Stucki, Ridge by Grady James
Stucki, Ridge by Grady James

Durango In-Town Trail Systems

Explore right from your door.

Durango is blessed with over 300 miles of singletrack within riding distance of downtown!

We are immensely thankful that 30 some years ago, around the time that the first UCI MTB World Champs were held up at Purgatory, some locals had the foresight to start Trails 2000 (now Durango Trails) to work with local entities, agencies and landowners to procure and build trail infrastructure for our community.

Much of the terrain is high desert, pinon/juniper/oak forest with Animas Mtn, Twin Buttes, Log Chutes and the Colorado Trail getting up into Ponderosa/Spruce/Aspen forests. Generally, valleys and flatter areas are flowy singletrack while ridges are rocky and technical. Overend Mtn Park is a one-of-a-kind area given its shale-based soil with very few rocks/roots, punchy climbs and fast flowy downhills.

Please be kind to all trail users, follow rules of the trail and road, and leave no trace (except for smiles). Please be aware that almost every trail in all the systems has two-way traffic so caution should prevail. Do not build or follow non-system trails, it makes the process much more difficult to get new open space and trails approved.

Given the area’s high clay soil content our trails are a no-go when wet. Please be aware of the weather before heading out and don’t ride if very recent or current rain. Riding wet trails here causes major damage to trails not to mention you will end up carrying your bike as our mud just builds upon itself on tires (and shoes) and they will eventually stop rolling. The Durango Trails website has a trail conditions page for some excellent beta: https://www.durangotrails.org/trail-conditions/

It is highly recommended to purchase and carry a Colorado Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card to support search and rescue efforts but also cover some costs in case you need search and rescue!

Please note that Animas Mountain and the Grandview Trails have seasonal (late-fall to mid-spring) closures for wildlife habitat. the top 1/4 of Animas Mountain has additional closure periods for Falcon habitat. If the gate is closed do not proceed.

Durango In-Town Mountain Biking

Check out the trail systems directly accessed from town.

  • All
  • In Town Durango Bike Rides
  • Mountain Bike Rides
Horse Gulch/Telegraph

Novice-Expert
This system is the staple of Durango MTB rides with many trailheads that provide access but just east of E 8th Ave on 3rd St is the main trailhead that goes up Horse Gulch Rd. to the Telegraph Trailhead.

Grandview Trails

Novice-Expert
While many folks access this system from the Horse Gulch trailhead to the top of Telegraph there are three other trailheads to the south of town and can also ride into the Grandview Trails from the Spur Line system in Three Springs.

Fort Lewis College

Novice-Expert
The Campus in the Sky has the very scenic Rim Trail surrounding the campus and is generally easy except for a few exposed/rocky sections and the top part of Lamppost.

Overend Mtn Park (aka Test Tracks)

Novice-Expert
This trail system on the west side of town is characterized by its shale hills and gullies in pine, juniper and oak forest.

Animas Mountain/Dalla Mtn Park

Advanced-Expert
These two systems combined are some of the most difficult trails in Durango based on steepness of the climbing and overall rockiness, looseness and chunkiness of the terrain.

Twin Buttes

Novice-Advanced
This system is about 1.5 miles west of the Animas River on HWY160 behind the Giant Gas Station. The trails in this system are listed as both directions but 99.99% of folks ride the loops counterclockwise to take advantage of descending Upper and Lower Ed & Flow.

Three Springs/Spur Line

Novice
These are the truest beginner trails in the Durango area and are genuinely fun for riders of all abilities.

Hidden Valley/Church Camp

Novice-Advanced 
There are a few different trails in the meadow portion of the ride that are great for kids and novice riders with the ridge to the east having some technical and route finding challenges.

Log Chutes

Novice-Expert
This trail system is 5.7 miles west on 25th St from Main Ave very close to the Colorado Trailhead.

Lower Colorado Trail

Advance-Expert
This is a local’s favorite with two main trailheads offering different approaches to classic Colorado singletrack.

Durango Mesa Park Trails

Novice-Expert
The newest addition to the collection of trails in Durango! The system is a collaboration between the City of Durango and the Durango Mesa Park Foundation as a teaser of what is to come in the future at the Durango Mesa Bike Park.

Trail Conditions via Durango Trails