Disc golf in Durango is a short list with one clear answer. The college course on a mesa above the valley is the one anyone can plan around, and the other two courses the directories list are on private land. Here is what each one is, how the main course plays, and what to check before you go.
Where is the main disc golf course in Durango?
- Operator: Fort Lewis College Recreational Services, which says the course has 18 baskets
- Northeast end of campus: six baskets near the Smith Field Complex
- Southeast corner of campus: twelve baskets near the Bader-Snyder Complex
- Map: download one from the college's page, or pick up a paper copy at the Student Life Center front desk
- Contact: the same page names who handles maintenance problems and reservations
The PDGA course directory lists the course as permanent, 18 holes, in the Durango 81301 area on East 8th Avenue, with "Pay to Play: no" and "Private: no" (PDGA). That is the best public statement of access. It is not a promise, so if you plan a tournament or a large group, use the reservation contact on the college's page.
What is the Fort Lewis course like?
The PDGA entry describes a course on the mesa overlooking the Durango valley that is "often windy." It was redesigned in 2014, when baskets replaced the older TubeTone targets. The listing gives the layout this way:
- Holes 1 through 6 are open
- Holes 7 through 16 get progressively more trees
- Holes 17 and 18 are tight tunnel shots
- Holes 12, 15, 16 and 17 have C positions, which add 228 feet to the B-course length
- There are long walks between holes 6 and 7 and from hole 18 back to the parking lot
The numbers, from the same PDGA entry (PDGA):
- Length: 3,960 feet, or 3,474 feet from the alternate tees
- Hole lengths: 17 holes under 300 feet and one between 300 and 400 feet
- Tees and ground: dirt tees, flat elevation, and a mix of trees and open ground
- Our read: a friendly course for beginners that tightens up near the end, with wind as the part that surprises people
Are there other disc golf courses near Durango?
UDisc, the scoring app and course directory, counts four courses in Durango and rates the Fort Lewis layout easy. Two are on private land, and the listings carry access limits:
| Course | Holes | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lewis College | 18 | Run by the college; PDGA lists it as not private |
| Lizzard Links | 13 | Private land, seasonal, call first, no dogs |
| Oak Ridge | 18 | Private land in the Rafter J subdivision, contact the owners first, restricted hours, no dogs |
Those details come from the UDisc pages for Lizzard Links and Oak Ridge. UDisc is a user-edited directory, so treat it as a lead and not as an invitation. Do not walk onto a private course because an app shows a pin.
What should you bring and check before you go?
A few habits make a round at Fort Lewis smoother. Pick up the college's map before you start, since the 18 holes sit on two different sides of campus. Bring a layer, because the PDGA warns the course is often windy. Plan for the long walk back to the parking lot after hole 18. And remember that this is a college campus run by Recreational Services, so use the reservation contact on the college's page if your group is large.
If disc golf is part of a bigger outdoor plan, our guide to parks and trails for residents lists the rest. Dogs have their own rules in town, which our answer on Durango dog parks explains. For other games, see pickleball in Durango.