The Durango Brewery Trail: Your Pint-by-Pint Walking Guide

For a town of about 19,000 people, Durango punches way above its weight in craft beer. We've got five solid breweries, and the beautiful part is that you can walk between most of them in under 20 minutes. No designated driver. No ride-share. Just a good pair of shoes and a plan.

Here's how to hit the Durango brewery trail the right way.

The Big Three: Steamworks, Ska, and Animas

These are the anchors of the Durango beer scene. If you only have time for three stops, these are the ones.

Steamworks Brewing Co. (801 E 2nd Avenue)

Steamworks has been brewing on 2nd Avenue since 1996, making it one of Durango's longest-running breweries. They consistently put out solid beers across every style — IPAs, lagers, stouts, sours, seasonals — and the food menu is extensive enough that this can be your dinner stop.

The Colorado Kolsch is light, clean, and crushable after a day on the trail or the slopes. The Third Eye Pale Ale is their flagship — balanced, hoppy without being aggressive, and a go-to for locals. If you're there in the colder months, the Conductor Milk Stout is smooth and roasty without being heavy.

The space itself is big, with a main dining area, a bar, and a second-level seating area. It gets loud on weekends, especially during ski season or summer tourist months. Service can be slow when it's packed, but the beer is worth the wait. Full bar, outdoor patio, and they take reservations for dinner.

Pro tip: If you're just there for beer and don't want to deal with the dinner crowd, grab a seat at the bar. Faster service, and you can order appetizers without committing to a full meal.

Ska Brewing (225 Girard Street)

Ska has been cranking out beer in Durango since 1995, and their taproom on Girard Street is where you'll find the full lineup plus taproom-only releases. The vibe is laid-back — picnic tables, rotating food trucks, dogs welcome on the patio. It's more industrial warehouse than polished brewpub, and that's the appeal.

Modus Hoperandi IPA is the flagship — hoppy, citrusy, and one of the best IPAs in Southwest Colorado. True Blonde Ale is light, crisp, and exactly what you want after a hike or bike ride. Euphoria Pale Ale sits somewhere in between — more hop character than the Blonde, less aggressive than the IPA.

Ska also does a solid job with their darker beers. The Steel Toe Stout is roasty and smooth, and the Buster Nut Brown is malty and easy-drinking without being sweet.

The taproom is dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and has a rotating schedule of food trucks. Check their website or social media to see who's parked outside before you go. Some of the food trucks are excellent; some are just okay. But the beer is always good.

Pro tip: Grab a flight if you've never been. They usually offer 4-6 tasters for $10-$12, and it's the best way to sample the range without committing to full pints.

Animas Brewing Company (1560 E 2nd Avenue)

Animas Brewing is smaller and more neighborhood-y than Steamworks or Ska. They focus on European-inspired styles — kolsch, hefeweizen, pilsner, Czech lagers — and they do them well. If you're tired of hop-heavy IPAs and want something lighter and more nuanced, this is your spot.

The Animas City Kolsch is clean, crisp, and refreshing. The Hefeweizen is banana and clove-forward in the classic Bavarian style. The Czech Pilsner is crisp and bitter in the way a pilsner should be. They also rotate seasonals and experimental batches, so check the tap list when you arrive.

The taproom is cozy — more living room than warehouse. They serve food (pizza, sandwiches, salads), and it's solid pub fare. Nothing fancy, but it pairs well with the beer and you won't leave hungry.

Pro tip: Animas Brewing is a little farther east on 2nd Avenue than the others, so start here if you're walking the trail west to east. It's also quieter and less crowded than Steamworks or Ska, so it's a good spot to start if you want to ease into the crawl.

The Bonus Stops: Carver and Durango Beer & Ice

If you have time (or stamina) for more, these two are worth adding to the route.

Carver Brewing Company (1022 Main Avenue)

Carver opened in 1986, making it the Southwest's original brewpub. It's been a local hub for nearly 40 years, and the vibe reflects that — wood-paneled walls, old ski posters, and a menu that leans into American comfort food.

The beer lineup is solid if not groundbreaking. They brew a range of styles — pale ales, IPAs, stouts, lagers — and most of them are approachable and easy-drinking. The food is the real draw here: burgers, sandwiches, salads, and breakfast (served until 2pm most days). If you're doing the brewery crawl earlier in the day, Carver is a great breakfast or lunch stop.

Located on Main Avenue in the heart of downtown, Carver is also a convenient stop if you're already walking around and want to grab a pint without making a detour.

Durango Beer and Ice Company (3000 Main Avenue)

Durango Beer and Ice was founded in 1887 (yes, 1887) and is one of the oldest operating breweries in Colorado. The current iteration is a modern brewpub, but they lean into the history with the name and branding.

The taproom is a little farther north on Main Avenue, so it's not as walkable from the others unless you're doing a full downtown loop. But if you have a car or bike, it's worth the trip. The Amber Ale won gold at the 2024 Colorado State Fair Craft Beer competition. The Durango Dark Lager took silver. Both are solid, straightforward beers that represent classic styles well.

The space is casual, dog-friendly on the deck, and has on-site parking — which is a rare luxury in downtown Durango. They serve appetizers and sandwiches, and the vibe is more neighborhood brewpub than tourist destination.

The Walking Route

Here's the most efficient way to hit the big three on foot:

Start at Animas Brewing (1560 E 2nd Avenue) — easternmost point, quieter vibe, good place to start.
Walk west to Steamworks (801 E 2nd Avenue) — about a 10-minute walk. Grab a pint and some food.
Finish at Ska Brewing (225 Girard Street) — about a 15-minute walk from Steamworks. End with the full lineup and a food truck.

Total walking time between all three: under 30 minutes. Total drinking time: however long you want.

If you want to add Carver Brewing (1022 Main Avenue) to the route, it's a 10-minute walk from Steamworks and sits right in the middle of downtown. If you're adding Durango Beer and Ice (3000 Main Avenue), it's farther north and probably makes more sense as a separate trip unless you're biking.

Best Times to Go

Summer afternoons are peak tourist season. Expect crowds, especially at Steamworks and Ska. If you want a quieter experience, go on a weekday afternoon or early evening before the dinner rush.

Fall and spring shoulder seasons are ideal. The weather is still nice enough to sit on patios, but the crowds are thinner and the locals are out. Mid-September through mid-October is prime time.

Winter weekends during ski season get busy again, especially at Steamworks. But if you're in town for skiing and want to hit the brewery trail after a day on the slopes, it's hard to beat the vibe. Just be ready for crowds and slower service.

After the Trail: Where to Stay

If you're in town for a ski trip and want to combine the brewery trail with mountain access, consider staying at Purgatory Resort instead of downtown Durango. Our townhomes — Basecamp (110 Door2Lift) and Timberline (122 Ski Home) — are right across from the resort with hot tubs, full kitchens, and free shuttle access to the lift.

It's about a 30-minute drive from Purgatory to downtown Durango, so you can ski all day, drive into town for the brewery crawl, and head back to the hot tub when you're done. Both properties have EV chargers if you're driving electric.

Basecamp sleeps eight with a pool table and plenty of space for groups. Timberline sleeps six and has a fireplace and mountain views. Check availability at purgatoryunlocked.com.

Final Tips

Walk, don't drive. The whole point of a downtown brewery crawl is that you don't need a car. Durango is flat and walkable. Use your legs.
Bring cash for food trucks. Most food trucks at Ska Brewing take cards now, but some are cash-only. Be prepared.
Check hours before you go. Brewery hours change seasonally, and some close early on weekdays or Sundays. Confirm hours on their websites or social media.
Hydrate between stops. This is 6,500 feet elevation. Altitude + beer = faster dehydration. Drink water. Your future self will thank you.

That's the Durango brewery trail. Walk it, drink it, enjoy it. See you on the patio.

Planning a trip to Purgatory? Check availability and book direct — save 10-15% vs Airbnb/VRBO.