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Telegraph Trail System - South Mountain Bike Trail
Durango, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
4 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 6/8/08 by MtnByker |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 10 miles | Global Rank: #390 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 35 | Wishlist: 31 |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,545/-1,813 ft | IMBA Epic Trail |
Mountain Bike Trails in the Telegraph Trail System - South Trail System
Directions:
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Description: The Telegraph Trail System is a fantastic riding area located virtually in town! The "Trails 2000" organization has done a great job building and maintaining these trails. These are the trails that your bike is begging you to take a ride on! The Telegraph Trails are laid out in multiple loops with multiple trail heads that allow you to combine trails and mileage to match your desires. In and out of canyons and meadows with Scrub Oak, Juniper and Pine on great single track. The switchbacks in and out of the canyons get the legs to burning but are short and manageable. Each intersection has “You Are Here” maps so you always know where you are. There is no specific direction or route you must take (go ahead and create your own) but a favorite 10-mile combination loop we enjoy starts at the Sale Barn trail head and ends at the Big Canyon trail head with a short frontage road ride back to the car.
From the Sale Barn trail head follow the Sale Barn trail through a couple of canyons and meadows and turn right at the first intersection onto the Cowboy trail. Follow this trail up to intersection 2 and turn right again, staying on the Cowboy trail. Turn left at intersection 3 and turn left at intersection 4 onto the Sidewinder trail. Breeze along the Sidewinder trail and turn left at intersection 5 and again left at intersection 6 onto the South Rim trail. Great views of the South side of Durango can be seen from along this ridge. Continue around and down on the South Rim trail until intersection 7 and turn right onto the Big Canyon trail. Blast down a great finishing stretch that drops you in and out of creek beds until you finally reach the bottom and the Big Canyon trail head. Turn left on the frontage road and cool down on the ride back you your car. Be sure to watch for hikers, horses and other bikers.
added on June 8, 2008 by 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by DurangoMtBikeTours on October 9, 2011
The trail description listed is pretty spot on. A lot of fun to be had back here. I like to ride from Horse Gulch, up and over Telegraph to Yellow Brick, Side Winder, Cowboy, Out Big Canyon. All downhill from Telegraph. Or loop around from Cowboy to Sale Barn, South Rim, Sidewinder, Crites, and down Anazasi. Best to go with someone that knows the trails to avoid stopping at each intersection.
Similar Trail: Powerline, Browns Ridge
reviewed by julieahughey on May 11, 2011
Did this exact ride last weekend and LOVED it! We've ridden the Horse Gulch side before and liked it, but this was even better. We hardly saw any other people. The views were incredible and the rolling single track was a nice change from our more technical Junction trails. We will definitely be back!
Similar Trail: 18 Road - prime cut/kessel in Fruita, CO Phil's World Perimeter trial - Lake Dillon
reviewed by hit4th on August 15, 2010
great 1 to 2 hour rides here. Good for beginners and intermediates.
Similar Trail: Phils World
reviewed by KleinBottle on May 1, 2010
In the SE corner of town, near Ft Lewis College. I saw quite a few people and cars in the parking lot, but once you get on the trails there are lots of choices and it doesn't feel crowded at all. You enter the Telegraph area on a doubletrack that leads up, but after a short while you have a choice in a network of really nice singletracks. And so close to town.
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