|
|
|
|
|
||
Dry Fork Trail Mountain Bike Trail
Durango, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
8 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 5/31/08 by MtnByker |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 9 miles | Global Rank: #854 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 41 | Wishlist: 24 |
| Avg. Speed: 9.5 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 0min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,439/-1,358 ft |
Directions:
To view directions to Dry Fork Trail mountain bike trail, please login. If
you don't have an account, sign up now: it's free, only takes a minute, and gives you access to tons of other rad features.
Description: We went down to Durango for the day and it just so happened that the Iron Horse Classic was in town. We watched a couple of criterium races then headed for the nearest singletrack just outside town at Dry Fork. There were a couple of horse trailers in the trailhead parking lot, never a good sign for bikers. Fortunately, one group of horseback riders was coming off the trail as we geared up and we never saw the other group. The signs at the trailhead warn riders to avoid the trail when things are wet but we quickly realized by looking at the trail conditions that this warning is rarely heeded. The tread is hard and bumpy with hoof prints and solidified tire tracks, relics of muddier times. The climb wasn't too difficult, though we probably went around the loop in the wrong direction based on the number of riders we saw coming the other way (in our defense we decided on the counter-clockwise route after viewing the trailhead map and elevation profile which seemed to indicate that this was the way to go). The scenery was great, lots of wild flowers and a few nice aspen groves near the top. The return down was great, a little bumpy with rocks and roots at times. Check it out if you're in the area, the singletrack doesn't disappoint.
Description: We went down to Durango for the day and it just so happened that the Iron Horse Classic was in town. We watched a couple of criterium races then headed for the nearest singletrack just outside town at Dry Fork. There were a couple of horse trailers in the trailhead parking lot, never a good sign for bikers. Fortunately, one group of horseback riders was coming off the trail as we geared up and we never saw the other group. The signs at the trailhead warn riders to avoid the trail when things are wet but we quickly realized by looking at the trail conditions that this warning is rarely heeded. The tread is hard and bumpy with hoof prints and solidified tire tracks, relics of muddier times. The climb wasn't too difficult, though we probably went around the loop in the wrong direction based on the number of riders we saw coming the other way (in our defense we decided on the counter-clockwise route after viewing the trailhead map and elevation profile which seemed to indicate that this was the way to go). The scenery was great, lots of wild flowers and a few nice aspen groves near the top. The return down was great, a little bumpy with rocks and roots at times. Check it out if you're in the area, the singletrack doesn't disappoint.
added on June 1, 2004 by 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by DurangoMtBikeTours on October 8, 2011
A great addition to the Durango trail system. I like to ride out 25th st, which becomes Junction Creek Rd and take it to the Colorado Trail Start/end Trailhead. Ride this about 2 1/2 miles with a gradual climb and cross Junction Creek. The next 2 miles or so are pretty steep switchbacks leading to Gudy's Rest. A great bench and overlook to take a break. From there continue up and you can either take Hoffeins Connection down to Dry Fork, or continue up another couple miles and get to the tp fo Dry Fork. Ride this down all the way to Lightner Creek Rd. I do a loop from town, out Lightner Creek and back Hwy 160 east to down. Pushing it you can finish in under 2 hours, about 16-18 miles total
* Review edited 10/8/2011
reviewed by cobeartown on July 24, 2010
What a great ride. We rode in a clock wise rotation with a good climb and no technical stuff just some loose rock on mostly single track. The Downhill was more tree roots and rocks with small drops (less than a foot) so a counter clock wise would be a bit more technical but still not bad. The trail was mostly shaded for us (we were done by about 10:30) and with the thick forest it may be for most of the day. Our ride took us about an hour and a half to two hours (I slowed down my son, so it could have been done much faster). My GPS had a problem so I did not get the mileage of the ride but would guess the 9 miles is about right.
Similar Trail: Lair O' The Bear/Bear Creek Trail Mountain Bike Trail
reviewed by omaha on August 14, 2009
nice trail through aspen and oak groves. lots of shade. lush and a bit overgrown on some parts. i'm used to dry sunny open space in abq, nm. great workout up if you're not used to the altitude. good bomb down as a reward. lots of bikers, so go the usual clockwise route.
reviewed by wpernett on July 3, 2009
Being from AZ this trail was a treat for me. I am used to lower altitude desert single track and the altitude for this trail was a challenge for me. I think I topped out at just over 9000 feet. The 4.5 mile climb was tough but not technical. There are some rocks and roots but nothing major. I rode this trail clockwise and it seemed to be the direction MTB riders were going. I met several hikers near the intersection of the Dry Fork and CO trails going counter clockwise. The climb is worth the DH! The CO trail and Hofheins trail make up the 4 or so miles of downhill back to the trail head parking. The DH single track is great with vegitation growing dense on both sides of the trail that will open up and let you see the next section of DH. Watch for cows on the Hoffheins trail! I came face to face with a cow right in the middle of a fast section of DH. Keep you eyes pealed here. I was very pleased with the workout and awsome views.
* Review edited 7/3/2009
reviewed by padoven on February 23, 2009
It is quite a grind to get to the top, but not super hard. The grind is worth every bit of the downhill. Long stretches allow you to see ahead and bomb down the hill fast enough to put a smile on your face that will last an hour.
reviewed by Fishpilot on July 2, 2008
A very rewarding ride. I rode up Dry fork to the CO trail and down Hoffheins for a very nice ride. The climb up dry fork is slow and steady with a few flat spots tossed in to keep you motivated. The CO trail is a blast, fast ST that has plenty of hidden rocks and roots to keep you on your toes. At the CO and hoffheins intersection you NEED to continue on the CO trail for .2 miles to an amazing overlook, I think is is called Gudy's Rest. A nice place to air dry and drink that last of your H2O because the descent on Hoffheins will not let up and you will have too big a smile to partake in the camelback. Watch out for horses and cows, I narrowly missed a holstein about 150 yards before the finish. A must do if you ask me.
reviewed by MtnByker on May 31, 2008
This trail loop has always been one of our favorites. The trails on the West side of Durango are different than the East side of town but don’t let that discourage you from riding this great single track. It throws some rocky and rooted stretches at you then rewards with some beautiful smooth track then back to the rough stuff. In and out of the tall pines and meadows with a handful of stream crossings (at least in the spring time). We ride the clockwise direction, which gives you 4.5 miles of uphill followed by 4.5 miles of coasting!
reviewed by mogulskier013 on June 15, 2007
This is not even close to the closest single track in Durango. Durango has multiple singletrack trails right in town that are way above and beyond what dryfork is. The Telegraph hill trail system and the Test Tracks start in town and have way better singletrack without the fear of meeting a horse or two.
Similar Trail: Hoffein's Connection to the Colorado Trail above Goode's rest is fairly similar.
More 