Best mountain bike daytrips from Durango
Looking for a change of pace? Try these easy day trips to sample mountain bike trails near Durango
Looking to get out of Durango for a day of mountain biking? Or want to sample some trails on the way to or from Durango?
Though Durango has some of the best trails in Colorado, there is good biking to be found in the region. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the best trails you can ride in a day trip from Durango.
Mountain biking in Pagosa Springs
Pagosa is higher than Durango and less well-known for its biking. There’s a cool trail system right in town called Reservoir Hill. Concentrated on a forested hill which doubles as a city park, these trails are rideable from town and mostly intermediate and beginner. Use the service road to get to the top then choose from the likes of UFO and Wapiti for the down. Out of town to the west, Turkey Hill has mellow forest cruisers which are great for a family ride. Many of these rides could be done on a gravel bike.
Mountain biking in Farmington
Farmington, about an hour south of Durango, is quickly gaining a reputation as a cool spot for desert riding, dry when Durango is wet and typically 10 degrees warmer, making it a great destination for off-season riding. There’s a long river trail here, but the best action is north of downtown, where you can ride slickrock and desert sand. Pinion Mesa has several afternoon-worthy loops while Road Apple Rally is a super fun collection of mellow rides with some spicier sections and options for some long loops. Another trail system, 6 Graves, has an interesting if somewhat disjointed collection of intermediate rides closer to downtown. If you head out on a longer ride, be sure to check out our list of essentials to take along.
Mountain biking in Aztec
Aztec is a bedroom community for many Durango workers. The main action is north of town, about 30 minutes south of Durango, in a spot called Alien Run. This set of stacked loops gets harder as you ascend, with plenty of slickrock and compact desert soil riding on offer. This is a cute place, with aliens to look for as you pedal. This would be a perfect spot for a bike like the Orbea Oiz, which you can easily rent at Purgatory from Brimstone Bikes.
Mountain biking in Dolores
Dolores is famous for the Galloping Goose railroad and its quaint canyon location, but considerable effort has gone into building new trails here in recent years. Boggy Draw, just north of town, has an excellent collection of mostly beginner singletrack in ponderosa forest with tons of options for dispersed camping. There’s a ton of trails here — if you are not sure where to start, try the 8-mile Boggy Draw Loop, which has options for shorter rides. Just to the west, the 11-mile intermediate Sage Hen Loop has mellow climbs and good views.
Mountain biking in Ridgeway
Funky Ridgeway has a fun trail pod called RAT — Ridgeway Area Trails. Located just north of town, this very pretty spot has fun riding on a series of stacked loops. After a huff-and-puff climb from the trailhead, you get fun singletrack, good views of the north side of the San Juans, and some ripping descents. A riverside greenway connects the trails (almost) to downtown.
Mountain biking in Gallup
OK, Gallup might be a bit far for a day trip from Durango (almost 3 hours of driving) but there are two great trail systems here you should hit up on your way to or from Durango if you need to stretch your lets. High Desert Trails, just north of downtown, has three loops of progressively harder trails along a dramatic rim. Expect slickrock and desert varnish — fun! South of town, the Zuni Mountains have cruisers spread through high, rolling ponderosa forests. Though the area is called “mountains” you can easily put in 20 miles here and never know you’ve climbed, plus there is a ton of great dispersed camping.
Mountain biking in Rico
Rico, halfway between Dolores and Telluride, is a tiny village down in a deep canyon. This is your home for grueling, rewarding alpine rides, featuring backcountry solitude and thigh-busting climbs. Trails lead right from town and climb to lofty ridges, and it’s easy to link rides together to create an all-day (or all-week) epic. Make sure you are well-packed for this trip!
Looking for advice on more trails like these? Stop by Brimstone Bikes before you head out of Durango for trail advice and last-minute essentials. Brimstone also rents tons of bikes and can hook you up with one perfect for ripping these out of town trails.