THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend 2.5 hours on an open-air 4x4 through La Plata Canyon’s Columbus Basin. This short, family-friendly jeep tour delivers alpine meadows, waterfalls, mining history, and wildlife without a full-day commitment.
Spend 2.5 hours on an open-air 4x4 through La Plata Canyon’s Columbus Basin. This short, family-friendly jeep tour delivers alpine meadows, waterfalls, mining history, and wildlife without a full-day commitment.
The afternoon air in La Plata Canyon has a crispness that catches at the edges of your jacket as the jeep rumbles away from the trailhead. Open-air seats give a front-row view as the vehicle climbs toward Columbus Basin — trees lean aside, a creek dares you to follow its rocky voice, and meadow edges flash with wildflowers or gold aspens depending on the month.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours · Durango, Colorado
The afternoon air in La Plata Canyon has a crispness that catches at the edges of your jacket as the jeep rumbles away from the trailhead. Open-air seats give a front-row view as the vehicle climbs toward Columbus Basin — trees lean aside, a creek dares you to follow its rocky voice, and meadow edges flash with wildflowers or gold aspens depending on the month.
This short, 2½-hour route sits below the higher Kennebec Pass but still reaches alpine country at about 10,745 feet, where glacially carved bowls and steep headwalls hint at the canyon’s Pleistocene past. La Plata City, a silver-mining settlement founded in 1875, threads the human story through this landscape; your guide will point out old workings and talk about ranching and rail history that shaped the valley. Geology is literal here — layered sedimentary cliffs and scattered talus point to uplift and erosion, while aspen groves and subalpine meadows mark the transition in elevation.
Expect narrow, sometimes rocky jeep roads, short photo stops at waterfalls and meadows, and chances to spot elk, mule deer, and marmots. The tour runs mid-May through October with afternoon departures from Durango, and the small-group format (max 12) keeps the experience personal and family-friendly.
Practicalities: park in the dirt lot by the gate, dress in layers for rapid temperature shifts, and bring closed-toe shoes for short walks. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a camera are essential — the light in the basin can change in minutes, revealing new angles on classic Colorado terrain.
The tour is 2.5 hours and operates mid-May through October with afternoon departures, typically leaving around 1:15 PM.
Meet in the dirt parking lot to the right of the gate at the entrance to La Plata Canyon; look for a red or white safari jeep.
Yes. The tour is family-friendly and rated easy, but it’s not recommended for travelers with serious spinal injuries due to rough road sections.
Bring layers, sun protection, closed-toe shoes, and any personal cameras or binoculars; water is provided on the tour.
Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The afternoon air in La Plata Canyon has a crispness that catches at the edges of your jacket as the jeep rumbles away from the trailhead. Open-air seats give a front-row view as the vehicle climbs toward Columbus Basin — trees lean aside, a creek dares you to follow its rocky voice, and meadow edges flash with wildflowers or gold aspens depending on the month.
The afternoon air in La Plata Canyon has a crispness that catches at the edges of your jacket as the jeep rumbles away from the trailhead. Open-air seats give a front-row view as the vehicle climbs toward Columbus Basin — trees lean aside, a creek dares you to follow its rocky voice, and meadow edges flash with wildflowers or gold aspens depending on the month.
This short, 2½-hour route sits below the higher Kennebec Pass but still reaches alpine country at about 10,745 feet, where glacially carved bowls and steep headwalls hint at the canyon’s Pleistocene past. La Plata City, a silver-mining settlement founded in 1875, threads the human story through this landscape; your guide will point out old workings and talk about ranching and rail history that shaped the valley. Geology is literal here — layered sedimentary cliffs and scattered talus point to uplift and erosion, while aspen groves and subalpine meadows mark the transition in elevation.
Expect narrow, sometimes rocky jeep roads, short photo stops at waterfalls and meadows, and chances to spot elk, mule deer, and marmots. The tour runs mid-May through October with afternoon departures from Durango, and the small-group format (max 12) keeps the experience personal and family-friendly.
Practicalities: park in the dirt lot by the gate, dress in layers for rapid temperature shifts, and bring closed-toe shoes for short walks. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a camera are essential — the light in the basin can change in minutes, revealing new angles on classic Colorado terrain.