the Rim Trail west from here a couple hundred yards, you can get back down to the Chapman Hill parking area via a steep road closed to traffic.
The Animas River Trail is an asphalt and concrete route that follows the river closely all the way from the north end of town to the south end. Planning and construction took twenty or thirty years, depending on who’s counting, and it was ceremoniously finished in 2005. However, extensions on both ends and new crossings and connections remain in the works.
The River Trail is a bit over 7 miles long but will grow. On the north end, it starts at the intersection of Thirty-Second Street and East Third Avenue (N 37 17.702, W 107 52.203) on the north end of Memorial Park. A restroom open during warm-weather months and parking are available at Twenty-Ninth Street. In less than a half-mile, the trail crosses the river over a good footbridge. It continues south along the river around the east side of the high school grounds, crosses a bridge over Junction Creek, and goes behind the Durango Public Library. Then it crosses another footbridge, goes past a gazebo at Rotary Park, and heads under Main Avenue (N 37 16.838, W 107 52.701).
The trail continues behind businesses on the east side of the river to Iris Park. There, a nice bridge takes you across to the west side of the Animas River at the north end of Schneider Park and next to a skate park. After a couple blocks you cross the Animas again at the Ninth Street Bridge, then loop around and under the bridge.
Found along the Rim Trail, this metal sculpture molded in the shape of the surrounding mountains is part of the Peter Carver Geologic Overlook, a memorial for a young Durangoan who died in an avalanche in 2013.
A great view of Durango from Smelter Mountain.
After passing the DoubleTree Hotel, the trail goes under the US 160 bridge (N 37 16.125, W 107 53.150). It proceeds south along the highway about a mile to Whitewater Park, goes under another highway bridge, and crosses to the west side of the river over a rickety, wooden-planked bridge. It moves along a nice riparian area without any development for a half-mile until coming to a BMX track. (A bridge from the BMX track links to the Rivergate townhomes and Animas Surgical Hospital). The River Trail continues uphill another half-mile, and then continues on a neat cantilever over a steep section to begin its way around the Durango Mall. It again crosses the Animas near the highway, then goes past the Humane Society, Walmart, Escalante Middle School, and Home Depot before ending. Keep in mind there are numerous access points to the River Trail along its route.
Overend Mountain Park encompasses a series of hills and valleys in nearly 300 acres of wild land on Durango’s western boundary that was acquired by the city in the 1990s. The lowest point of the park is about 6,600 feet at the city boundary; the highest point is the Hogsback (see page 33) at 7,484 feet, giving a net relief of 884 feet.
There is a network of approximately 15 miles of trails, providing some good short exploratory hikes. Some trails are steep and some are gentle. Winter also can be good for snowshoeing and ski touring, although most times snow just makes a mucky mess of things, particularly in the spring. You could get lost in the maze of trails, but not badly, because Durango is always to the east of you and is visible from various high points.
Overend Mountain Park is named for Ned Overend, who is not only the first official world mountain bike champion (1990 at Purgatory), but also was one of the landowners who agreed to sell this land to the city for a decent price. Ed Zink and Scott Fleming were among the others.
The area is composed of Mancos Shale: a gray, flaky soil that is usually soft at the surface. Some places are bare, while others have piñon pines and junipers along with some large ponderosa pines.
There are several access points. A primary one is at the west end of Leyden Street in the Crestview area (N 37 17.054, W 107 53.264). A map is posted on a sign at the trailhead. One trail sticks to the main gulch, known locally as Slime Gulch, but side trails begin branching off, one immediately to the right. Other options soon branch off to the left uphill.
There is also access off the west end of Montview Parkway, and Arroyo Drive at its intersection with North Glenisle Avenue. South of Leyden, you can cross the drainage ditch at the intersection of Kearney Street and Glenisle Avenue. This route goes up steeply at first. If you explore, you’ll find other trails, and unofficial trails. Please honor private property signs.
Overend Mountain Park is very popular with mountain bikers, and hikers need to be on the lookout for sudden biker appearances around sharp corners. Bikers owe the right of way to hikers, but hikers should stay alert to their presence. Dogs must be on a leash in this park.
Dalla Mountain Park is another city-owned parcel with myriad trails. It’s very popular with dog walkers and sport climbers. If it’s popular with climbers, that means there are plenty of rocks and boulders, some of them huge, all of them sandstone. There are also trees (mostly piñons) growing out of these boulders everywhere, a reaffirming sign of the tenacity of life. To get there, go west off Main Avenue up Twenty-Fifth Street. Go 1 mile and look for the parking area on the right. There are several miles of trails winding about this 176-acre parcel the city of Durango purchased from previous owner Jake Dalla in 2005. This area, still known locally as “Sailing Hawks,” abuts Animas City Mountain, and those trail systems are linked.
Located northeast of town off Florida Road is the 1.2-mile-long Pioneer Trail. It’s popular with people in the Edgemont development nearby. From the intersection of CR 250 (East Animas Road) and CR 240 (Florida Road), go 3 miles up Florida Road. About 150 yards before the big sign for Edgemont Ranch (a subdivision), look for a gravel road on the left. Drive up that gravel road for 100 yards to a very small parking area (N 37 18.796, W 107 47.933, 7,360 feet), and there you’ll find the trailhead. The trail begins by heading south, going right up to the Edgemont sign, then switching back northward, winding its way uphill through a ponderosa-dominated forest. At 1.2 miles it ends abruptly at Nusbaum Road (N 37 19.423, W 107 47.743, 7,900 feet). You’ve climbed 540 feet.
Pioneer is probably best for a quick out-and-back. But if you hike up Nusbaum, which turns into Silver Mesa Driveway, it’s about a mile to the San Juan National Forest, at which point a barrier prevents cars from getting through. From the barrier, it’s approximately 2.5 miles to the Missionary Ridge Trail, which you hit a mile or so north of the top of Haflin Creek.
Twin Buttes trail system also deserves a mention. This area is certainly a hotspot for mountain bikers, but the 12 miles of trails—built by Trails 2000 volunteer crews—are multi-use. This marvelous system was created in conjunction with a development west of town that has been annexed by the city of Durango. Open space land was deeded to the city by the developers, and parts of trails actually wend through the subdivision or close to it. It’s just 1.5 miles west of town on US 160. Go just past the gas station on the north side of the highway and turn right toward Animas High School, then quickly turn into a dirt lot on the right to park. The lower trails are open year-round, but the upper trails are closed from December 1 to April 15 to protect wildlife habitats.
HOGSBACK
DISTANCE: 2 miles round-trip
ELEVATION: Start at 6,660 feet, finish at 7,484 feet (824-foot gain)
RATING: Moderate, due to steep finish
TIME ALLOWED: 1¼ hours
Hogsback Trail is part of Overend Mountain Park,
