Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

Every Memorial Day weekend, Durango and Silverton become bookends for one of cycling’s great American traditions, as riders climb from the Animas River valley over dramatic San Juan passes on a route that has drawn racers for decades. A criterium and community rides widen the field well beyond serious competitors. Support vehicles and aid stations along the route give families a rough sense of where a rider is likely to be at any given hour.

Families can watch the start from downtown Durango’s Buckley Park, then drive ahead to a mountain overlook to cheer riders through the high passes, turning a single race into a full day of shifting scenery. Younger children often enjoy the community ride distances as their own introduction to mountain cycling.

Multiple days of racing and the historic railway connecting the two towns make a Durango-based Stay the practical choice for most families. Pack layers for cool mountain mornings that warm fast at altitude, and add a narrow-gauge train ride or Animas River outing to round out the weekend. It is a genuinely scenic way to watch cycling’s history unfold across two beloved mountain towns. Bring a folding chair for pass-summit viewing, since the best vantage points fill up well before the leaders arrive.