What can I see and do near Durango?

Near Durango, visitors can explore the La Plata Canyon Recreational Area for hiking, the old mining community of Silverton for jeep roads and hiking trails, and Mesa Verde National Park for thousands of archeological sites including the famous multi-story dwellings built into the sides of cliffs. The area offers a range of activities including ranger-led tours of the cliff dwellings and hiking to rock art left behind by the Ancestral Puebloan people.