Where to mountain bike in Pagosa Springs
Mountain biking in Pagosa Springs features in-town flow and high alpine adventure, all followed by a hot springs soak
Pagosa Springs, an easy hour east of Durango on U.S. 160, features a wealth of mountain bike riding suiting all tastes and abilities.
The compact city sits at the foot of Wolf Creek Pass at an elevation of 7,126 feet. Though the year-round population is just over 2,000 people, there’s plenty of trails and enough services to keep you busy. The downtown is packed with cafes and bars, there are several breweries, and both hot springs and river tubing.
Here’s a rundown on where to mountain bike in Pagosa Springs
Reservoir Hill: Reservoir Hill is Pagosa’s main in-town trails, with plenty of options for quick warm up spin before you move on to something bigger, or treat it as a destination in its own right.
You can get to Reservoir from the San Juan Riverwalk, or park at the Spa trailhead. Reservoir Hill Service Road makes for an easy climb of the 300 vertical foot hill, or you can head up on Tenderfoot. From the top, descent choices include UFO, Wapiti, Bankshot, and Upper Bronc.
Thanks to the tree cover, this spot is not too hot on summer days.
Yamaguchi Park: Just on the other side of the river from Reservoir Hill, Yamaguchi Park has only a handful of trails and they are in general much easier. From downtown, head down South 5th Street to the trailhead, then catch BBall Connector to Flowing My Hind. Flow down is the descent of choice, dropping 150 vertical feet over the course of a gentle mile.
Turkey Springs: Several miles west of town, Turkey Springs features a huge number of mostly gentle trails spread across a forest composed primarily of widely-spaced ponderosa pines. From the main trailhead on North Pagosa Boulevard, trails fan to the south, west, and north on national forest land. You could piece together a number of trails to create a huge loop climbing near the summit of Brockover Mesa, at 8,216 feet, which is roughly 600 feet higher than the trailhead. Top picks include Round Park, Catamount, and Newt Jack, though many of the trails start to feel the same after a while. Make sure to bring a map or mapping app since many junctions are not signed and the rolling forest can be disorienting to first-time visitors.
High alpine trails: The Continental Divide sits just east of Pagosa Springs, where U.S. 160 reaches 11,000 feet above sea level. This region gets a tremendous amount of snow, with Wolf Creek Ski Area among the snowiest spots in America. What does this all mean for mountain biking? A shorter season. Make sure to call a local bike shop like Pedal the Peaks or the local forest service headquarters to see what trails are snow-free if you plan on early-summer or fall riding.
The gem here is a multi-trail ride that requires a car shuttle. From Wolf Creek Pass, follow the Continental Divide Trail south toward Alberta Peak. This trail skirts the ski area. Hang a right on Treasure Mountain Trail and contour around Treasure Mountain for about a mile before beginning a drop to the south. This is excellent, high-alpine riding. After a few miles, look for the Windy Pass Trail on the right. This rollicking downhill drops 2,000 vertical feet in less than 4 miles, and features gnarly terrain — expect roots, rocks, pinches, and more. Windy Pass pops out directly on U.S. 160 several miles below the pass, where hopefully you stashed a shuttle vehicle. If not, the ride up the pass on the highway should could be worse; hitching might work.
Headed out on a long ride? Make sure you are properly geared up, and don’t forget a first aid kit.
Looking for more information on mountain biking in Pagosa Springs? Call the experts at Brimstone Bikes, who are familiar with rides in the area and can point out great options for rides depending on your goals. Brimstone also offers high-end mountain bike rentals and plenty of gear.