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	La Plata Economic Development Action Partnership 111 S. Camino del Rio Durango, CO 81302 phone: 970-259-1700 Fax: 970-385-7884

Recreation

Surrounded by the vast San Juan National Forest, La Plata County seems to lure those who enjoy an active lifestyle and the outdoors. Preferences run the gamut, from adventure with white water kayaking, extreme skiing and climbing one of Colorado's famed "Fourteener" mountain peaks, to the more leisurely fly-fishing, river walks, and skiing the groomed downhill trails. Choices are plentiful, and in La Plata County, recreation merely shifts with the season.

Summer
In summer, the mountain trails are shared by hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, with some terrain open to jeeps and all-terrain vehicles. While the Four Corners region has the largest per capita recreational horse population in the country, mountain biking is coming on strong as the area's leading sport.

The city has 32 parks spread over more than 193 acres of developed park land. Most of the parks feature picnic facilities, playgrounds, skateboard facility, fishing areas, bicycle and foot trails, and open space. Several riverfront parks sit along the Animas River including Whitewater Park, a popular area for kayak racing events that draw nationwide competition . The Fort Lewis Recreation Complex, built by Parks and Recreation and located at Fort Lewis College, provides playing fields for softball and soccer. Durango is known as a road and mountain biking mecca. It is the home of the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, site of the 1990 World Mountain Bike Championships and the 2001 World Cup.

Boating & Fishing
The Animas River literally runs through the city of Durango, and, thus, river sports abound. While the Animas is known for rafting, floating and kayaking, all of La Plata County's rivers and reservoirs are revered for their fishing. Fly-fisherman of all ages and skill levels year-round enjoy both the invigoration and tranquility of the sport. Since rivers generally announce the presence of lakes, boating is also popular in the region. Water enthusiasts flock to Lake Vallecito within La Plata County, or travel to nearby McPhee Reservoir or Navajo Lake for boating, water and jet skiing.

Golf
High county golf means rolling greens set within the county's stunning natural environs. Among those alluring courses are Hillcrest Golf Club, Dalton Ranch Golf Club, Hunters Run Golf Course, Conquistador Golf Course (in Cortez), Pagosa Springs Golf Club, Pinon Hills Golf Course and Hidden Valley Golf Club in New Mexico.

Cycling
Cycling in general is booming in the region. For more than 30 years, hundreds have come out to race the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Durango also played host to the 1990 Mountain Biking World Championships, and in 2001 was one of only 16 cities in the world selected to host a leg of the prestigious UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

Rec Center
The Durango Community Recreation Center, a $15 million state-of-the-art facility at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, opened early January 2002 and includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool, racquetball and basketball courts, weight training and exercise equipment and more. The center is merely one of the gems in the current redevelopment of the entire county fairgrounds. The Rec Center may be reached at (970) 375-7300. Additionally, the $10 million Sun Ute Community Center recently opened in Ignacio and also features state-of-the-art health and recreational facilities.

Winter Sports
And what would life in the Rockies be without skiing? La Plata County has a variety of options including traditional alpine, Nordic and extreme adventures. Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort boasts scenic downhill terrain for all skill levels. The resort has also launched an ambitious capital improvements program, which included installation of a six-person, top-to-bottom express lift.

And what would life in the Rockies be without skiing? La Plata County has a variety of options including traditional alpine, Nordic and extreme adventures. Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort boasts scenic downhill terrain for all skill levels. During the ski season, the resort boasts 1,200 skiable acres and 85 trails serviced by 11 lifts.

La Plata County's miles of rural and backcountry roads and trails provide a winter wonderland for cross country skiers and snow shoeing enthusiasts. Night skiing is featured at the Hesperus Ski Area, and Snowcats transport expert skiers to high country bowls for the truly challenging deep powder shushing.

Youth Sports

Basketball-Boys and Girls can participate in the Rec center’s youth basketball program which is geared for kids in
grades 1-6.

Gymnastics-The Mason Center in conjunction with the Durango Rec Center, offers a variety of classes for boys and girls ranging from beginners to the more advanced gymnasts. Through positive interactions with the coaches, children will learn a range of skills upon which they can build.

Hockey- The Durango Area Youth Hockey Association in conjunction with Durango Parks and Recreation offers advanced youth hockey players the chance to play on a competitive traveling hockey team. Players who are new to the game or aren’t interested in the travel team, can pursue the Rec Center’s “Learn to Play Hockey” program which is an excellent non-competitive way for children to learn the skills and strategies involved in the sport.

Soccer-Youth soccer is very popular in Durango and this program aims to teach coordination, agility, and teamwork all in a fun environment that is great for all abilities.

PARKS
The city has 32 parks spread over more than 193 acres of developed park land. Most of the parks feature picnic facilities, playgrounds, skateboard facility, fishing areas, bicycle and foot trails, and open space. Several riverfront parks sit along the Animas River including Whitewater Park, a popular area for kayak racing events that draw nationwide competition.

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