Durango is a contender for fat-tire capital of the world the town and the surrounding area is internationally known as a center of mountain biking. West of Durango, La Plata Mountains offer trails that start out humbly in foothills made of Dakota sandstone and then rise into the mountains at elevations exceeding 7,000 feet. These trails include the Jersey Jim Loop , North Fork , and Chicken Creek Road Loop . More on mountain biking in San Juan National Forest Skiing and Snowsports Just north of Durango, skiers and snowboarders can cascade down the powder slopes of the Purgatory Ski Area . Although its name sounds daunting, Purgatory is an intermediate skier's paradise.
Purgatory has a reputation for fresh powder and lots of sun.
The forest is home to 39 developed campgrounds. The Navajo Trail Campground is located near a hot springs and provides breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the San Juans. The West Fork Campground , just outside of Weminuche, is a mere four-mile hike away from Rainbow Hot Springs. We highly recommend camping in Transfer Park , an 11-acre meadow, used by miners during the late 1800s and situated in a beautiful aspen grove. The historic towns of Ridgway, Ouray, Silverton, Durango, Mancos, Cortez, Dolores, and Telluride are all connected by the San Juan Skyway a 236-mile route that cuts through the San Juan Mountains along state highways.