Looking for more to do besides biking in Durango? I would absolutely love to mountain bike in Oaxaca. The classic has grown to over 3500 participants and expanded to have events and parties span all of Memorial Day Weekend. It was about 20 miles out and back on the Animas River trail. We added our own modifications to the Iron Horse climb to include the Animas River Trail and it goes something like this. A few years back the resort was sold and there was a major rebranding to Durango Mountain Resort. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Please read our disclosure. The local Durango college, Fort Lewis, boasts three National Championships in mountain biking. It’s only open on Saturday but worth the wait. This route looks so epic and gorgeous! Wow this bike ride looks awesome! The 30 miles of trail north of town is a stunning high-alpine wonderland. I haven’t spent any time in the area but Silverton looks like a fun place to wander and those views are insane! During their trip, one of the members fell into the swiftly flowing Animas River somewhere near site of the ski area and perished into its waters. I wish I could get into bike riding, I should give it another chance! Ask us about guiding services. There is a reason so many people turn around at Purgatory, this next section is intense. Telluride and Durango mountain biking is a must for any mountain biker. It’s a weekend of bike racing, bike tours, parties and fun in Durango Colorado. Hi! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Brice finds his "flow state" on the high alpine mountain bike trails outside Durango, Colorado. Try to get above 1200′ and you’ll reach arctic tundra. or maybe mountain called Purgatory haha. On more technical days (one, two, and seven), they served their purpose well, but proved to be overkill for the remaining time … Thank you Maria. It weaves through horse farms and cattle ranches complete with red barns. It’s a strenuous climb up the mountain for sure but the views make it all worth while. Bike the 7-mile (11-kilometer) car-free trail through downtown or mountain bike on over 1,000 miles of trails surrounding the city. Climbing at high altitude was slow and tiring, but thankfully I was not getting sick so my acclimation had worked. Then, the road is closed to vehicles and there are SAG stops all the way up the mountain. Being in shape is definitely a plus. Exploring the countryside we believe can be done best on bikes. Book now. This is a beautiful seven mile stretch of paved, multi-purpose trail that starts a couple of miles below Durango and right into town. 1 Hour Starting at $20. Along the way, the river bottoms change steadily into alpine forests. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Route Map & GuideA beautiful and highly detailed shaded relief map with highlighted points of interest along the way. Horse ranches get replaced by rustic cabins with a few ponies in the meadows out front. https://www.pinterest.com/colemanconcierg/, https://www.facebook.com/colemanconcierge/, https://www.reddit.com/user/ColemanConcierge/, Road Trip to Lynchburg Tennessee- A Jack Daniel’s Distillery Tour, Guadalupe Canyon Hot Springs – The Most Unique Camping in Baja. The long, lonesome whistle of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad trains will likely be among the first sounds you hear on a visit to Durango. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Designed by Ed and Jenn Coleman | Powered by Coleman Concierge. Head west on Highway 160 back to Durango. One problem I have is loss of appetite while on the trail. I was getting acquainted with my various navigational aids: Guthook App, CT Databook, and my Garmin InReach Mini. Sep 11. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ride The Iron Horse Classic From Durango To Silverton. I love the landscapes – especially those presented in winter. We did it in parts. A terrific ride with 4 passes giving you plen... - 231.8 mi, +17430 ft. Bike ride in Telluride, CO Silverton's Inn of the Rockies at the Historic Alma House; 220 East 10th Street, Silverton, CO ‎ (970) 387-5336; innoftherockies.com; Canyon View Motel; 661 Greene Street, Silverton, CO ‎ (970) 387-5400 ‎ canyonviewmotel.com; Red Mountain Motel, RV Park & Cabins; 664 Greene Street, Silverton, CO ‎ (970) 387-5512; redmtmotelrvpk.com But not just here, the flowers were awesome throughout my CT Trek. Been a bucket list trip of mine for a while, hope to do the whole trail in segments prior to, you know kicking the bucket. Ride Through History On The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. 250 the classic back road ride. Taylor Lake turned out to be a very nice campsite. Love the different scenery and seasons of the ride! CR 52 in Silverton. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I was able to leave my car with a friend in Colorado Springs and receive a ride to the Durango Junction Creek Trailhead. Silverton looks like a pretty town to spend some relaxing time after that strenous bike ride. It was springtime in the valley and winter at the peaks. Join San Juan Backcountry for the best Silverton & Durango, Colorado tours. The historic narrow gauge railroad completes the scene. Wow, this is gorgeous. It's also right on the Colorado Trail bike route, a route that I'd traversed three times in the past. Riders who need return transportation from Silverton can register for the $40 event-provided return transportation that includes your bicycle. I did have a bit of a headache at Taylor Lake, but nothing bad. Take a right onto County Road 52, and follow for … The best place to start is with a surrey bike tour of Silverton, which will help you get acquainted with the town. Enjoy our Colorado rafting tours & more! Day 3 would mean mostly hiking around 12000′ which amplified every uphill section. That’s just part of the Iron Horse Classic. It holds onto the mining past very well and still has a steam railroad to boot. This is the section of river that everybody plays on. Race the train from Durango to Silverton! Rent a Jeep, ATV, or take an ATV, 4x4. listeners: [], It also looks like it would be a really cool way to see that area as the train does not run along the highway. The dirt called on a day when the asphalt typically rules the cycling world in Durango and Silverton. The Silverton area has a variety of moderate and technical trails in and around the town. The trip begins on Main Avenue (Highway 550) in Durango. So impressive! If you ever wanted to ride in Durango, the Iron Horse Classic might be the perfect opportunity. It blows me away how these cyclists bike up these steep mountains with no shoulder, gaining as much as 4 or 5k feet. Unfortunately the seep occurred in a few places and from my northbound approach I ended up choosing to filter water out of the less desirable seep which ended up clogging my Katadyn water filter with mud. I knew that the elevation climb over the next couple of days would be the greatest vertical change on the entire CT, close to 5000′ to Kennebec Pass but much more than that with the various undulations. It’s a great ride but you have to know your limits and know the road. I don’t blame you for skipping the intense mountain passes. We’d be doing cool morning rides in Malaysia too. I love that there are smaller towns within the route, and the scenery/landscape look absolutely gorgeous! We’re just getting ready to refresh this post with the Iron Horse Classic coming up. Currently Offering Our Cascade Canyon Express, a 5-hour train journey. Also see Mountain Biking, Bike Shops, and Bicycle Tours and Events. Velocity Basin is a cirque basin with a small turquoise lake at its base. Half or full-day rentals available. I would particularly love the ranch lunch. Amazing descent into Durango – Indian Ridge is the highlight of the segment. James Ranch was a highlight of the ride. Overall The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad … operates 45.2 miles (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton … The steam-powered locomotives used today on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad were built during the 1920s. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Come race the train in our hometown of Durango. Purgatory Ski Resort has a mini mart and restaurant, but you would have to divert off the highway. It’s even more beautiful than I remembered. Continental Drifters: Durango to Moab by Bike Along the San Juan Huts ; Continental Drifters: Durango to Moab by Bike Along the San Juan Huts ... Silverton doesn’t have that polished, posh vibe that other Colorado mountain towns have. Part of Silverton Area Trails. We are thrilled to have you to Durango, CO this month and … Begin at County Road 250, riding until you reach County Road 252. Amazing ride with little technical difficulty. We offer shipping and receiving. It’s the freshest beef you’ll ever have. It’s a beautiful area for a road trip too. I spent the night at the NFS Campground and started out on August 15th. Jim worked as a brakeman on the D & R G W railroad which had run the steam powered locomotive between Durango and Silverton since the 1880's. Silverton is surrounded by giant mountains. So much nature everywhere. I recently started biking and wanted to know more about amazing places to go. I love the Million Dollar Highway! Goal for Day 2 was Taylor Lake which I knew would push the altitude envelop but would set me up for the next days at that elevation. This trail segment runs 13.5 miles on back roads through ranchland along the river bottom. The mineral rich waters bubbled up to form a muddy, colorful mound. Depart on an unforgettable journey deep into Cascade Canyon aboard the world-famous Durango and Silverton … FortNine Recommended for you. When your getting antsy and itching to get out, do, I'm going to Montana to spend the winter⁣ Haha, I would probably pass out, but it looks like an incredible bike ride! That might be reason enough to ride the Iron Horse right there. This post may contain affiliate links. at Vallecito Lake. Arguably the best views of the route. The following day meant 15 miles to the next reliable water, however, the terrain was not that tough so it turned out to be a good but I was tired. The trip begins on Main Avenue (Highway 550) in Durango. Check out Trip Advisor for great places to stay in Durango. Pass Purgatory and Hermosa Cliffs, onward to Silverton. The iconic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train began a cycling tradition for which Durango is known internationally. Climb 4000 feet to the top of Coal Bank Pass, descend a 1000 feet, climb another 1000 feet to the top of Molas Pass, then descend 2000 feet at 50 mph into Silverton on twist ymountain roads with … Northwest of Durango and southwest of Silverton, the 77 mile section of the Colorado Trail from Molas Pass down to Durango is considered an epic multi-day mountain bike trail. Along the Animas River runs the Animas River Trail. Dolores Bike Shops. } Our Telluride to Durango Mountain Bike Tour is a 4-day, self-guided adventure through the beautiful San Juan Mountains including some excellent sections of the Colorado Trail. Some bikers our there are real beasts. It’s always amazing how small you feel whenever you’re in the heart of nature. Telluride and Durango mountain biking is a must for any mountain biker. The photos are incredible! Interesting bit of history there. Surrey Bike Rentals. Senior Discount - Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. So many good places to see and ride. However, this day ended up being filled with smoke from a controlled burn. My last night before Silverton was the beginning of many nights of being totally exposed above tree line, but the weather was cooperating. Overall I believe that a late start on the CT is enhanced by taking on the northbound approach. This might make a fun downhill, but remember you’ll have to bike back up. } On the map, the trail ends at 29th street but continues as a sidewalk all the way to 32nd. These cookies do not store any personal information. Nothing wrong with that. Colorado Trail – Durango to Silverton. The first day turned out to be longer then I might have planned, but water and campsite options dictate your decisions, So I had to go 14.5 miles with about 4000′ total ascent to Junction Creek for my first night. Tom was a young bicycle enthusiast who grew up alongside the tracks to Silverton. ( Log Out /  Some positives were guarantees of maximum beauty in the San Juan’s, good water access thanks to a good snow year, and the sun is typically at your back (helpful for solar charging). The extra wide bike lanes disappear completely, and you are sharing a lane with the cars. In many ways, you aren’t biking up a mountain, you’re biking back in time. Definitely one of the most beautiful areas I’ve seen. I love getting to repeat influential trips from childhood. I do believe this is the most beautiful portion of the CT. On my 5th day on the trail I was beginning to understand my challenges. The vertical alone would be tough but climbing from 7000′ to 12000′ feet is the real challenge. Once I reached 11000′ feet I was sucking air. 598 Main Ave Ste B Durango… Durango Train Ride to Silverton Colorado Hi-Def - Duration: 10:00. Looks like a beautiful area! Those mountains take my breath away. Absolutely fantastic. Normally I don’t focus on the through hike concept but I did initially hope to complete the entire CT. The 14 mile stretch is where the climbing begins in earnest. It’s a great place to pick up a tasty treat for the road from their deli or even just a banana and Gatorade. Event dates are from Friday to Sunday, May 22nd to 24th, 2020 in Durango. Storms were forming but I felt like they were going to miss me to the south. It was great fun living your experiences vicariously, here. Going to do the trail from Molas pass near Silverton down to Durango. started by triton189 Last reply on Feb 21, 2019 . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Located at an elevation of 3.449m (11,315ft) above sea level, it is accessed from CR 52 outside of Silverton. This is also the terminus for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which can be used as a bike shuttle back from Silverton. The bike lanes along the Million Dollar Highway are wide and accommodating. Yes you can push yourself the first day, but I sure was tired sharing the limited campsite space with about 15 other SOBO backpackers. Subscribe to Coleman Concierge and never miss a post! There will be a time to travel soon enough. It must be amazing to be at over 10,000 feet! Posted by ghsmith76. You’re brave for biking it (and in excellent shape). Truth be told, we didn’t ride this section of road, but we did see people grinding up the road. I (Jenn) grew up in Denver and worked at Keystone and Copper Mountain and went to school for a little bit at Western State. Oh well, live and learn. Others came to hear about the challenge, and in 1972, 36 others decided to participate as well. A, "Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on N, Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winte. Incredible to hear about the history and story behind the Iron Horse Classic – awesome that he eventually beat the train on his bike! Some of my best rides have been on a beach cruiser going through our neighborhood. The scenery looks beautiful and the snowcapped mountains are awesome. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I hope I’ll be able to take this journey one day too. Durango is a biking town and riding up the Million Dollar Highway to Silverton is a classic ride. Driving to Durango is a breeze, with both Highway 550 and Highway 160 intersecting this little mountain town. That was about 10 miles. It’s flat, casual, and perfect for hybrid bicycles. The local Durango college, Fort Lewis, boasts three National Championships in mountain biking. There composting toilets at Molas Pass but no potable water. Thanks for the great guide on what looks like another one worthy of a day trip. If you mountain bike, you should also check out the Hermosa Creek trail coming off the resort. Your email address will not be published. Such a nice landscape, loved all the pictures! Pagosa Springs Bike Shops. Many a rider will just flip it at Purgatory and start rolling back downhill. 230 mile loop that incorporates The Million Dollar Highway from Silverton, CO to Durango and Mancos. What amazing scenery! … Plenty of hikers use the train to get up into the San Juan’s.