About Colorado Highland Helicopters
Colorado Highland Helicopters is a fully FAA-approved air charter and tour service based at Animas Airpark in Durango. Founded in 2016 by Durango residents Brandon and Dayle Laird, the company operates an Airbus H125 helicopter — a modern, high-performance aircraft that seats up to five passengers and is built for mountain flying. They provide scenic tours, aerial photography, charter transportation, and public safety flight services across the Four Corners region.
Tour options include the Durango City Tour offering aerial views of Old Animas City and Lake Nighthorse, the High Peaks Tour climbing to the snow-capped summits of the La Plata Mountains, and the Animas City Tour descending through Wild Cat Canyon toward Turtle Lake. Custom flights can be designed to explore the San Juan backcountry, ancient ruins, or the high-desert landscapes of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Pricing is $1,800 per hour for custom flights.
Colorado Highland Helicopters stands apart from generic scenic flight operators through their deep knowledge of the local terrain and ability to access remote alpine locations that are unreachable by road. Their pilot team has extensive mountain flying experience, and the Airbus H125 performs exceptionally well at high altitude — making it possible to reach peaks and ridgelines that other helicopters struggle with.
