Durango Heart of the Southwest
Your guide to Durango and the Southwest – Winter is here: skiing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and the Polar Express.
Explore Durango and the Southwest – historic trains, museums, breweries, places to stay, and winter adventures in the San Juan Mountains. Each card below has the details we have for that place.
NEWS & EVENTS — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2026
News & Events
Today in Durango & the Southwest — Friday, November 13, 2026. Weather, events and travel news from around the region.
Today’s weather
- Durango: Partly cloudy, high 55°, low 36° tonight. Rain moves in tonight.
- Pagosa Springs: Partly cloudy, high 56°, low 36° tonight. Rain and snow expected overnight.
- Bayfield: Partly cloudy, high 55°, low 36° tonight. Rain moves in tonight.
- Cortez: Partly cloudy, high 58°, low 37° tonight. Breezy afternoon. Rain tonight.
- Mancos: Partly cloudy, high 53°, low 35° tonight. Breezy afternoon. Rain tonight.
- Farmington: Partly cloudy, high 62°, low 43° tonight. Showers possible this evening, rain tonight.
Events & news tonight
- Durango: John Cross and the New Relics play deep-track rock covers at El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave, tonight at 8:30 p.m. Purgatory Resort opens for the winter season Friday, November 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Pagosa Springs: Brooks-i plays live music at El Camino Lounge & Grill at Motel SOCO tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. The comedy “The Shark Is Broken” plays at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts tonight at 7 p.m., tickets $29 to $42. US 160 over Wolf Creek Pass and at the Piedra River Bridge remains fully closed after flooding — check COtrip before traveling.
- Cortez: Donny Johnson plays solo acoustic folk and Americana at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N Market St, tonight at 6 p.m. Admission $10, or $5 for members.
- Bayfield: Local cheer and dance teams present their routines at 800 County Road 501 tonight at 6 p.m. Admission $5 for adults, free for kids.
- Farmington: AstroFriday runs tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the San Juan College Planetarium, Room 1723.
Things to Do
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
479 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (877) 872-4607
The Powerhouse
Kids science center, Durango
1333 Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 259-9234
Admission $9.50 (children under 12 months free).
Animas Museum
3065 W 2nd Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 259-2402
Admission free (donations accepted).
Hours: May–Oct Mon–Sat 10 AM–5 PM; Nov-Apr Tue-Sat 10 AM-4 PM.
Mesa Verde National Park
Near Cortez, CO (about 35 miles west of Durango)
Phone: (970) 529-4465
Entrance: $30 summer (May-Oct), $20 winter (Nov-Apr)
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride
Durango Depot, 479 Main Ave
Phone: (877) 872-4607
Evenings: 5:15, 6:50 and 8:25 PM – Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 – About 65 minutes
$42-$67 adult / $32-$57 child
Snowdown 2027
January 29 – February 7, 2027
Durango’s winter carnival — theme: “Chillin’ With My Villains”. 10 days with over 100 events, including the Snowdown Light Parade on February 5.
Colorado Photography Week
November 14–22, 2026
Durango & La Plata County
A statewide celebration of photography, born right here in Durango — 35 exhibits, pop-ups, galleries and events around town, including the Pro Photo Showdown on Wednesday, November 18 at Fort Lewis College.
Durango Welcome Center
802 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301 (corner of 8th St & Main Ave)
Phone: (970) 247-3500
Your first stop in downtown Durango — a one-stop information shop for all that Durango and La Plata County offers, with maps, tour and event tickets, Mesa Verde tour tickets, public restrooms, and free Wi-Fi-Fi.
Hours: Mon–Sat 9 AM–5 PM, Sun 10 AM–4 PM (Sept–May); summer Mon–Sat 9 AM–6 PM, Sun 10 AM–5 PM (June–Aug).
Outdoors & Tours
Mountain Waters Rafting
303 W College Dr., Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 259-4191
Hours: 8 AM–7 PM daily
Snowmobile Adventures
1 Skier Place, Durango
Phone: (888) 210-9864 – Daily, Dec 5, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027
35,000 acres / 75 miles of trails – The only approved snowmobile provider at Purgatory
2-hour tours from $239 – 3-hour tours from $289
Ice Pirates Snowmobile Tours
Silverton – Molas Lake Trailhead, MP 65, US 550
Phone: (970) 247-3706 – 7 AM-6 PM
piratebackcountryadventures.com
55,000 acres at Molas Pass – Book by phone – No published prices
Purgatory Resort
1 Skier Place, Durango
Phone: (970) 385-2100 – Lifts 9 AM-4 PM
Opens Nov 20, 2026 – Tickets from $9 on select dates – Kids 12 and under free with a Power Kids Pass
Durango Nordic Center
49786 Hwy 550 N, Durango
Phone: (970) 385-2114 – 9 AM-4 PM in winter
Nonprofit – 25 km of ski trails + 8 km of snowshoe trails
Adult ski pass $22 – Snowshoe $10
Vallecito Nordic Ski Club
Vallecito Lake, Bayfield
Phone: (970) 382-2675 – Dec-Mar
Volunteer nonprofit – About 15 km of trails – Free – Dog-friendly
Land-use permit $6/day or $60/year per car
Places to Eat
Carver Brewing Co.
1022 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 259-2545
Hours: Sun-Sat 11 AM-9 PM
Ska Brewing Co.
225 Girard St, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 247-5792
Hours: Sun 10 AM-9 PM, Mon-Sat 11 AM-9 PM
Oscar’s Cafe
Classic 50’s-style All-American diner, family owned and operated for 40+ years in the same location. A model train runs around the ceiling. Voted Best Breakfast in Durango — famous for cinnamon-roll French toast, a breakfast burrito smothered in homemade chili verde, homemade hashbrowns, huge cinnamon rolls, homemade pies, and old-fashioned milkshakes. Kid-friendly.
18 Town Plaza, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 247-0526
Hours: Opens 6:30 AM daily. Breakfast Mon–Sun, lunch Mon–Sat, dinner Wed–Sat.
Places to Stay
General Palmer Hotel
567 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 247-4747
Check-in 4 PM / Check-out 11 AM
The Rochester Hotel
726 E 2nd Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 764-0035
Check-in 3 PM / Check-out 11 AM
Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
400 E 2nd Ave, Durango
Phone: (970) 385-4980
Check-in 4 PM / Check-out 11 AM
Boundary by Terra Vi
3030 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301 (North Main District)
Phone: (970) 422-8830
Check-in 3 PM / Check-out 11 AM
News & Events
News, events and travel information from Durango and the Southwest. Visit the News & Events page.
Welcome to Durango Heart of the Southwest
Your guide to Durango and the Southwest. This is where you will find news about Durango and the surrounding areas: events, things to do, food, and road and travel information.
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