Southwest Colorado Summer Activities
Give Gateway Reservations a call at 800-409-7295
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Get Out and Play
| Whether you want extreme adventure or just one that’s extremely fun, you’ll find it all in our natural playground. Go on a jeep tour, get refreshed rafting or kayaking on the river, try some mountain biking, or load up a llama with your equipment and hike the backcountry for a guided fly-fishing trip. There’s lots to do! |
Activities by Category
Gateway Reservations is your "One Call or Click" source for activities throughout Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico. To narrow your search, here are some links to popular activity categories:
Durango Mountain - Total Ticket
The best way to make the most of your day in the mountains. One ticket gets you unlimited Alpine Slide rides, scenic chairlift rides, disc golf, and mini golf; plus 1 climb on the rock wall and 1 jump on the bungee tramp.
Hillcrest Golf Club
Set atop a scenic mesa which overlooks Durango... Hillcrest Golf Course offers a fun and scenic way to enjoy your golf. Our 18 hole course has been open since 1969. Affordable greens fees and memberships... Hillcrest Golf Course has something for everyone!
Dalton Ranch Golf Club
Dalton Ranch Golf Club is set in the magnificent Animas Valley just six miles north of Durango, Colorado. Winding its way along the Animas River below the towering red cliffs of the San Juan Mountains lies this magnificent golf course designed by architect Ken Dye.
Durango Community Recreation Center
The Durango Community Recreation Center is a 71,557 square foot facility complete with gymnasium, climbing wall, indoor track, fitness equipment and fitness classes, racquetball courts, and aquatics area (including waterslide, leisure pool, and lap lanes.) Day passes are available for $4.50/adult, $3.50/children 4-17 yrs and $3.50/senior 55 and over. Open M-F, 6am - 10pm, Sat., 8am - 10pm, Sun., 10am - 6pm. 2700 Main Avenue.
Durango Mountain - Downhill Mountain Biking
Take your bike with you to the top and access over 50 miles of bike trails, from scenic novice loops to the challenging 1990 World Mt. Bike Championship Trail. Perfect for exploring the spectacular Hermosa Valley, or getting in some screaming downhill.
Cumbres Toltec Train
The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad runs between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO and traverses the border of Colorado and New Mexico eleven times. This unique and scenic trip through time will take you back to a glimpse into the life back in the "Old West" and a time past. With 8 trips to choose from, there is a trip that is right for each family. All trips include a hot lunch and desert at Osier as well! Click here to find out more...
Outlaw Tours
Outlaw Tours specializes in outdoor recreation and offers activities in whitewater rafting, Hummer tours, ATV tours & snowmobile tours. They are the oldest & most respected outfitter in Southwest Colorado. Open for all seasons, they always have something fun and exciting for the outdoor enthusiast. When it comes to fun, they're number one!
Sky Ute Lodge and Casino
Sky Ute Lodge and Casino, located in Ignacio, Colorado is just 25 minutes from Durango. Voted #1 Casino in the Four Corners. At the Lodge you'll find quiet, comfortable, stylish guest rooms decorated in a Southwestern motif. The casino's newly remodeled plaza invites guests to relax in our hot tub and simply enjoy the clean mountain air of Southwest Colorado. Step into the action and play to win at the only casino in Colorado open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our casino floor offers over 400 record-breaking slot machines that are waiting for you to ring their bells!
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Rustlers Roost Ranch provides the finest horse adventures in the west. Located in beautiful Mancos Valley next to Mesa Verde National Park. You can choose from several horseback adventures in the High Desert or the Colorado Rocky Mountain High Country.
Enjoy the scenery and outdoor adventure of the San Juan Mountains like no other way. Let High Mountain Anglers provide you with a guided Llama hike into some of the most beautiful places Colorado has to offer. Want more? Let the llamas pack in a paddle boat for you to fish from or take a fly-fishing or boat fishing trip in some of the most undisturbed areas of the Weminuche Wilderness. Drop camps also available for all of your back-country camping experience needs. 
Far-Flung Adventures, the Rio Grande's premier river outfitter, invites you to experience a southwestern wilderness river adventure. Raft. Hike. Fish. Your destination is the whitewater rafting rivers of the spectacular Southern Rockies, the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountains.
Get up close to large bull elk on this guided tour of a 1500 acre free-range preserve featuring spectacular mountain scenery with majestic forest and pristine high country meadows. All tours help contribute to the survival of antlered animals and protection of the environment because Tour fees are used to help solve Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). You will also learn about the original Fort Lewis site, the origins of Fort Lewis College and our forest research site.
Enjoy an adventure of the soul with 4 Corners Whitewater specializing in guided rafting and kayaking trips on the Animas River.
Rapp Corral offers summer trailriding within San Juan National forest near Haviland Lake, 20 miles north of Durango. They offer one hour, two hour, three hour and custom planned longer rides.
The Four Corner’s tour specialists provide step into tours, which provide an unparalleled experience that will enhance your explorations of an ancient culture and the archeological evidence they left behind. Allow their hand-chosen experts of Archaeology, Anthropology, and Geology to complete your journey to this beautiful and amazing area with the knowledge and experience needed to fully understand the advancement of this civilization and their cultural development.
Located just past the entrance to Durango Mountain Resort, Buck's Livery provides horseback riding trail rides in the spectacular San Juan Mountains. Our gentle horses will take you where and for as long as you want to go; from 1-hour rides to all day trips.
Jeep Rentals. Explore the Alpine Loop and area ghost towns. Experience the excitement and beauty of the San Juan Mountains.
Sailplanes are towed aloft, depending on which ride you chose, to a pre-selected altitude, then released. As you soar like an eagle back to the gliderport, you will be able to see the beautiful San Juan Mountains, plus the Animas River winding through the valley and, on a clear day, 100 miles of scenery in any direction.
Signature Salon and Health Spa offers an array of relaxing treatments including customized massages, aromatherapy, hot-stone and couples massage offered in our private and luxurious cottage by the river. For a unique and extraordinary experience, retreat with a friend or loved one in a private hot tub, followed by side-by-side 60 minute massages. Our salt glows, body polishes, brown sugarscrubs, mineral mud treatments and detoxifying aromatherapy wraps, all done in the Vichy shower room will leave your skin radiant, silky and glowing. Signature Salon and Health Spa also offers facials, manicures and pedicures along with their elite hair salon to help you look and feel like new.
Come experience the beauty and serenity of a mountain range heralded as the most beautiful in the world, the San Juans. Let professional drivers treat you to a day of spectacular scenery and history all rolled into one while you take a 4X4 tour from 9318 feet in Silverton, to over 13,000 feet. Or, another popular outting is to take the Train from Durango to Silverton, and, once in Silverton, take our Mine Shuttle to visit the Old 100 Gold Mine. 4X4 tours run May through October.
Family owned and operated Durango Rivertrippers offers the safest and finest whitewater rafting available in Southwest Colorado.
Spend an evening relaxing under the stars in our two mineral-rich therapy hot pools, or swim in our heated 50-meter Olympic pool. Stay overnight in our Starlight Room for couples with overnight private access to the Red Rock Spa Pool. You can also enjoy up to 28 soothing massage and body treatments from 15 of Durango’s finest certified therapists.
Not your typical kennel - Doggie Day Care for your best friend while you play in Durango. Dogs get plenty of play time and socialization, and tons of lovin'. Large kennels are provided for anyone who needs some "quiet time". Healthy treats are provided. Please bring food if needed, and a bed or something that smells familiar if you think your dog might be nervous. Please bring current vaccination records also.
Spectacular Hot Air Ballooning Adventures in the Rocky Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. We fly the beautiful Animas River Valley from the Red Rock Ranch following the winding Animas River to Durango. Small, intimate flights are our specialty. Individuals, couples or couples with children preferred. To find out more information, 
The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, located in southwestern Colorado, is dedicated to understanding, teaching, and preserving the rich history of the ancestral Pueblo Indians (also called the Anasazi) who inhabited the canyons and mesas of the Mesa Verde region more than 700 years ago. Crow Canyon's full day tour is a perfect complement to excursions to nearby archaeological attractions, including Mesa Verde National Park, the Anasazi Heritage Center, Lowry Pueblo, Hovenweep, and Aztec Ruins. In a fun and relaxed atmosphere, you will be introduced to the history of the ancestral Pueblo Indians (the Anasazi) who inhabited the spectacular Four Corners area hundreds of years ago.
Mountain Waters Rafting makes it easy and FUN! We have taken more people down the Animas River in Durango than any other outfitter. Come ride with us and see why! Experienced and knowledgeable rafting guides and 25 years of satisfied customers! 90% of our guests report their Durango raft trip was the highlight of their family vacation.
Over the Hill Outfitters offers everything horseback from two hour rides on their 1200 acre private horse ranch to dinner rides to 5 day horseback expeditions in the heart of the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan National Forest.
*Kids Under 8 Always Raft FREE!*
The Spaaah Shop & Day Spa is conveniently located on Main Avenue in the heart of downtown Durango offering wonderful bath and body products and featuring 'i.d. Bare Minerals' cosmetics from Bare Escentuals. You'll enjoy their beautiful, tranquil day spa with a simple menu of treatments and simple pricing. Highly-skilled therapists offer massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, waxing, and detox treatments.
Travel back in time and over two miles above sea level as you explore historic ghost towns and majestic mountain peaks! We also offer the biggest selection of rafting and whitewater river trips in Southwest Colorado and Arizona.
Explore Durango and the Four Corners area on a quality bike from Hassle Free Sports. They have a good selection of road bikes, full suspension mountain bikes, cruiser and comfort bikes as well as kids bikes. Whether you are cruising the bike path or riding epic single track, they have expertly tuned bikes to make your ride Hassle Free.
The Henry Strater theatre is one of Durango’s oldest and most prestigious theatres, 47 years and counting! Formally known as the Diamond Circle Theatre, the space has been extensively renovated, and now houses top of the line stage lighting and surround sound equipment for your pleasure. This intimate and prestigious venue operates year round as a community space and theatre, welcoming live bands from around the nation and both local and touring productions of well-known and well-loved theatrical performances. 
Come and join us for the Four Corners Biker Rally, Labor Day, 2008. This Motorcycle Rally is located in the most beautiful spot in the US. The riding is the most spectacular of any Rally anywhere.
Duranglers specializes in year round guided fly fishing trips to the fabulous Durango area trout waters. We teach fly fishing skills to beginners of all ages and provide fine points and useful tips to the expert angler.