Durango, CO, an outdoor-centric city in Southwest Colorado, is a mountain bike mecca, featuring hundreds of miles of trail systems within the area. With many activities to choose from, mountain biking is a top choice with many trails just minutes away from downtown. Throughout the four seasons, there are different types of biking and trails to enjoy.
InTown Trails
The three trails below offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced options with easy intown access, and fat tire options in the snowy months.
Horse Gulch
With multiple access points including E 3rd Street and Jenkins Ranch Road (via Powerline Trail) this large trail system offers many trails winding through the hill on the east side of town. The Meadow Loop provides a more beginner trail with great views while the Telegraph Trail is a more advanced ride that connects to trails even farther east.
Overend Park
On the west side of town, the Overend Mountain Park Trail System spans over 300 acres with multiple access points: Hidden Valley Circle, Leyden Street, and Crestview Street. Try some fast turns downhill on the Star Wars Trail or the upper trails like Hogsback, Graben’s Loop, or Hidden Valley that also offer aerial views of town.
Twin Buttes
The trailhead for the Twin Buttes trail system is just two miles west on Highway 160 from downtown Durango. With eight different trails to choose from, endure the uphill climb, circumnavigate the buttes, and then enjoy a winding ride back down.
Close to Town
Spur Line
Located in Three Springs, Spur Line Trail is an easy to moderate single track that also connects to the neighborhood paved trail system. This trail system is not exclusive to Three Spring residents, and also offers a small pump track.
Dry Fork
Dry Fork loop is a part of the Colorado Trail, and a more intermediate trail. To access, you’ll follow Lightner Creek to CR 208. Designed to be ridden in a clockwise direction, you meet the Colorado Trail during the ascent which means the second half of the ride is primarily downhill.
Farther beyond in nearly every direction you can find more trails such as Phil’s World in Cortez, Boggy Draw in Dolores, and Alien Run in Aztec, NM.
Durango Area Bike Programs & Events
There are many groups, programs, classes, and events to participate in throughout the year in Durango. Fort Lewis College also has a renowned cycling program that has been recognized as the USA Collegiate Cycling's #1 Division I team four times.
Durango DEVO
Since 2006, Durango DEVO has been the largest mountain bike development program in the area. Their groups are team and age based starting from pushbike/preschool all the way to adult programs. Throughout the year, they host many events that also benefit getting more people of all ages on bikes including the bike swap, town series races, DEVO Days, film festival, Halloween parade, and Top Secret Training.
Durango Trails
Formerly Trails 2000, Durango Trails is a Durango based nonprofit organization that plans, builds, educates, and encourages trail usage. For over 30 years, this group has helped grow the Durango trail systems to the 300+ miles of intown trails we enjoy today. Continuous maintenance, trail condition updates, and information is shared daily on their website and social media.
Durango Bike Events
Perhaps the most iconic, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic is the annual race from Durango to Silverton along with other intown rides. The road race welcomes about 2,000 riders from all over the world to traverse across Coalbank and Molas Pass. Two newer additions, the Valkyrie Relay and Durango Derby add more biking competitions. The Valkyrie Relay is a three step relay race which includes a trail run, road biking, swimming, stand up paddle boarding, running, and more segments. On the other hand, the Durango Derby is focused on cross-country mountain biking offering a 50 miles course, split into four segments which can be completed solo, in two-person teams, or four-person teams. In addition to these three annual events, there are many casual and frequent clubs, races, and more to participate in.
We’re very lucky to have all of these wonderful opportunities in our area including the numerous local bike shops that provide gear and knowledge. Many of these trails are literally in our backyard and the real estate options near trails are expansive in Durango. Let The Durango Team know if you have any questions about these homes or more Durango, CO trail systems.
If you prefer to explore on two feet instead of two wheels, many of these trails double for hiking! Check out our Durango area hiking trails blog here.
