Biking

The San Juan National Forest offers world class single track for mountain biking and remote, winding roads and mountain passes for road cyclists. Biking is an exhilarating way to take in the beauty of southwestern Colorado.

Rules of the Trail

Uphill traffic has the right of way.
Always yield to hikers.
Yield to horses. They are easily spooked
Avoid trails when muddy and wet to prevent damage.
Remember to stay off private land and out of wilderness areas
Leave no trace. Pick up trash.

Stay Safe

Plan ahead: consider elevation, weather, location, length and difficulty of ride.
Wear a helmet
Bring plenty of water
Carry bike repair tools, including a spare tire, tire pump and tube patch kit
Ride in control and with a friend
Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return
A few of the trails are hours away from outside help — plan accordingly
Plan to return to your car before dark
Wear blaze orange in the fall during hunting season

E-Biking

The Forest Service released national directives for e-bikes on February 24th, 2022. The directives established e-bikes as motorized equipment, validates that e-bikes are allowed on any trail or route open to motorized use, and allows for local travel management planning to consider e-bike use on non-motorized trails. E-bikes are not allowed on non-motorized trails.

Fact Sheet AND Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Mountain Biking

The San Juan National Forest has many miles of incredible single track trails for mountains bikers of all levels, offering fun and challenging rides throughout the forest.

Famous routes such as the Hermosa Creek Trail and the Colorado Trail attract back country mountain bikers from across the nation and around the world.

For more information on trails, visit our partner websites:

Durango Trails: Local non-profit organization, Durango Trails, offers maps and descriptions of mountain biking trails throughout Durango and the San Juan Mountains.
Pagosa Trails: Local non-profit organization, Pagosa Area Trails Council, provides detailed information about trails in the Pagosa Springs area.