Durango, Silverton & Telluride, Colorado
A steam train through the San Juan Mountains, dirt roads in Silverton, and the Million Dollar Highway into Telluride.
A three-day loop from Phoenix into the San Juan Mountains — a historic steam train, a Wild West mining town frozen in time, and one of the most dramatic drives in the country.
Day 1: The Road to Durango
6:00 AM — The alarm buzzed, and excitement kicked in. Packed the bags, water bottles, and food for the road.
10:00 AM — We left Phoenix around 10:00 AM, heading north towards our destination — Durango, Colorado.
1:00 PM — A quick stop in Kayenta, AZ (near Monument Valley) to refuel the car. The drive up was smooth, so we decided to swing through Mexican Hat, Oljato. The kids were thrilled, and literally 50-60 people were stopping to take photos of the iconic rock formations.
9:00 PM — We finally arrived in Durango! The charming historic town welcomed us with warm lights and quiet streets.
Day 2: A Journey Through Time — Durango to Silverton
6:30 AM — Woke up to the distant sound of a train whistle — today was the day! A quick breakfast, then off to the Durango & Silverton Train Station.
8:30 AM — The train chugged out of the station, steam billowing, as we slowly wound our way into the San Juan Mountains.
12:15 PM — Stepping off in Silverton was like walking into a time capsule — dirt roads, wooden storefronts, and rugged mountains in every direction. Lunch at a local brewery & pizza spot was a cozy affair, with good pizza for the whole family.
2:45 PM — Boarded the train back to Durango, the sun now casting golden hues over the canyon walls. The return ride felt entirely different in the afternoon light.
6:30 PM — Back in Durango, tired but happy. Wrapped up the day with dinner at Himalayan Kitchen, indulging in tandoori chicken and biryani. Sleep came easily after a full day of nostalgia and adventure.
Day 3: Million Dollar Views & Telluride’s Magic
10:00 AM — Time to hit the famous Million Dollar Highway. This road, twisting through sheer cliffs and alpine passes, was both thrilling and breathtaking.
2:30 PM — Reached Telluride Mountain Village and parked at Market Plaza. The excitement built up as we boarded the free Telluride Gondola, with panoramic views of the valley below.
4:00 PM — Telluride was straight out of a postcard — quaint shops, historic buildings, and snow-capped peaks all around. Walked down Colorado Avenue, explored the Telluride Historical Museum, and grabbed lunch at Brown Dog Pizza.
5:45 PM — Time to head back. Another relaxing gondola ride down, then back on the road.
8:00 PM — Pulled into Durango as the sun set behind the mountains. One last dinner at a local restaurant to wrap up an unforgettable loop through the San Juans.