Durango in winter is not only for people strapped to two planks. The town has a quiet side, and you can fill a week with sleigh rides, snow tubes, hot springs and a steam-powered Santa without clicking into a binding once. Below are nine winter activities beyond skiing, with the facts we could verify from the operators, and a few safety notes for driving up to the high country.
What are the best things to do in Durango in winter besides skiing?
| Activity | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-country skiing | Durango Nordic Center | 25 km groomed trails, day passes $22 |
| Snowshoeing | Durango Nordic Center | 8 km of trails, day passes $10 |
| Snow tubing | Purgatory Resort | Night tubing on weekends last season |
| Sleigh rides | Bears Ranch | Season opens December 4, 2026 |
| Snowmobile tours | Near Purgatory | 2 and 3 hour tours |
| Ice skating | Chapman Hill | In-town public skating |
| Hot springs | Durango, Pagosa Springs, Ouray | Soaks with snow on the peaks |
| Polar Express | Durango depot | November 20, 2026 to January 2, 2027 |
| Ice fishing and Nordic | Vallecito Lake | Groomed trails, ice fishing in season |
Where can you cross-country ski and snowshoe?
The Durango Nordic Center sits across from Purgatory Resort's entrance, about 25 miles north of downtown on US-550. It's a nonprofit and it has groomed trails for every level. According to Durango Nordic, here's the setup:
- 25 km of groomed ski trails and 8 km of snowshoe trails
- Center hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with opening day set by snow and weather
- Day ski pass: $22 for ages 14 to 65, $16 for seniors and veterans, $12 for ages 5 to 13
- Day snowshoe pass: $10, $8 and $6 on the same age bands
- Children under 5 ski free in the 2026-27 season
- Season pass: $185 for ages 14 to 64
Rent skis and snowshoes at the Center, and book a lesson if you've never tried it. Our Purgatory ski resort guide shows what else sits on that stretch of road.
Is snow tubing worth doing?
Yes, especially with kids. Purgatory's tubing hill is not lift-assisted, so you walk your tube up and ride down. Per the resort's tubing page for last winter:
- $15 per person, per tube, per hour
- Weekend operation from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. under the lights
- Children 3 to 5 must be at least 36 inches tall and ride with a guardian
- Children riding alone must be 6 years old and 42 inches tall
- No personal sleds or tubes allowed
The 2026-27 dates weren't posted when we checked, so confirm them before you go.
What is a sleigh ride at Bears Ranch like?
It's the cozy one. Bears Ranch runs old-fashioned sleigh rides to Haviland Lake behind draft horses.
- Season opens Friday, December 4, 2026, with reservations starting November 1
- Rides last about 45 minutes, with blankets and hot chocolate
- Views of Engineer Mountain, the Needles and the Hermosa Cliffs
- A VIP Tiki Sleigh Ride departs at 5 p.m. and returns by torchlight
- If snow is short, the ranch runs horse-drawn carriage rides on the same trail
- Rides are reservation-only, and the ranch sits about 20 miles north of Durango
- Farther afield, Buckaroos Horse-Drawn Rides in Pagosa Springs runs sleigh and wagon rides about an hour east
Can you go snowmobiling near Durango?
Yes. A guided operation at Purgatory says its terrain covers more than 35,000 acres and 75 miles of trail beyond the ski area. The resort's 2025-26 listing gives a sense of the format:
- Two-hour tours starting at $239, three-hour tours starting at $289
- Tour dates ran December 5 through March 31
- Drivers must be 16 with a license, and a driver must be 18 to carry a passenger
- Passengers must be at least 4 years old
- Tours depend on weather and conditions
Prices and dates change each season, so check the booking page.
Where can you ice skate in Durango?
Chapman Hill is the city's in-town rink and ski area. The City of Durango says its ice rink offers public skating, drop-in hockey, stick and puck, a figure skating program and lessons for all levels. It's the easiest in-town winter outing on this list. Check the city's schedule page for public skate times, since hockey and lessons share the ice.
Where should you soak?
A hot spring is the right ending to any of the above. The easiest soak is just north of town, and bigger pools wait in Pagosa Springs and Ouray, where the pool stays open in winter. Our hot springs guide compares them, and the Pagosa Springs and Ouray guides cover the longer drives.
What about Vallecito Lake in winter?
County Road 501 is plowed, and the lake stays open for quiet winter fun. The GoVallecito guide lists about 15 km of groomed Nordic trails run by the Vallecito Nordic Club, ice fishing when the ice sets up, and snowmobiling on Forest Service roads. The boat ramp and Forest Service campgrounds close after October 31. Read our Vallecito Lake guide before you go, and never trust lake ice without checking locally.
Does the Polar Express run in Durango?
Yes. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs it from November 20, 2026 through January 2, 2027, an hour-long steam ride with hot chocolate and Santa. Our Polar Express guide has the schedule, car classes and booking advice.
How do you stay safe in winter?
- Check the road. Highway conditions change fast over passes like Coal Bank and Molas, so look at the Colorado Department of Transportation before you drive to Purgatory.
- Dress in layers and bring waterproof boots, since tubing and snowshoeing leave you wet.
- Go with someone experienced if you plan to leave groomed trails. Visit Durango warns that backcountry snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing call for experienced company or an avalanche class.
- Stay off lake ice unless locals confirm it's safe.
How do you plan a winter trip?
Start with our Durango in winter guide, then our ski trip guide if someone in your group wants the slopes. Build lodging from where to stay in Durango, add a few meals from our restaurant guide, and check events and festivals for dates like Snowdown. If you're a family, see Durango with kids.
