Itinerary

Elevation Range: 2,000 – 3,000 ft.

Day 1: Hermosa Creek Trail

After our pick up and orientation, we will begin our ride on a true Durango classic. After a quick ford of Hermosa Creek our guides will lead you south down the Hermosa Creek Trail. Like every day, we’ll be at the end of the trail waiting with refreshments and snacks.
Total Mileage | 20 Miles | Feet Gain | 1182 ft
Terrain | Singletrack | First-Class Camping | La Plata Canyon

Day 2: Jones Creek, Flagstaff and Dutch Creek

Today’s ride is physically challenging, but simply amazing and well worth your effort. We’ll start by climbing up Jones Creek Trail through thousands of turning aspens. Soon we will top out near the Hermosa Cliffs and stop for a breather and take in the epic views of the Weminuche Wilderness. As we turn onto the Pinkerton Flagstaff Trail, the yellow canopy will remain, but the climbing gets a bit more challenging. It’s quite common to do a little pushing in this section. Views both east and west will keep your mind off the climb! Soon we’ll swing onto the Dutch Creek Trail. The first few miles of the Dutch Creek Trail are a mix of double track and forest service road, but it quickly turns to singletrack. The vistas from this first leg of singletrack are legendary. The Weminuche comes back into view on our left and the La Plata Mountains reveal themselves to our right. It’s a great place to stop for photos and to “soak it all in.” Hold on to your knickers – the “soak” is over and we’re headed downhill on one of the best descents in all Durango. The trail now hugs Dutch Creek itself, which we will cross many times as we weave through aspen groves, through open meadows and over technical root and rock. A final little climb spills us out onto the tail end of Hermosa Creek Trail and a smooth cruise back to the shuttle van.
Total Mileage | 19 Miles | Feet Gain | 4144 ft
Terrain | Singletrack
First-Class Camping | La Plata Canyon
Casual Inn | The Leland House & Rochester Hotel

Day 3: The Dry Fork Loop

Today we hit a local’s favorite: the Dry Fork Loop. This ride is perfect for a mid‐week recovery. The singletrack climb starts in the high desert scrub oak and ascends to a thick forest of aspen, spruce and Ponderosa pine. The climb is generally very gradual and mild. Eventually we connect to the Colorado Trail and finish on a fast-flowy descent back the waiting van.
Total Mileage | 10 Miles | Feet Gain | 1483
Terrain | 100% Jeep Road, 100% Van Support
First-Class Camping | La Plata Canyon
Casual Inn | The Leland House & Rochester Hotel

Day 4: Kennebec Pass to Durango

Kennebec Pass to Durango…. a 5000 foot descent…. a true Durango classic. Weather permitting, this ride starts at tree line and immediately sends you on a thrill ride down narrow singletrack hugging the mountain side. After regrouping at the Champion Venture Road crossing (our alternate start if snow is an issue), the downhill bonanza continues through thick, forested singletrack, past a gorgeous waterfall and finally onto the rocky singletrack cutting through the lush vegetation alongside Junction Creek. Wide‐eyed and grinning, we’ll regroup again at the Wall’s Gulch Bridge and start a heavy climb away from Junction Creek…. sorry, it can’t ALL be downhill!! Finally we’ll reach what the locals call “High Point”, named for its status as a turnaround for riders climbing up from Durango. They climb, we descend. The downhill buzz continues for another 2500 feet of great Colorado Trail singletrack to the Junction Creek Trailhead, the southern terminus of the Colorado Trail.
Total Mileage | 20-25 Miles | Feet Gain | 1924
Terrain | Singletrack
First-Class Camping | La Plata Canyon
Casual Inn | The Leland House & Rochester Hotel

Day 5: Townie Ride

The Townie Ride. Sure, Durango is famous for its many backcountry trails, but locals know that a spider web of excellent routes is right in and around town. We’ve found that this is a great way to leave a lasting impression on our guests – live a day in the life of a Durango mountain biker. We’ll start with a breakfast at the area cycling hive, Bread, where there’s a good chance of spotting one of Durango’s many local pros. This bakery serves up a delicious variety of croissants, bagels, cookies, breads, muffins and many more aromatic treats. Once we’ve had our fill and crammed our packs with extra goodies for the ride we’ll climb up the tight singletrack of two new connector trails recently constructed by the local advocacy group, Trails 2000 (we are a proud member and contributor). The top of this climb rewards us with a panoramic view of Durango, the Animas River Valley and the San Juan Mountains. The terrain here is high desert, which you will certainly notice as you snake through junipers and pinon pines. Soon we’ll turn south into the Telegraph Trail System, called Horse Gulch by the locals; a trail system IMBA designated an “IMBA Epic.” The Telegraph Trail System includes over 30 miles of singletrack for us to choose from, but rather than outline our route in advance we like to gauge the mood of the group and pick a few loops to please everyone.
Total Mileage | 18-25 Miles | Feet Gain | 1822 – 2500.
Terrain | Singletrack

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

We choose well-maintained public campgrounds with scenic vistas and comfortable arrangements. You’ll move seamlessly from one day of your trip to the next, camping outdoors and enjoying wildly healthy, delicious homemade meals.

The majority of our selected campgrounds feature indoor facilities and showers. Conversely, in more remote backcountry camping scenarios, we’ll provide portable toilets and private solar showers.
TRIP AMENITIES
First-class campers will enjoy well-maintained public campgrounds. Cell service for this tour is spotty. Verizon is the best service to have for this area.

Inns Only version: $1407.00 pp. extra fee

The Leland House & Rochester Hotel
Featuring a complimentary gourmet breakfast and free Wi-Fi, this historic Durango, Colorado bed and breakfast is located a short walk from the Durango Arts Center. A flat-screen cable TV and separate sitting area are provided in each room at the Leland House and Rochester Hotel. The charming rooms feature traditional Western decorations.

Included:

• 4 Nights of camping or for an extra fee the Inns only version
• Meals (except where noted on itineraries), snacks, non-alcoholic beverages
• Community gear (portable chairs, large awnings, coolers, utensils, etc.)
• Backcountry permits, licenses, park fees, reservations, and accommodations (lodging)
• At least two professionally trained trip leaders, a mobile first aid and mechanic station, spare bikes, and a support vehicle(s).

Not included:

• Airfare to and from our departure point,
• Lodging before or after the tour,
• Personal camping gear, possible to rent $108.-
• Rental bike,
• Gratuity to guides

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2024: $ 1677.- pp camping version
Inns only version extra $1407.00 pp
Camp gear package rental: includes a tent, sleeping pad, raised cot, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, full size pillow, and ground tarp. $ 108.-
Rental bike:
Specialized Full Suspension Mountain Bike $ 356.00
Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Full Suspension $ 432.000
Tour dates 2024:
24 Jun – 28 Jun
01 Jul – 05 Jul
08 Jul – 12 Jul
15 Jul – 19 Jul
22 Jul – 26 Jul
29 Jul – 02 Aug
05 Aug – 09 Aug
12 Aug – 16 Aug
19 Aug – 23 Aug
26 Aug – 30 Aug
02 Sep – 06 Sep

Conditions

Deposit $500.- pp
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

Durango is a small city in southwestern Colorado, near the New Mexico border. The 19th-century Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train passes mountains and canyons. In the city center, its affiliated Railroad Museum displays restored locomotives, aircraft and a baggage car converted into a movie theater. Nearby, the Powerhouse Science Center offers interactive exhibits in a former power plant.

MEETING LOCATION
Pedal the Peaks Bike Shop
598 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301
(970) 259-6880
http://ptpdurango.com/

DEPARTURE TIME
7:00 AM on the first day of the tour.

RETURN TIME
Around 4:00 PM on the last day of the tour.

Weather
You will be riding and sleeping at elevations over 4,000 ft. for this trip. Weather predictions in this area are often unreliable due to the elevation, so it is best to be prepared for cold evenings and inclement weather. Please use the following locations when checking the weather online: Durango, CO

Our food isn’t just good, it’s good for you.

Food is a big part of the experience. Our guides prepare all of your meals on our camping trips. Expect three delicious meals a day consisting entirely of freshly prepared foods. These include fresh organic fruits and vegetables as well as meats. We also have energy snacks aboard our support vehicles. Don’t be surprised if your guides purchase fresh fruits and healthy snacks throughout the day while you are out riding. They may just show up on the trail with a local treat! Many of our guests are vegans or vegetarians, whom we are more than happy to accommodate. If you have special diet requirements or limitations, just let us know when you sign-up and we’ll work with you to meet your needs.