Brick storefronts, a coal-smoke platform, and a hotel that’s been pouring drinks since before Colorado had paved roads.
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The Depot
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been running out of this same depot since 1882 — coal-fired, narrow-gauge, climbing 45 miles north to Silverton through a canyon that a road never quite managed to follow. We came for the depot itself rather than the ride: the platform noise, the engines idling before a run, the smell of coal smoke that hasn’t changed in 140 years.
We caught it on a rainy, cool day with very few people around — a quieter, greyer version of the depot than the postcard shot, but an honest one.
Historic Downtown
Main Avenue still reads like the 1880s wanted it to: brick storefronts, false fronts, a skyline that tops out at four stories because nothing here was ever built to impress from a distance. The Strater Hotel anchors one end of it — all Victorian excess, a piano bar that’s been playing ragtime since long before Durango had a stoplight, and a lobby that looks like it hasn’t updated its opinion on wallpaper since 1900.
Most of the patios along here don’t blink at a leashed dog underfoot, which makes this one of the easiest stretches of the whole trip to shoot without logistics getting in the way. One stop worth calling out: a French bakery downtown, good enough for a loaf of sourdough and a pastry to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is downtown Durango walkable?
Yes — the historic district is compact enough to cover on foot in a couple of hours, with the D&SNG depot at one end and the Strater Hotel a few blocks up Main Avenue.
Are dogs allowed on Main Avenue in Durango?
Most sidewalks and patios downtown are dog-friendly on a leash, though it’s worth checking individual restaurant policies for indoor seating.
Do you have to ride the train to see the depot?
No — the depot and platform are open to the public to view even if you’re not boarding, which is what we did for this shoot.
🏕 Where We Stayed — Junction West Durango Riverside
Junction West Durango Riverside, Durango, CO | jwdurango.com
We based out of Junction West — All our drives were within an hour range. Disclosure: our stay was hosted by Junction West Durango RV Park. All opinions are our own.
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Angela DiLoreto is a bestselling author, former Fortune 500 marketing executive, and a passionate advocate who successfully worked to change stalking laws in several states after a family friend was murdered by her stalker. That fight — for justice, for voices that weren’t being heard, for stories that needed to be told — runs through everything she does. She and her husband Vince travel the country by RV with their two rescue chihuahuas, Gracie and Loki, chasing history, great food, and the overlooked people and places that shaped America. Angela created Fitting in Adventure and the Historic Footnotes series because the best stories are usually the ones nobody’s heard yet.