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Staff Picks & Pics

Staff Picks & Pics

Outdoor adventure. Scrumptious meals. Spirited entertainment. The list of things to love about Durango is endless, so we asked our team to help us narrow it down. Below, they share their favorite Durango-related activities, events, restaurants, shops, and more!

Best Outdoor Recreation

BEST HIKING (in town)
1. Animas Mountain
2. Horse Gulch
3. Junction Creek

BEST HIKING (surrounding area)
1. Colorado Trail
2. Engineer Trail
3. Ice Lakes

BEST WAY TO ENJOY THE ANIMAS RIVER
1. Rafting
2. Tubing
3. Paddling

BEST BACKCOUNTRY SKI SPOT
1. Silverton
2. La Platas
3. Wolf Creek Pass

BEST RUN AT PURGATORY
1. Styx
2. The Maze
3. Lotta Fun

BEST HIGH COUNTRY BIKE RIDE
1. Engineer Trail
2. Colorado Trail
3. Kennebec Pass

BEST ROCK CLIMBING
1. Indian Creek
2. East Animas
3. X-Rock

BEST DAY TRIP UNDER TWO HOURS
1. Silverton
2. Ouray Hot Springs
3. Telluride









Best Food & Drink

BEST COFFEE
1. 81301 Coffee House and Roasters
2. Durango Coffee Company
3. Hermosa Coffee Roasters

BEST BREAKFAST
1. College Drive Cafe
2. El Moro Spirits and Tavern
3. Oscar's Cafe

BEST BAKERY
1. Bread
2. Absolute Bakery
3. Serious Delights

BEST DINE IN RESTAURANT
1. El Moro Spirits and Tavern
2. Seasons
3. Pop Sushi

BEST TAKE OUT
1. Himalayan Kitchen
2. Thai Kitchen
3. Sizzling Siam / Zia Taqueria (tie)

BEST FOOD TRUCK
1. Backcountry Gourmet
2. Juicy's Shanty

BEST TACO
1. Tacos Nayarit
2. Switchback
3. Taco Libre / Zia Taqueria (tie)

BEST BURGER
1. Grassburger
2. Steamworks Brewing Company
3. James Ranch

BEST PIZZA
1. Homeslice Pizza
2. Fired Up Pizzeria
3. Father's Daughters Pizza

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN
1. Himalayan Kitchen
2. Switchback



Best Entertainment

BEST SPOT FOR LIVE MUSIC
1. Animas City Theater
2. 11th Street Station

BEST LOCAL BAND
1. Desert Child
2. Durango Tire Fire

BEST ANNUAL LIVE EVENT
1. Snowdown
2. Animas River Days

BEST ART GALLERY
1. Studio & Gallery

Best Shopping

BEST BOOKSTORE
1. Maria’s Bookshop
2. Southwest Book Trader
3. White Rabbit Books & Curiosities

BEST BIKE SHOP
1. 2nd Avenue Sports
2. Pedal the Peaks

BEST OUTDOOR CLOTHING & GEAR
1. Backcountry Experience
2. Outdoor Exchange

BEST CONSIGNMENT SHOP
1. La Plata County Humane Society
2. Durango Outdoor Exchange
3. Rose Duds

BEST GROCERY STORE
1. Natural Grocers
2. Nature’s Oasis
3. City Market / Durango Natural Foods (tie)

Other Cool Things

BEST NON-PROFIT
1. Companeros Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center
2. Four Corners Alliance for Diversity

BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION
1. Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
2. Million Dollar Highway
3. Animas River

COOLEST THING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE OFFICE
1. Animas River Trail
2. Durango Rec Center
3. Durango Public Library