time in Durango, once for a picnic when we first got into town and once on the way out of town so the dog could romp and play before the car ride to Pagosa Springs. The park has several picnic tables, some in the sun and some shaded. A few benches sit along the river near some easy river access points. A swing set for the kids is located at one end of the park and at the other end is a set of restrooms with flush toilets but no sinks (or actually, there were sinks but no faucets). The park houses a couple of pieces of Durango's public art, one of which is a super cool whirligig named "Celebration!", if I remember correctly. Schneider Park is definitely a relaxing place to hang out in Durango picnicking and watching the river rafters float by.

This is the best park. Hands down. For real…read more As we first entered the city from the south, it greeted us and we instantly knew that we would love living in Durango. We even made a video about it. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/SaahtX7wBuY

This growing little town is ideally located between the mountains and the desert. Many good…read morerestaurants. But- The City Council cannot manage the homeless because they ignore the effective policies of Vail along I-70 and Aspen in the Roaring Fork Valley. See the photo. Millions were spent expanding this park with big river rocks for rafts and kayaks AND a smelly sewage treatment plant. It could be fun if the smell of human feces doesn't bother you. I was unable (my bad) to upload photos of human waste and toilet paper. Disgusting. Given the number of off-leash dogs I saw, I expected better canine behavior. Instead I saw scary aggressive behavior and dog fights. Where is Animal Control? Safety laws are being broken. Please, as a dog owner, train your pooch or keep him on leash!