Durango

Beta: Shuttle drops you at the Hermosa Park Road trailhead above Purgatory. The first 6.5 miles are gently descending doubletrack (ATV-legal, shared with motos). After that it narrows to singletrack for the rest of the way — still moto-legal but mostly empty midweek. Two creek crossings are unavoidable; in early season they're deep enough to soak your kit. Ride ends at the lower Hermosa Creek trailhead off CR 203 near Hermosa. Bring enough water for the full 19 miles — no resupply.

Season: Hermosa Park Road (FS 578) opens May 1 and closes November 14. The trail is technically open year-round but the road closure makes the upper trailhead inaccessible in winter. Spring runoff (May-June) makes the two creek crossings waist-deep — expect to get wet. Peak conditions July through October.

Shuttle: Shuttle to Hermosa Park Road trailhead above Purgatory. Point-to-point ride finishing near Hermosa, north of Durango. Without a shuttle you need a two-car setup.

Beta: Shuttle drops you at or near Kennebec Pass (11,700 ft). The initial descent is steep, fast scree — unlike anything else around Durango. You'll drop 3,250 vertical feet to Junction Creek, then face a ~1,000-foot climb to High Point before the descent resumes. From High Point it's a flowing 10-mile, 2,500-foot descent through forest to the Junction Creek trailhead. At trail junctions in the final miles, stay on the Colorado Trail (pass all right turns). Total ride is ~31 miles. Bring layers — it can be 40F at the top and 85F in Durango.

Season: Snow-free window is typically July through September only. The pass sits at 11,700 feet and holds snow well into summer. Afternoon monsoon thunderstorms in July-August — exposed above treeline, so start early and plan to be below 11,000 feet by noon.

Shuttle: Shuttle or high-clearance 4x4 to Kennebec Pass. The road climb from the 2WD parking area adds ~2,500 vertical feet. Most riders shuttle.

Beta: Park at the Dry Fork trailhead on CR 208 (turn right on Lightner Creek Rd from Hwy 160 West, then right on CR 208). 2WD-accessible dirt road. Climb Dry Fork — gentle grade through scrub oak and pine, mostly smooth singletrack with some rocky sections. The trail connects to the Colorado Trail; pedal to High Point (9,560 ft) for the full descent experience. From High Point, descend the CT toward Junction Creek for 10 miles of fast, flowy singletrack. Gudy's Rest viewpoint at mile 14.6 is worth a stop. Watch for shale paste on Dry Fork after rain — it cakes tires and drivetrain.

Season: Dry Fork Trail is closed December 1 through April 15 (wildlife closure). Rideable mid-April through November. South-facing aspects dry out early in spring. Peak conditions May through October.

Beta: Trailhead is at 8th Ave and 3rd Street, east off 8th Ave by the Health Center and Sonic. Free parking, self-service bike repair station at the lot. The first half-mile is a climb (many people walk it). Once up in the meadow, signs point to loop options. Meadow Loop is flat and short — perfect for families or warming up. Telegraph and Grandview Ridge add tech and distance. Stacey's Loop is intermediate flow. Skull Rock is the tech test piece. You can easily stack 1-3 hours of riding without leaving the system.

Season: South-facing, so it dries out first in spring. Rideable much of the year, though Grandview Ridge trails have a BLM winter wildlife closure from December 1 through April 30. The meadow and lower loops stay open. Afternoons get hot in summer; mornings are prime.

Beta: Trailhead is 3 miles east of Cortez on the north side of Hwy 160. About 55 minutes from downtown Durango. All loops ride clockwise — directional trail, marked with wooden signs. Front section is on State Trust Land maintained by the Kokopelli Bike Club; $3/person honor-system paybox at the start (or annual membership). Rib Cage is the signature feature — fast rolling terrain. Ledges and Stinking Springs are the farthest loops with the best views. Trust Loop is the beginner option. Plan 2-4 hours depending on how many loops you stack.

Season: Lower elevation (6,800 ft) means Phil's World opens earlier and closes later than Durango alpine rides. Rideable March through November. Spring (April-May) is prime — tacky dirt, sunny, snow-free when the high country is buried. Summer afternoons are hot. The 12 Hours of Mesa Verde race runs here every spring.

Beta: 25 miles north of Durango on US-550. Divinity Flow Trail is the signature run — 1.5 miles of intermediate flow with jumps, berms, wallrides, and boardwalks. Most obstacles are rollable so it's approachable for strong intermediates. 14 trails total across difficulty levels. Rent a DH or enduro bike at Purgatory Sports on-site if you didn't bring a park bike. Full-face helmet required for bike park trails. Home of the first World Mountain Bike Championship.

Season: IMPORTANT: Bike park was closed for 2025 due to new chairlift construction. Reopening confirmed for summer 2026. Typically operates mid-June through early September. No new trails planned for 2026 but existing trails maintained during closure. Check purgatory.ski for current season dates and hours.

Lift: Chairlift-served bike park at Purgatory Resort, 25 miles north of Durango. Lift ticket required. Rent at Purgatory Sports on-site.