La Plata County - 29 Attractions You Must Visit
Contents in This Page
About La Plata County
La Plata County is one of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The county is home to Durango Rock Shelters Archeology Site, the type site for the Basketmaker II period of Anasazi culture.Types of Attractions in La Plata County
Popular Activities And Trips in La Plata County
Filter By Date
//
Sort By
List of Attractions in La Plata County
Animas MuseumThe Animas Museum is a small, local history museum owned and operated by the La Plata County Historical Society. Its mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the history, culture and heritage of the San Juan Basin, with a focus on La Plata County. It also offers a wide variety of exhibits and educational programs to people of all ages; a research library and photo archive; a gift shop; award-winning gardens; and a restored pioneer log cabin.
Iconic Buildings
Museums
Bar D ChuckwagonBar D Chuckwagon are a stage performance quartet presenting a blend of Western music, cowboy poetry, and rollicking Western humor. They are based at their chuckwagon-style restaurant near Durango, Colorado, and perform there and at mostly regional venues. They have performed internationally in Japan. The Bar D Wranglers perform in concert after supper with music and songs of old west cowboys, comedy, and lively instrumentals. The show is fun for the whole family.
Man-made Structures - Other
Bar/ Pubs
Chicago BasinChicago Basin in the northern part of La Plata County is undoubtedly one of the premier hiking areas in Colorado. It lies within the Weminuche Wilderness, part of the San Juan National Forest. The basin is a popular destination in summer for climbers and backpackers. The standard route of access to Chicago Basin is somewhat unusual.
1 Day Treks
Mountain Peaks
Dalton Ranch Golf ClubDalton Ranch Golf Club is a semi – private 18 hole golf course located in the magnificent Animas Valley, north of Durango, Colorado.This isn’t only a place to get a spectacular round of golf in - the Club hosts multiple programs for children and families. Swimming lessons, pickleball, and golf classes are available for children.
Man-made Structures - Other
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RailroadDurango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train provides historic and entertaining vintage train rides to the public year round. It is a 3 ft narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally-designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Man-made Structures - Other
Old Ruins
Durango Botanic GardensThe Durango Botanic Gardens are located on the Animas River Trail on the north and east sides of the Library. Bring a picnic, sit on the grass, listen to the river, wander the paths and enjoy the ambiance of a Botanic Garden. The Gardens are open 24/7 and are free.
Botanical Gardens
Electra LakeElectra Lake is a private, man-made reservoir located roughly 23 miles north of Durango in La Plata County, Colorado. The reservoir's maximum capacity is 29,800 acre⋅ft. The lake is open to the public for fee use during the summer months.
Lake/ River/ Ponds
Haviland LakeHaviland Lake is an 80-acre, no-wake lake with excellent boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. The campground is situated on the shore of Haviland Lake, among shady, towering ponderosa pines, at an elevation of 8,705 feet. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and hiking opportunities in a scenic, natural setting. The popular campground is beautiful any time of the year.
Lake/ River/ Ponds
Hermosa Creek TrailThe Hermosa Creek Trail is one of the best and most popular trails in the Durango area. There are several route options including an out and back on the singletrack portion of Hermosa Creek Trail. The main trail is very obvious. You will see several trail junctions along the way, but the main Hermosa Creek Trail is always the most well-worn route.
Outdoors - Other
1 Day Treks
Hesperus Ski AreaHesperus Ski Area is 8,880 feet above sea level. 80% of the skiable terrain is lighted for night skiing. It has 13 runs, of which 30% are beginner difficulty, 20% are intermediate and 50% are of expert difficulty. It also features one rope tow and one double chair lift. There is also a full service snack bar, ski and snowboard rentals, ski and snowboard lessons and a tubing hill.
Skiing Spots
Mountain Peaks
Jupiter MountainJupiter Mountain is Colorado's 92nd highest peak. Jupiter sits at the head of Needle Creek and shares the remote Chicago Basin with four fourteeners--South Mount Eolus, North Mount Eolus, Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak--so it is an often overlooked mountain by those who venture into Chicago Basin. Jupiter Mountain also boasts some fun snow climbing on the mountain's north side. As these routes are snow climbs, they are best done in winter or spring when there's good snowpack.
1 Day Treks
Mountain Peaks
Kennebec TrailheadThis magnificent trail cuts straight up through the Kennebec Valley, curving back and forth with the mighty river while overlooking woods and mountains. It runs from Embden to Bingham and makes for very comfortable travel. The surface of the trail is crushed gravel, and it's ideal for bikers, walkers, skiers, snowmobilers - just about anyone.
Outdoors - Other
1 Day Treks
La Plata CanyonLa Plata Canyon is located west of Durango in the San Juan National Forest area of southwest Colorado. Rugged mountains and snow-melt waterfalls await visitors to this verdant, river-cut canyon.Although this trail is not singletrack, it offers nice views and wildflowers the further up you go, making the climb worth it. This trail is approximately 9.25 miles in length from the main parking area and gains over 2,800 feet.
Outdoors - Other
1 Day Treks
Mountain Peaks
Lake NighthorseLake Nighthorse is a reservoir created by the 270 feet high Ridges Basin Dam southwest of Durango in La Plata County Colorado.The lake is full and the surface area is approximately 1,500 acres at maximum elevation and the reservoir area includes a total of approximately 5,500 acres. The reservoir site is two miles from downtown Durango and provides a significant recreational amenity to the area.
Lake/ River/ Ponds
Lemon DamThe earthen dam is a project of the United States Bureau of Reclamation and was completed in 1963, at 284 feet high and 1,360 feet long at its crest. The dam impounds the Florida River for flood control and irrigation water storage, operated by the local Florida Water Conservancy District. 120 kW of hydroelectric power is generated here.
Dams
Lemon ReservoirLemon Dam is a zoned earthfill structure with a structural height of 284 feet and a crest length of 1,360 feet. This beautiful reservoir offers a wealth of incredible outdoor activities to enjoy while vacationing. The dam impounds the Florida River for flood control and irrigation water storage, operated by the local Florida Water Conservancy District. 120 kW of hydroelectric power is generated here.
Dams
Middle MountainMiddle Peak is a high and prominent mountain summit in the San Miguel Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,306-foot peak is located in the Lizard Head Wilderness, 17.1 miles west-southwest of the Town of Telluride, Colorado, United States, on the drainage divide separating San Juan National Forest and Dolores County from Uncompahgre National Forest and San Miguel County.
1 Day Treks
Mountain Peaks
Mount EolusMount Eolus is a high mountain summit of the Needle Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is one of three fourteeners in the Needle Mountains; the others are Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak. These mountains are among the most remote of Colorado's fourteeners and have a strong wilderness character.
Viewpoints
1 Day Treks
Mountain Peaks
Map
Comments
Please Sign In to add your comments
For more information about La Plata County, visit : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Plata_County,_Colorado
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply