NEW!: River of “Lost” Souls
A Morning Nature & History Walk Along the Animas
Saddle up. rough waters ahead.
Start your day with beauty, fresh air, and stories rooted in the Animas Valley.
River of Lost Souls is a 1-hour guided nature & history walk that begins at the Durango Public Library and follows a scenic, easy route through the Botanical Gardens, along the River Trail, and toward the Durango State Fish Hatchery before looping back to the library.
This nature & history walk blends natural history and local stories in one of Durango’s prettiest settings. Along the way, we’ll explore topics such as:
Native vegetation and the riparian river ecosystem
Indigenous history of the Animas Valley
Early pioneer history of this section of Durango
The 1911 Flood
The Gold King Mine Spill and its impact on the river
There will be time to pause at the hatchery area to enjoy the river setting and, when possible, feed the fish before heading back. Bring a few quarters if you’d like to buy fish food at the hatchery.
This tour is family-friendly, wheelchair accessible, and suitable for well-behaved leashed dogs (please note: dogs are not allowed in the hatchery).
After the walk, we recommend grabbing a cup of coffee and a breakfast roll from Common Grounds Café inside the library (opens at 10 AM). Common Grounds offers vocational training opportunities for students from Durango High School and Pathways to Independence. You can also enjoy a beautiful view of the Animas River from the library veranda.
Tour Details
Meeting Point: Durango Public Library (1900 E 3rd Ave)
End Point:
Stay at the hatchery or walk back to the library
Tour Length: 60 minutes
Distance:
0.5-mile one-way walking tour
Know Before You Go
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes
Binoculars for bird watching
Water
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
A light layer (mornings can be cool)
Quarters if you’d like to buy fish food at the hatchery
Route & Accessibility
This is an easy nature & history walk on sidewalks and paved paths
Wheelchair accessible
Family-friendly and suitable for kids
Dogs
Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome
Please note: Dogs are not allowed in the hatchery
Hatchery Stop
We’ll pause near the Durango State Fish Hatchery to enjoy the river setting. When possible, guests may feed the fish.
After the Tour
If you’d like to make a morning of it, stop by Common Grounds Café inside the library after the walk (opens at 10 AM) for coffee and a breakfast roll. Common Grounds supports vocational training for Durango High School and Pathways to Independence students.
Good to Know
This is a rain-or-shine outdoor walk (unless conditions are unsafe). Please dress for the weather.
Cowboy hat optional. Soul searching mandatory.
FAQ
-
About 1 hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.
-
Approximately 0.5 miles round-trip on paved paths and sidewalks.
-
We meet at the Durango Public Library. The walk starts and ends there. The Botanic Gardens are on the northwest side of the library.
-
Yes—parking is available at the library. There are two EV chargers if you want to charge up while on the walk.
-
Yes—restrooms at the Durango Public Library are available at the end of the tour. Please note: the library restrooms are not open until 9:30 AM.
-
Yes—this is a wheelchair accessible walk along paved paths and sidewalks.
-
Absolutely—this is a family-friendly nature & history walk.
-
Yes—well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Please note: dogs are not allowed in the hatchery. -
We recommend comfortable shoes, water, and sun protection. Mornings can be cool, so a light layer is a good idea.
*Bring a few quarters if you’d like to buy fish food at the hatchery. -
When possible, we’ll pause near the hatchery and guests may have the option to feed the fish. (Quarters recommended.)
-
After the tour, you can stop by Common Grounds Café inside the library (opens at 10:00 AM) for coffee and a breakfast roll.
-
This is an outdoor walk and typically runs rain or shine, but we’ll adjust or cancel if conditions are unsafe. If the tour is cancelled, you will receive a full refund.