Durango is a Bike Town
There are a multitude of things that hypnotically lure people to Durango: mountains and rivers and trails, OH MY! And, really, that’s just naming a few…
But of all the draws to our special town, there’s a particular one that seems to permeate the very fiber of Durango: Bike riding. Particularly, mountain biking.
As three-time mountain biking Olympian and Durango native Todd Wells puts it,
“Mountain biking and cycling are woven into Durango’s DNA; from our pioneering spirit to the incredible trail infrastructure and our renowned junior-development programming, Durango is a true heartland of cycling.”
Whether riding on a beautiful Spring day out on the classic CR 250 road ride with views you just can’t beat, out at Horse Gulch, biking the Telegraph Trail, or riding one of our cycling-friendly neighborhoods, most Durangotans will tell you how much they love getting outside on their bikes. This is a community that fully appreciates the sport, and the local biking events, community programs, and the athletes who grew up here are a testament to that.
The Community Behind the Bikes: DEVO, the Wheel Club and More
Durango’s cycling culture is deep-rooted, community-built from the ground up, and genuinely inclusive to all. Many Durango youth begin their biking journey as toddlers on the popular, pedal-less balance bikes. Soon thereafter, most kiddos move on to DEVO, one of Durango’s favorite youth cycling development programs. Founded in 2006, DEVO now boasts a biking program comprising over 600 kids, 46 certified coaches, and classes for kids aged 3 to adulthood.
In addition to biking programs, DEVO also hosts many beloved community events, such as DEVO Days, an annual mountain-biking festival held at Purgatory Resort featuring skills clinics and family-friendly activities. The October event will be extra special this year, as DEVO will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Other annual DEVO events include its Film Fest at Chapman Hill, featuring amateur and professional cycling/outdoor films, and the ever-popular Halloween Bike Parade.
The Fort Lewis College Cycling Team is another powerhouse in the Durango biking community and is known as one of the most successful collegiate cycling programs in the United States. Riders are trained on our high-elevation trails and, in many cases, go on to compete at the highest levels.
Cycling in Durango goes back to the late 1800s, and the Durango Wheel Club (DWC) has been part of it from the start. What began as an advocacy group in 1895 is now a welcoming community for road, mountain, and gravel riders. The Durango Wheel Club hosts group rides, clinics, club races, and an open-door philosophy that makes it easy to find your people on two wheels, no matter your skill level.
The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic- Our Hometown Race
The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic was born from a lighthearted brotherly wager. In 1971, avid cyclist Tom Mayer bet that his 10-speed could beat the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton. His brother Jim, a railroad engineer, thought the odds were surely in his favor.
They lined up in Durango and took off together, one by train and one by bike. When the train pulled into Silverton, 47 miles later, there was Tom, waiting for his brother.
That race inspired local bike shop owner Ed Zink of Mountain Bike Specialists to organize the first official Iron Horse Bicycle Classic the following year. The inaugural race in 1972 featured only 36 riders. Today, more than fifty years on, this iconic three-day festival and race still runs every Memorial Day weekend, drawing 3,500 to 4,000 riders from across the country and beyond.
For those in town for Memorial Day weekend, you won’t want to miss the mountain biking riding course, as it once again includes a segment running directly through the Steamworks Brewery on 2nd Ave. We locals are beyond excited to have this portion of the race brought back after a six-year hiatus.
Local’s Tip: If you’re planning to be there to watch the racers, get to Steamworks early! Seating and standing room fill up fast, but the energy and celebratory merriment cannot be beat!
2030 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships-Durango Is Back on the World Stage
In September 2025, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body of all cycling sports, officially announced that Durango would host the 2030 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Purgatory Resort. This special event will also mark the 40th anniversary of Durango hosting the very first UCI MTB Worlds in 1990, when Durangotan Ned Overend, then 35 years old, won the first-ever official UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championship. We can’t wait to see what 2030 brings this time.
The Athletes Who Call Durango Home
Durango is certainly home to many stellar cycling athletes, and we are so proud of them. As mentioned, Ned Overend won the first-ever UCI Mountain Bike World Championships right here in Durango in 1990 and is still a familiar face around town.
Sepp Kuss, a Durango Devo kid who grew up on these same trails, went on to win the 2023 Vuelta a España and multiple stages of the Tour de France, making him one of the best cyclists in the world.
Christopher Blevins, another Devo alum, is a Paris Olympian, UCI World Cup winner, and short-track World Champion who has publicly credited Durango’s community for his success.
Riley Amos, also a Devo product and Paris Olympian, was coached by Todd Wells (himself a three-time Olympian from Durango) before stepping into the men’s elite field.
Junior downhill world champion Asa Vermette is one to watch heading into 2030. And a next wave of local pros, Bailey Cioppa, Emmett McManus, Kaylee Blevins, are already competing at a high level, with more coming up behind them.
A Few Trails Worth Mentioning (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced)
Here are a few of the trails we locals love, but make sure to get a more comprehensive look at all the trails within 30 minutes of downtown Durango at Durango Trails.
Beginner:
Animas River Trail is a paved, multi-use 7-mile trail running along the gorgeous Animas River. For easy access to downtown, the recreation center, and downtown neighborhoods, this trail offers an enjoyable, safe, and scenic ride. Local’s Tip: Start in the early evening at Schneider Park and ride south to view some beautiful interplay of sunlight on the Animas.
Spur Line Trail offers the perfect combo of trails for the entire family and wonderful mountain views. It includes 5 miles of beginner singletrack and a pump track on the northeast side of the Three Springs neighborhood.
Intermediate:
Dry Fork Trail is located about 9 miles out of town and is popular among mountain bikers, trail runners, and horseback riders alike. This trail includes a satisfying climb through ponderosa pine and scrub oak, and riders who push to the top are rewarded with Gudy’s Rest, a scenic overlook with sweeping views across the Animas Valley that makes every bit of the uphill worth it.
Sugar Trail is part of the Horse Gulch Trail system and can be accessed via Horse Gulch Road or Skyline Trail. After a few miles on Horse Gulch Road, a left turn takes you onto the Sugar Trail, where 21 switchbacks await you. Here’s what makes it worth it: the views of Animas Valley from the top. Plus, the climb makes the downhill that much more fun, as this trail makes a good out-and-back.
Advanced:
Telegraph to Sendit Trail would be a great choice if you’re looking for one of Durango’s most talked-about advanced rides. Telegraph starts with a climb that earns its name. It can be relentless in some stretches, with technical rocky sections that demand your full focus. But once you’re up, the singletrack opens into fast, flowing descents with sweeping views of the San Juans that you won’t soon forget. Connecting to Sendit raises the stakes considerably and is built for riders who know what they’re doing. Expect tricky drops, tight switchbacks, and chunky terrain. Telegraph to Sendit is a good one to work up to, but if you’re at that level, it’s one of the best rides Durango has to offer.
Hermosa Creek Trail is one ride that earns genuine reverence from Durango locals. The full point-to-point run covers roughly 22 miles from the upper trailhead near Purgatory all the way down to the lower trailhead off Highway 550, dropping nearly 2,000 feet through some of the most beautiful terrain in Southwest Colorado. It encompasses mile after mile of immersive, flowing singletrack through a canyon, winding alongside Hermosa Creek through dense aspen groves, open meadows, and old-growth forest. This one requires planning a shuttle ahead of time. Remember to bring more water than you think you need, and don’t rush it. Just enjoy the ride.
Come For the Trails. Stay For the Community
Yes, bike riding and Durango go together like Ska Brewing and a summery Sunday afternoon. More than just a thread in our culture, it’s more like the very fabric of the town. It’s part of how people structure their lives here, from morning rides to DEVO weekends, Iron Horse weekends, and the friends you run into on the trails.
For buyers and people considering a move who love biking or just getting outside on trails, you’ve definitely found your place.
And if you’d like to further explore what life in Durango could be like for you, we’d love to show you around.