Smelter Mountain stands just southwest of Durango in southwestern Colorado within the Bodo State Wildlife Area. Part of the La Plata Mountains in the Rocky Mountains, it rises more than 1,200 feet above the town and takes its name from the Durango smelter that once stood on its lower slope. Its runoff drains into tributaries of the Animas River, tying it to the surrounding landscape. Today it is both a prominent landmark above Durango and a local recreation area, with a hiking trail to the summit and additional use for hunting and paragliding.