Mesa Park
Get to know Durango Mesa Park—Durango’s newest trail system
Last fall the gates opened on the long-awaited trails at Durango Mesa Park—and what a great group of trails is it.
Formerly known as Ewing Mesa, Durango Mesa is a long-awaited city park expansion that fills a number of key gaps in the local recreation scene.
The land for the park totals 1,850 acres and was purchased by a local then gifted to the community. Formerly used mostly for grazing, the land is east of U.S. 160 in town and roughly sandwiched between Three Springs on the south and Horse Gulch on the north.
While trails are the most exciting part of the park so far, other elements that are planned include a concert pavilion, horse riding trails, possible relocation of the county fairgrounds, a campground, and more.
So far, there are a handful of trails open covering 7 miles, and while that doesn’t seem like a lot, these are no ordinary trails.
One thing to note—most of the trails here are directional, which is not the norm in Durango. Pay close attention to signs noting “downhill only” as downhill riders are not expecting uphill traffic.
Durango Mesa bike trails
For now, the primary access to Durango Mesa is from the Horse Gulch trailhead. From the parking lot, instead of riding up Horse Gulch, make an immediate right on Mesa Connector—keep an eye out for downhill bikers and hikers/runners.
Soon, on the left, the downhill-only Intermediate Downhill trail joins the connector trail. Mesa Connector continues uphill at a steady though very manageable grade before coming to a junction. Head left here for the Intermediate Downhill or right to continue on Mesa Connector. Straight ahead is the uphill-only Meadow Loop Connector.
Meadow Loop Connector moderates as it traverses the rim of Horse Gulch, crossing a service road and ending at a platform where two downhill trails begin and the Telegraph Connector provides access to upper Horse Gulch and, eventually, Three Springs.
Intermediate Downhill: This downhill-only trail begins from a starting platform and the fun begins immediately. While never steep, sections of this trail demand your attention—especially considering the great views of downtown and the La Platas beyond. Air is optional on most features, though it's hard to bypass the more technical parts. Watch out for a portion of riprap that crosses a dry streambed, which sneaks up on the rider. This trail joins Mesa Connector near the trailhead, meaning this is easy to session.
Meadow Beginner Downhill: Arguably the best of the new trails, the beginner downhill is a purpose-built downhill trail that gives beginner bikers the opportunity to experience big-league downhill features. The trail is never steep, the sightlines are great, and it’s loads of fun whether you ride it fast or slow. The trail ends on the Meadow Loop, presenting riders with several options—take Meadow Knob Connector uphill to do it all again, take Meadow Loop uphill for the standard ride, or head down to Horse Gulch for the bumpy ride out.
Mesa to Horse Gulch Intermediate Downhill: This trail runs parallel to Meadow Beginner Downhill but is slightly more complex and challenging. All the right features are there, except everything is about 25 percent bigger. It also ends at Meadow Loop, making lapping a cinch.
Meadow Knob Connector: This short uphill trail takes riders from Meadow Loop—and the ends of Meadow Beginner Downhill and Meadow to Horse Gulch Intermediate Downhill—up to the Mesa Connector junction, allowing laps on all three of the downhill trails.