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Hermosa Creek Trail Mountain Bike Trail
Durango, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
8 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 8/24/09 by sevinrude |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 19 miles | Global Rank: #364 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Other |
| Ridden: 26 | Wishlist: 17 |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,248/-2,764 ft |
Directions:
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Description: The trail starts at the West side of the parking area and follows great singletrack for the first several miles. As the trail curves South it enters a steep canyon and follows the river as it drops towards the town of Hermosa. There are several trails that cross this area, about 6 miles in you'll cross the Salt Creek trail, this has been well labeled in the past. There are some (3) river crossing, most have footbridges, and several small drainages. Hermosa Creek Trail drops about 1,500 feet total with 2 longer climbs occuring towards the end of the ride. This trail is a Point to Point with several options for leaving cars at the trails end. Usually the town of Hermosa is a good place, and you pass it on the way to the trailhead.
Description: The trail starts at the West side of the parking area and follows great singletrack for the first several miles. As the trail curves South it enters a steep canyon and follows the river as it drops towards the town of Hermosa. There are several trails that cross this area, about 6 miles in you'll cross the Salt Creek trail, this has been well labeled in the past. There are some (3) river crossing, most have footbridges, and several small drainages. Hermosa Creek Trail drops about 1,500 feet total with 2 longer climbs occuring towards the end of the ride. This trail is a Point to Point with several options for leaving cars at the trails end. Usually the town of Hermosa is a good place, and you pass it on the way to the trailhead.
added on April 9, 2009 by 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by DurangoMtBikeTours on October 8, 2011
Hermosa Creek Trail, listed as one of the Top Ten Single Track rides in America by Mt Bike Mag, is a must ride. If you are ready for an ALL day ride you can start from town and ride the 25 miles up Hwy 550 to Purgatory and up and over Hermosa Parkway, down to the trail head. 23 miles or so of sweet single track, back to Hermosa, and then road burn 8 miles to town. All told you would do about 55-60 miles and cover about 2500-3000 feet of elevation gain. An easier way is to either get dropped of at the top of Purgatory and ride back to down, or leave a car at Hermosa. Anyway you do it, this ride ROCKS! Be aware it is mostly downhill from Purg, but there is a 2 mile climb out of the canyon at the end.
reviewed by jwsd on September 12, 2011
Awesome Trail!! rode this 3 weeks ago with a few friends. There is a great alternate way to start the trail and it adds a few more single trail miles to it. Recommend to leave car in hermosa and shuttle up the the described T-junction (this is pretty much the crest climbing from Purgatory up to the Valley. (E.g. Durango Mtn Resort offers shuttle services) ride the dirt road down into the valley, then take a left towards the skilifts. you can find the trail on the Latitude 40 map "Seth's trail". it may be a bit hard to find in places (especially after the 2nd skilift), but if basically follows the trees on the south side of the valley. you will eventually get to the same parking lot descibed as starting point.
Similar Trail: Monarch Crest Trail
reviewed by abegold on September 12, 2011
Starts on double track to the creek and then downstream for a few to singletrack. The trail useage is high, espically early. When singletrack you'll climb and descend the canyon walls several times as you head downstream.
Similar Trail: Mckenzie River Trail, Clarkfork River Trail
reviewed by dubinjs on December 1, 2010
One of the best rides i have ever taken. I rode this trail with a buddy of mine right before i left Colorado to move back to Maryland. i was living and riding in Fort Collins at the time. I took a 10 day camping excursion to see the parts of the state I hadnt seen before and this was for the highlight of the trip. The trail is long, georgeous, challenging in spots, and a blast to ride. Watch out for cattle on the trail toward the trail head and make sure yoou take a swim in the river. its cold, but it feels great when your peddling hard. Awsome trail!
reviewed by rwbuff78 on July 13, 2009
amazing trail. smooth, fast, banked curves. everything i read talked about shuttles but i thought it made a great 40 mile out and back
reviewed by JasonHolmes on April 22, 2009
This was a good ride, That's me in a couple of those pictures, My friends Mark and Donny, and their girls. The ride was a little short and I had to keep stopping and waiting for them all. But it was descent.
reviewed by HotMTBGuy on April 19, 2009
This is close to my favorite ride, I love this ride, LOVE IT! Plan on a full day, you can ride it faster, but you miss out on a lot of other fun, like swimming in the river. Take plenty of water and a full set of tools, Because if you break down, it's a long, hard, walk out. Have Fun.....
* Review edited 4/19/2009
reviewed by Jasonrgilbert on April 9, 2009
I can't beleive that this trail wasn't on this site. This is a great trail. Sorry, I didn't have any pictures or better directions. If you can add any of these, please do.
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