Dogs Dare to Discover Durango, Colorado
- Luie Boone
- May 13
- 5 min read
This vacation destination is a part of our second series of blog posts titled K9 Kind.
If you're dreaming of an adventure with your furry companion, Durango, Colorado is the place to go! Tucked into the stunning San Juan Mountains, this vibrant town welcomes pups at every turn. Its rugged landscape is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts and their adventurous dogs.
With miles of scenic trails winding through mountains and forests, there’s something for every kind of canine explorer, from gentle riverside strolls to challenging alpine hikes. For dogs who love to splash around, Durango offers peaceful lakes and rivers perfect for a refreshing swim. If fetching sticks in the river is more of your dog’s idea of heaven, then they'll feel right at home in the woods.
After a day of adventure, you and your pup can relax and recharge at one of Durango’s many pup-friendly cafés and restaurants. Outdoor patios are common, and many go the extra mile to provide water bowls and treats for furry guests.
Come for the views and stay for the wagging tails, because Durango is where adventure meets belly rubs.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Durango, Colorado. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Log Cabin & Hut
This rental has 4 bedrooms with 7 beds and 2 baths (guest hut with 2 twins).
Photos courtesy of VRBO
It features the following amenities:
Located on 13 acres, which borders a National Forest
Firepit (or, as Luie Boone calls it, the smore making machine)
Dog feeding and water bowls are provided
Has large open decks, a roomy sun room, and a side porch
Property even includes the Pioneer Trail which joins with many miles of other trail (Luie Boone would be adventuring fur-ever!)
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
First off, this isn’t a fancy hotel with tiny shampoos. It’s a real cabin in the woods! In fact, it was once a goat farm. Where are those goats now? Will they come visit? Anyways, this cabin is now a cozy log home with a guest hut, big trees, and all the best smells. Yeah, think squirrels and chipmunks! The main cabin has log beds, which are great for sneaky naps. It also has a guest hut that used to be part of a gold mine! Hopefully, my humans don't try make me sniff out any remaining gold. If they do, my sniffer only works for treats! In the guest hut, there's no bathroom. The means if we go out there, my humans will have to go back to the main cabin to use the potty. Me? I’ll just use a tree. My humans tell me that I better not go on any solo adventures while I'm frolicking around the property. That's because there are bears... and skunks... and even mountain lions! We'll have to be careful. But, hey, do you want to know my absolute favorite part about Log Cabin & Hut? Dogs are totally welcome! There's no fees, no fuss, just bowls and lots of love waiting.
Paws Venture Here
Animas River Trail
Bring rover on this trail, which runs for over 10 miles along the scenic Animas River and follows the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad corridor for parts of its route. During summer, about eight trains per day run along the tracks. In Durango, the trains travel a maximum of 15-20 mph! Luie Boone bets he can keep up!
Lake Nighthorse
If your pup is the adventuring type, you got to go paddle boarding with them on this gorgeous lake! Luie Boone would have a hard time staying on the paddle board. He'd just him to swim beside us!
Sky Steps
This stairway, which extends over 500 steps and gains over 250 feet in elevation, makes for a wonderful walking route for you and your pal.
Dalla Mountain Park
This mountain park is a popular destination for hiking. From time to time, you’ll enter areas with large boulders and find a trail may seem difficult. Don't worry, though. If you and your canine companion continue to parallel the cliff band above, you’ll both find your way!
Gudy's Rest
The entire hike up Gudy's Rest offers beautiful views, especially once your reach the top. Bring a lunch, your best friend, and enjoy views of Durango and the San Juan Mountains below. Luie Boone wants to give you a friendly reminder to not forget your best friend's lunch... or they'll be stealing nibbles of your kibble.
Oxbow Park Loop
Take your pup on this just over 1 mile loop trail. It has nice river views and opportunities to see wildlife.
Hike with your pooch on this trail to reach Potato Lake! Potato Lake! Luie Boone needs to know what type of potatoes are waiting there. Personally, he's a big fan of the baked potato. Anyways, the journey to the lake requires a small elevation gain. You'll be reaching the shores of Potato Lake at about 9,800 feet above sea level.
Cream Bean Berry
Bring Fido with you while you enjoy dessert outside on the charming front patio of Cream Bean Berry. While they don't have a full dog menu, they do have pup cups available for four-legged guests to enjoy.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Durango, Colorado
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
My humans say we’re going on vacation to a place called Durango. Sounds fun! Mountains, rivers, and squirrels—all with a little altitude. But, then I overheard them say it’s a biking town. Bikes? Like, those weird metal creatures that zoom past me at the park like silent squirrels on wheels? I always want to chase those metal creatures! And there are supposed to be lots of them there? Everywhere!? At home, I tried barking at one once. It just kept going right by me, didn't even give me the time of day. How rude. I tried chasing one, too, but I only got yelled at. Double rude! Apparently in Durango, bikes are just part of the lifestyle. Some even have dogs riding in these little baskets that are connected to those metal creatures. The dogs sit in there like it’s normal, like they're some sort of royalty while I have to hoof it around on paw patrol. Honestly, I can’t wait for this trip, but, seriously, I'm going to have to brace myself for nonstop confusion and side-stepping, because of those mystery, metal machines. Wish me luck out there. I'm going to need it to survive the overtaking of the metal creatures.
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