The Pagosa mountain bike trails are legendary, beginning with the readily accessible “in-town” trails at Reservoir Hill and Dakota Springs and encompassing hundreds of miles of trail networks spread throughout the nearby foothills and San Juan National Forest.
Pagosa Mountain Sports, just on the other side of the San Juan River from our convenient downtown Pagosa Springs location, is your one-stop shop for biking gear, current updates on trail conditions, and a wide assortment of affordable bike rentals (they have you covered, from relaxed “townie” bikes to 4 types of mountain bikes, including an e-bike option).
Our award-winning hotel in Pagosa Springs is surrounded by these renowned trails (plus many more) and is the perfect home base for your next Pagosa Springs mountain-biking adventure!
– Reservoir Hill Park –
The Reservoir Hill mountain playground includes over 8 miles of trails and has some of the best hiking and Pagosa mountain bike trails. It’s also the home base for various music festivals and has a disc golf course, so the opportunities for outdoor recreation never end. Start by riding the Riverwalk Trail – accessible from our doorstep at the Riverwalk Inn – to the Spa trailhead on Park St, behind the Healing Waters Spa. From there, take the easy-climbing Tenderfoot Trail and link into the 1-mile Teocote loop as it circles through the dense forest and hits a high point at 7,400 feet. Stop for a mid-ride break at the wooden, shaded pavilion (a nice respite on a hot summer afternoon), where you’ll get panoramic views of the San Juan River flowing below. On the way down, take the trails on the opposite side of the hill, including Wapiti, Highline, and Skyrocket, a smooth one-mile descent conveniently ending at the San Juan trailhead directly across Highway 60 from us.
– Dakota Springs –
This newer addition to the Pagosa Springs mountain bike trails system is also reachable from our location using the Riverwalk Trail – ride the entire 2-mile length of the paved path from your riverside room at the best hotel in Pagosa Springs to Yamaguchi Park, enjoying the scenery as you make your way along the San Juan River through town. Mountain bike experts shaped the perfectly flowing single-track, which is equally fun for beginners and advanced riders throughout the mostly-flat two-mile loop behind the Pagosa Springs High School. Take B-Ball Connector to Flow Down and into Flow My Mind, which only climbs a bit over 100 feet overall. For a preview, check out this drone footage shows this section of the trail from above as riders navigate the engaging course. The Dakota Springs network is the product of the trail-development teams at DUST2 – a local non-profit that supports trail development and maintenance while strengthening biking infrastructure and culture in Pagosa Springs. If you’re in town on a Tuesday or Thursday night, join one of their free evening group rides, open to riders of all levels and a great way to tap into the local cycling scene.
– Coyote Hill –
Dip your toes into high-elevation riding with the classic Coyote Hill loop, which has stunning mountain views throughout the gently sloping 3.5 miles. Although just a 10-mile drive from downtown Pagosa Springs, you’ll cross through alpine terrain, including meadows with wildflowers that are hitting their peak during the late spring and early summer. Take a hydration break and snap some photos at the midway point, where you’ll have a clear sightline to Pagosa Peak, which commands the skyline at over 12,000 feet.
– Turkey Springs –
Just across the street from Coyote Hill, you’ll see the Turkey Springs trailhead, which leads to miles and miles of top-notch biking through the San Juan National Forest. The vast protected forest stretches some 127,000 acres, with pristine ponderosa pines, waterways, huge meadows, and well-maintained trails providing access right from the edge of Pagosa Springs. Start with the classic Turkey Springs lollipop, an intermediate grade 7.6-mile loop that is a favorite of local bikers. If you want to go even longer, tack on the extra Turkey Springs west loop, which adds another 4 miles as it traces the contour of 8,875 feet-high Chris Mountain.
– Devil Mountain and Chimney Rock –
To embrace the challenge and grit of proper Colorado mountain riding, do the ascent of Devil Mountain, which climbs up to 9,941 feet. Due to its slightly off-the-beaten-path location, you’ll likely see fewer people than on the other more popular Pagosa trails, and it’s a great way to get a taste of the Colorado backcountry. The wide double-track path starts across Devil Creek from Chimney Rock, a sacred Native American site worth visiting during your stay. Before your ride, take a self-guided or guided tour (free and offered once daily) at the adjacent Chimney Rock National Monument, where you’ll see Pueblo structures dating back a thousand years. Even better, plan to come on the summer solstice and join their special sunrise solstice tour, highlighting the unique way that the Pueblo built their Great House atop the mesa to align with the solstice and equinox.
Reserve your room at the Riverwalk Inn, get your bikes ready, and explore these epic Pagosa mountain bike trails!
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