The Travel Plan
Take a quick morning hike to a great view spot on Animas Mountain Trail in Durango, Colorado.
Trail Route Overview
Animas Mountain Trail is a 5.8 mile loop, but for a quick Spring hike with great views, just do a 2.0 mile up and back (4.0 miles total).
Take the counterclockwise route with its open views of Durango and the Animas Valley. Near the 2.0 mile mark, there’s easy access to the rim and plenty of rocks to rest on while taking in the view.
Mid-May and June are my preferred times to do this trail. You’ll miss the post-winter mud, trail closures (except for Peregrine Falcon nesting further up the trail), and dusty dryness of Summer and Fall.
My Gear
The temperature was perfect – not too cold and not too hot. I’ve finally learned to either wear plenty of sunscreen or long sleeves and pants (or both) to protect my fair skin, so I went with an old long-sleeve Patagonia top and a pair of old Prana Halle pants (here’s a similar pair).
My go-to hiking shoes for this year are Merrill’s Moab 3 in Aluminum. They’re also working out well for daily dog walks and miscellaneous errands.
Anticipating just a couple of hours for the hike, and that’s taking our sweet time to enjoy the day, I grabbed a water bottle and snack bar for my REI Flash 22 backpack. Honestly, the pack was overkill, but I didn’t have time to hunt down my waist pack. Also, poles aren’t necessary, but I grabbed one just in case.
Post Hike Lunch
The perfect ending to the perfect day is sharing a hamburger and fries at one of Durango’s best brew pubs, SKA Brewing. They have a large, dog-friendly outdoor patio and roomy indoor seating with pub-height tables.
SKA’s beers are award-winning and their margaritas are muy bueno, too! Be forewarned, if you’re a “sugar on the rim” girl like my friend, Kathi, SKA may not provide that.
