Mountain Biking at Purgatory and Durango: Trails for Every Level

Purgatory isn't just a ski resort. When summer hits, the mountain transforms into a mountain biking destination, and the combination of lift-served terrain at the resort plus world-class trails around Durango makes this area one of the best places to ride in Colorado.

Purgatory Bike Park: Lift-Served Downhill

Purgatory's bike park is lift-served, meaning you ride the chairlift up with your bike and ride down. This is a game-changer if you love downhill but hate the climb. The park has trails graded like ski runs — green, blue, and black — so you can find your comfort zone and progress at your own pace.

Note: In 2025, Purgatory announced the bike park would take a sabbatical to prioritize ski lift and trail construction. Check Purgatory's mountain biking page for current status and reopening announcements. When operational, the park features 14 trails of varying difficulties, including the signature Divinity Flow Trail — La Plata County's only chairlift-served downhill flow trail, complete with berms, jumps, and features that let you carry speed through smooth, sculpted turns.

For Beginners

The green-rated trails like Shangri-La are wide, smooth, and forgiving. Banked turns, gentle grades, and nothing that'll send you over the bars if you take it easy. If you've never mountain biked before, a lift-served bike park is actually a great place to start — you can focus on descending technique without exhausting yourself on the climb.

Rentals are available at the base area, including full-face helmets and pads. If you're new to downhill riding, full protection is worth it. The ground is softer than pavement, but rocks and roots still hurt.

For Intermediate Riders

The blue trails add more features — berms, small jumps, rock gardens, and steeper pitches. You'll feel the mountain under you more, and the speed picks up. These trails are where most riders spend their day, lapping the same favorite descents over and over to dial in lines and build confidence.

Divinity Flow Trail is the crown jewel for intermediate riders. It's a flow trail in the truest sense — you pump through berms and rollers, carry momentum through features, and feel like you're flying without needing advanced technical skills.

For Advanced Riders

The black trails are the real deal. Technical rock sections, steep chutes, drops, and roots. If you're an experienced rider looking for a challenge, Purgatory's advanced terrain delivers. The bike park hosted the first-ever World Mountain Bike Championship, and the DNA of that competition still lives in the technical lines built into the mountain.

Beyond the Park: Durango's Legendary Trail Network

Here's the truth: Purgatory's bike park is great, but Durango itself is a mountain biking mecca. The trails around town are world-class, diverse, and accessible. You could spend a week riding different trails every day and not repeat.

Durango hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 1990, and the town has been synonymous with serious mountain biking ever since. The trail network includes hundreds of miles of singletrack ranging from flowy beginner loops to gnarly technical descents.

Horse Gulch: The In-Town Playground

Horse Gulch is Durango's backyard trail system, accessible from downtown at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Third Street. It's a true mountain bike playground with a network of mostly singletrack trails offering flowy rides, technical descents, and endless loop options.

The system is built for all levels. Meadow Loop and Stacy's Loop are beginner-friendly warm-ups. Telegraph Trail is a local favorite (and a regular time-trial course for competitive riders). Sidewinder and South Rim offer more advanced terrain with exposure, tight turns, and technical features.

Horse Gulch is where Durango locals ride multiple times per week. You can session specific features, work on technique, or just log laps after work. The proximity to town (you can ride from downtown without shuttling) makes it one of the most convenient trail systems in Colorado.

Animas Mountain: Views and Climbing

Animas Mountain is more of a climb-and-descend experience. The trail gains about 1,300 feet over roughly 3 miles to the summit ridge, offering legitimate views of the Animas Valley and the La Plata Mountains. The descent is technical in sections — loose rock, tight switchbacks, and exposure — so it's best suited for confident intermediate to advanced riders.

This is a great trail if you want a workout with a payoff. The climb is sustained and challenging, and the views from the top are worth it.

Raider Ridge: Technical and Legendary

Raider Ridge is one of Durango's most famous technical loops. It's not long (the full loop is around 7-8 miles), but it packs tight singletrack, rock gardens, exposure, and the infamous Anasazi descent — a 0.7-mile technical drop that separates confident riders from hesitant ones.

This trail is for experienced riders. The features are relentless, the line choices matter, and mistakes are punishing. But if you're comfortable on technical terrain, Raider Ridge is one of the most rewarding rides in the area.

Dry Fork Loop and Phil's World

For a longer adventure, Dry Fork Loop (about 20 miles) offers a scenic out-and-back or loop option with varied terrain. It's less technical than Raider Ridge but still engaging, with singletrack sections, creek crossings, and forest riding.

Phil's World (near Cortez, about 45 minutes west of Durango) is one of the premier singletrack systems in Colorado. Over 60 miles of flowy, well-built trails with minimal elevation gain. It's a bit of a drive from Purgatory, but if you want a full day of lap-style riding on buttery singletrack, it's worth the trip.

Gear and Rentals

If you're bringing your own bike, make sure it's trail-ready. Durango trails are rocky and demanding — check your brakes, tires, and suspension before hitting technical terrain.

If you're renting, several shops in Durango offer high-quality mountain bike rentals:

Hassle Free Sports (downtown Durango)
Second Avenue Sports (downtown Durango)
Purgatory Resort (base area, when bike park is operational)

Full-suspension bikes are recommended for technical trails and the bike park. Hardtails work fine for smoother trails like Horse Gulch's easier loops.

When to Ride

June-September is prime mountain biking season. Trails are dry, temperatures are warm (70s-80s in town, cooler at elevation), and daylight lasts until 8pm.

Early season (May-June): Some trails may still have mud or snowmelt. Stick to lower-elevation trails like Horse Gulch.

Late season (October): Fall colors, cooler temps, and fewer riders. Mornings can be cold, but afternoons are perfect.

Where to Stay

Both of our Purgatory townhomes — Basecamp and Timberline — are ideal base camps for mountain biking adventures. After a long day on the trails, the hot tubs are perfect for sore legs, and the full kitchens let you fuel up properly.

Basecamp sleeps eight with a pool table downstairs. Timberline sleeps six with three bedrooms and a fireplace. Both have bike storage, EV chargers, and free shuttle access to the resort. Check availability at purgatoryunlocked.com.

Why Durango Is Special for Mountain Biking

Durango isn't just a good place to ride — it's a mountain biking culture. The town lives and breathes the sport. You'll see bikes on car racks everywhere, riders in kits at coffee shops, and trail talk at every brewery. The trail network is maintained by passionate volunteers, and the local riding community is welcoming to visitors.

Whether you're riding the lift-served terrain at Purgatory or exploring the legendary singletrack around town, you're tapping into something special. Durango earned its reputation as a world-class mountain biking destination, and every ride here reminds you why.

See you on the trails.

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