Epic Day Trips & Scenic Drives - JW Durango Riverside Resort

Discover Surprising Flora on the Coal Creek Canyon Detour

Cluster of colorful wildflowers blooming beside a gravel road with pine-covered hills in the background under warm sunlight.

Detour off U.S. 550 to Coal Creek Canyon for kid-safe trails, Instagram-worthy wildflowers, RV-friendly pull-outs, and a bloom calendar that keeps every hiker chasing color.

Highlander Trailhead Hacks for Epic Bridal Veil Basin Views

Two hikers with backpacks and trekking poles consult a map at a mountain trailhead near Durango, Colorado, with wildflowers, distant peaks, and a waterfall in the background under clear blue skies.

Drive the Million Dollar Highway, hike above Colorado’s tallest waterfall into wildflower-studded Bridal Veil Basin, and still be back at Junction West Durango Riverside Resort for s’mores by dusk.

Unearth Cremation Gulch: Guided Ghost-Town Archaeology Trek Awaits

Group of people on an archaeology trek near Durango, Colorado, examining mining cabin ruins on a sunny hillside, guided by a woman pointing at layers of soil, surrounded by old wooden beams and dry grass under a blue sky.

Swap city noise for alpine silence on a guided, photo-ready ghost-town hike through Durango’s hidden Cremation Gulch, complete with family shortcuts, budget bundles, and campfire stories beside the Animas.

Hidden Alpine Lakes Await on Engineer Mountain Road—Secluded and Stunning

A secluded alpine lake with clear turquoise water reflects evergreen trees and distant snow-capped peaks. A winding dirt road bordered by wildflowers leads toward the tranquil shoreline under a blue sky with scattered clouds. No people or buildings are visible, creating a peaceful, natural mountain scene.

Discover Durango’s hidden alpine lakes, trail hacks, and après-hike perks—each only 45 minutes from your base at Junction West Durango Riverside Resort.

Strata Spotter Guide: Unlocking Red Mountain Pass Geology

Geologist kneeling by colorful rock layers in alpine mountains, examining strata with hand lens and field notebook under a partly cloudy sky

Swap campground coffee for a self-guided US 550 geology safari featuring kid-friendly rock IDs, RV-length pullouts, photo-perfect red cliffs, and mile-by-mile tips from Junction West Durango Riverside Resort to Red Mountain Pass.

Hermosa Creek Drive: Night Safari for Bioluminescent Fungi

Hikers with flashlights explore glowing bioluminescent fungi along a moonlit forest road at night, surrounded by tall pine trees and mossy logs.

Swap porch lights for foxfire on a quick evening drive from Junction West, with this guide to Hermosa Creek’s bioluminescent fungi, best nights, safety prep, photo settings and post-hike riverfront comforts.

1-970-247-4499

We're Social