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As you approach Durango, the road climbs up to this tidy, prosperous looking city on a high, flat plain (elevation 6,314 feet) among barren mountains about halfway between El Paso and Mexico City.
Durango reflects an openness of design and a provincial atmosphere that are atypical for a city of its size. The streets are wide and paved; the zocalo is gracious and well kept. One of the most pleasant cities on Highway 45, Durango has several large parks, a few smaller parks, and a riverside promenade. The massive cathedral, with its yellow facade, has magnificent vaulted ceilings. Inside the Government Palace (Durango is the capital of the state of Durango), the walls of an entire inner courtyard are decorated with murals.
Industries in the Durango area include ranching and cattle raising. Iron mining, which draws from one of the richest deposits in the world (located on a nearby hill known as El Cerro de Mercado), is the most important industry in the area.
In recent years, Durango has become the setting for many movies, mostly Westerns. If you arrive during the shooting of a large production, accommodations may be difficult to find.
From Durango, one of Mexico's most scenic roads Highway 40 winds up and over the Sierra Madre Occidental to meet Highway 15 just south of Mazatlan. A good, paved road for its entire length (about 200 miles), Highway 40 is not a particularly fast route. With a few quick stops for pictures or picnics, it takes about 6 hours to reach Mazatlan. Sheer drop offs from the side of the road restrain any inclination to hurry. Besides, the breathtaking views are so awe inspiring that you'll want to stop to look or photograph often, if visibility permits.
Before you leave Durango, get picnic provisions and fill your gas tank. Eating places along the road are few and not particularly tailored for spending hours indulging in a luxurious picnic. Gasoline pumps are located at El Salto, El Palmito, Concordia, and at the junction of this road with Highway 15. Because of the thousands of sharp curves and steep grades, this route to Mazatlan is not recommended for tourists driving trailers and motor homes.