Page 185 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

THE FOUR C ORNERS  183

p Durango
Road map D2. * 17,800. ~ @
n 111 S. Camino del Rio (970) 247-
3500; (800) 525-8855. Open Jun–Sep:
8am–6pm Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat,
11am–4pm Sun; Oct–May: 8am–5pm
Mon–Fri. ∑ durango.org
Durango is a lovely town with
shady tree-lined streets and
splendid Victorian architecture.
Its attractive setting, on the
banks of the Animas River,
draws increasing numbers of
residents, making the town the
largest community in this part
Spectacular views of the Rockies from Telluride’s main street of Colorado. It is famous as the
starting point of the Durango
u Telluride are the Ouray Hot Springs. To the and Silverton Narrow Gauge
south, a loop road leads to Box Railroad, perhaps the most
Road map D2. * 2,400. ~ @
n 700 W. Colorado Ave. (970) 728- Canyon Falls Park. A short trail scenic train ride in the US. A 1920s
3041. Open 10am–7pm daily. leads across a swinging bridge coal-fired steam train ferries more
∑ visittelluride.com to the falls’ cascade. than 200,000 visitors each year
along the Animas River valley, up
Once a mining town like Silver- steep gradients through canyons
ton, today Telluride is a ski resort, o Silverton and mountain scenery, to
as popular with Hollywood Road map D2. * 600. n 414 Silverton. Passengers may choose
celebrities as the famous Aspen Greene St. (970) 387-5654. Open Jul– to ride in either Victorian or open-
in northern Colorado. Its late- Aug: 9am– 5pm (till 4pm May, Jun, sided “gondola” cars that offer
Victorian center boasts upscale Sep); Oct–Apr: 10am–3pm. Closed great views. Several stops along
ski shops, boutiques, and Thanksgiving, Dec 25, Jan 1, Easter. the way allow hikers and anglers
restaurants. Yet Telluride retains  ∑ silvertoncolorado.com access to the pristine back-
its authentic charm; it is still country of the San Juan National
possible to imagine the days Silverton is set among snow- Forest. A good time to make the
when Butch Cassidy lived here. covered peaks, and is one of the trip is September, when fall
The ski resort’s exclusive Moun- best-preserved 19th-century colors cover the mountainsides.
tain Village lies across a mountain mining towns in the Southwest. This is a popular attraction, and
ridge easily reached by a free The entire town is a registered booking ahead is recommended.
12-minute gondola ride. National Historic Landmark, and
In summer there are the façades along } Durango and Silverton
walks and riding Blair Street have Narrow Gauge Railroad
trails, and fishing in altered little since 479 Main Ave. Tel (970) 247-2733;
the lakes and rivers. the days of the reservations (888) 872-4607.
The town also hosts 1880s silver-mining Open most days year round.
an annual inter- Plaque from boom that gave ∑ durangotrain.com
national film festival. Silverton County Jail the town its name.
On Greene Street,
i Ouray most buildings date from the late
19th and early 20th centuries,
Road map D2. * 1,000. n 1230 including the 1902 County Jail,
North Main St. (970) 325-4746; (800) which houses the San Juan
228-1876. Open late May–early Sep: County Historical Museum.
9am–6pm Mon–Sat, 10am–4pm Sun; Greene Street East leads 13 miles
early Sep–early Oct: 9am–5pm Mon– (21 km) north to the ghost town,
Sat, 10am–3pm Sun; early Oct–late Animas Forks, abandoned after
May: 10am–4pm Mon–Sat, 10am– the mines ran out of silver.
3pm Sun. ∑ ouraycolorado.com
The wonderfully preserved old E San Juan County
mining town of Ouray lies 23 miles Historical Museum
(37 km) north of Silverton on Hwy 1557 Greene St. Tel (970) 387-5838.
550. Its stunning setting, amid Open late May–Sep: 10am–5pm daily;
mountain peaks, has made it a Oct 1–mid-Oct: 10am–3pm daily.
popular base for hikers and 4WD Closed mid-Oct–late May. & ∑ Steam train on the Durango and Silverton
enthusiasts. To the north of town sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org Narrow Gauge Railroad
For hotels and restaurants see p241 and pp256–7

182-183_EW_SW_USA.indd 183 28/11/17 12:41 PM