A sign at the Sale Barn Trailhead welcoming visitors to the Telegraph Trails System. The sign features a map of the trails, safety guidelines, and information on sharing the trail with other users, along with symbols indicating area restrictions and environmental tips. Surrounding the sign are natural elements like trees and rocks. Big Double 8 Loop mountain bike trail.
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Tags:
Level: Advanced
Length: 20 mi (32.2 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Figure 8
Elevation: +1,187/ -1,093 ft
Total: 22 riders
 

Mountain Biking Big Double 8 Loop

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#478 of 1,379 mountain bike trails in Colorado
#4,980 in the world

The Telegraph Trail System is an IMBA Epic ride. One of only four in
Colorado. There are lots of trail options here, so don't sell yourself short by
thinking only south (Sale Barn) end or Horse Gulch end. They all tie
together and can keep you entertained for hours.

This trail posting describes a nice 20-mile, 2800-foot elevation gain loop
that doesn't use all the trails available. Once you become familiar you can
mix and match depending on how much time and energy you have on any
particular day.

Ride details: The suggestion of starting this ride at the Big Canyon TH
allows you .75 miles of warm up on the frontage road down to the Sale
Barn TH. Your knees should be warmed up by the time you need to climb
up to the top of the mesa.

This suggested route goes as follows: follow the South Rim Trail all the
way to the intersection with the Carbon Junction Trail. Turn right and take
Crites Connect up to the saddle intersection with Telegraph Trail. If you are
comfortable with fairly gnarly, steepish descents with some exposure, you
will enjoy the Anasazi Descent. If not, follow the Telegraph Trail down to
the first major intersection at the bottom. Either way, turn right and take
Stacy's Loop up to Mike's Trail and follow the north side of Cuchillo Loop
back down to thing Meadow Loop. (Just doing Cuchillo Loop will be a
mellower ride with less climbing.) Take the Telegraph Trail back up to the
saddle and bear left to stay on Telegraph. Turn right to take a fast descent
down Sidewinder to Cowboy Trail and Big Canyon Trail. This will dump you
out tired and smiling right at your vehicle.

First added by norski on Oct 20, 2011. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: unknown
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: unknown
  • Pump track: unknown
  • Restrooms: unknown
  • Fat bike grooming: unknown
  • E-bikes allowed: unknown
  • Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
The Big Canyon trail head is located across from the Walmart store on
US550/160 (S Camino Del Rio) at the Southern end of Durango. Look for the
TH parking sign. There are private parking areas in the same area.


Big Double 8 Loop Trail map

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Good (Jul 4, 2024)
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Mountain Bike Trails Near Durango, Colorado

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Expert | 3 mi
| 0.2 mi
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Beginner | 10 mi
| 5 mi

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