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Winter Trails and Conditions

Winter Trails and Conditions

Enjoy plenty of non-motorized winter adventures on trails groomed for cross-country skiing (skate, classic, touring), fat biking and snowshoeing.

Please follow best practices and understand that the groomed trails are put in for forms of winter recreation that requires it for access, such as skate skiing, classic tracks and fat biking. Snowshoers and walkers should stay to the right, off the track, and dogs are not allowed in all locations. 

Photo credit: Brett Davis

Recent images from our trail reporters:

La Plata Canyon 03/26/23 Photo Credit JD
Engineer Mountain (view from Purgatory) 03.16.23
Vallecito Nordic 03.13.23

More photos and information can also be found on the Durango Trails Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.
We appreciate your help in keeping this report accurate.

Know Before You Go

Before heading out on your winter adventure, please review all trail etiquette and make sure to follow these guidelines to ensure all trail users have a great experience!
 
1) Skate-skiers need a groomed track. If you are classic skiing, please stay to the right in the cross country track. Snowshoers should stay to the right of the groomed skate and class track. 
 
2) Dogs are allowed off leash in certain locations but you must have control of your dog. Allowing your dog to poop in the snow and not picking it up is not good trail manners. If your dog runs away from you and you can’t see it, that is not having control of your dog. If you have to say “Come, Fido” more than once, that is not having control of your dog. If a skier needs to stop or slow down so your dog does not take them out, that is not having control of your dog. You get the idea.
 
3) Be in control. Uphill traffic still has the right of way in skiing, too. 
 
4) Fat Bikes: Make sure to have wide tires — deep snow coverage may require tires wider than 3.5 inches. Tire pressure will often be less than 10 PSI. 4-6 is typical. You’ll need enough floatation that you can travel over snow without leaving a rut deeper than one inch and sufficient traction that you are able to safely control your bike and ride in a straight line. 

Get Outside

Current Winter Trail Conditions

The Winter Trail Conditions page is intended to provide you updates on area Winter Trails available for cross country ski trails (groomed or ungroomed), hiking, trail running or fat biking. This is not a weather report, but based on our best information from Trail Reporters. If you encounter something different, please message us so we can update the information.

Expect varying conditions based on time of day (ice and hardpack in the morning, and softer once the sun hits the trail). Please check avalanche reports if heading out to higher elevation trails.

More photos and information can be found on the Durango Trails Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

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In Town
Animas Mountain Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Animas Mountain Lower LoopGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Animas Mountain Upper LoopGoodupdated Aug 8, 202308.01.23 Peregrine falcon closure lifted and now open.
Birket TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Swerve TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
X-Rock Climbing AreaGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Animas River TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Church Camp Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Dalla Mountain Park Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Bouldering TrailGoodupdated Jul 3, 2023City added fencing around a bouldering area at Dalla
Fort Lewis Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Lion’s Den TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Nature TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Powerline TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Rim TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Sky StepsGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Skyline TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Squawker, Talker and Shocker TrailsGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Grandview Ridge Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Sale Barn TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Horse Gulch Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 Construction in progress for new trails set to open in fall.
Overend Mountain Park Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Hogsback TrailGoodupdated Jul 4, 2023Very steep at top of Hogsback
Perins Peak TrailGoodupdated Aug 2, 202308.01.23 Wildlife closure has been lifted and Perins Peak Trail now open.
Smelter Mountain TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Three Springs Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Twin Buttes Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 Lightner Creek trail crossing closed due to collapsed bridge.
Mid Country
Blackhawk PassGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Colorado Trail System (Lower)Goodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Colorado Trail at Junction CreekGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Dry Fork TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
High PointGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 Durango Trails crew has cleared all downed trees and overgrowth from Champion Venture up to High Point.
Hoffheins TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Cutthroat TrailFairupdated Aug 31, 202307.24.23 Overgrown, can find at the intersection of Relay and Cascade Divide.
Haviland Lake TrailsGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Hermosa Area Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 SJTR have cleared all downed trees on Hermosa Trails. Possible for more downed trees from the 416 fire.
Big LickFairupdated Jul 24, 2023
Bolam Pass RoadGoodupdated Aug 2, 202308.01.23
Corral Draw TrailGoodupdated Jul 3, 2023
Dutch Creek TrailGoodupdated Aug 2, 2023
Elbert Creek TrailGoodupdated Aug 2, 2023
Goulding Creek TrailGoodupdated Aug 2, 2023
Hermosa Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 SJTR have cleared all downed trees. Expect additional trees to fall from the 416 fire.
Hotel Draw RoadGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Jones Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Little Elk TrailFairupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 Downed trees and still damage from 416 fire, difficult to navigate.
Mitchell Lakes TrailGoodupdated Jun 28, 2023
Pinkerton-Flagstaff TrailGoodupdated Jun 28, 2023
Salt Creek West to Rico-Silverton TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
West Cross Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Junction Creek Road (USFS 171)Goodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
La Plata Canyon Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 3, 2023
Log Chutes Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Missionary Ridge Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 27, 202307.24.23
First Fork TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Haflin Creek TrailGoodupdated Aug 8, 202307.24.23
Missionary Ridge TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Red Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Steven’s Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Roaring Fork TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Vallecito Lake Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
High Country
Andrews LakeGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Colorado Trail System (High Country)Goodupdated Aug 31, 202307.24.23 Durango Trails and volunteers have cleared overgrown brush from Champion Venture to High Point.
Colorado Trail from Champion VentureGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 Durango Trails have removed downed trees, cleared brush, drainage and retread work from Champion Venture to Walls Gulch.
Engine Creek TrailGoodupdated Aug 31, 202307.27.23
Indian Trail RidgeGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Molas PassGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Rico-Silverton TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Sharkstooth TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Walls Gulch Bridge TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23 (Walls Gulch is a bridge on segment 28 of the Colorado Trail). Downed trees have been cleared.
High Country TrailsGoodupdated Jul 24, 20237.24.23
Cascade Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Coal Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 16, 2023
Columbine/Ruby LakesGoodupdated Jul 16, 2023
Crater Lake TrailGoodupdated Jul 16, 2023
Cunningham GulchGoodupdated Jul 16, 2023
Deer Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Engineer Mountain TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Graysill TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Highland Mary LakesGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Pass Creek TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Spud Lake TrailGoodupdated Jul 3, 2023
West Lime CreekGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Ice Lakes TrailGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Purgatory Trail SystemGoodupdated Aug 31, 2023Purgatory Bike Park now open Friday-Sunday until October 1.
Silverton Area TrailsGoodupdated Jul 24, 2023
Velocity BasinGoodupdated Jul 16, 2023
USFS RoadsGoodupdated Aug 31, 202308.01.23
Weminuche Wilderness TrailsGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Surrounding Area
Alien Run Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Boggy Draw Trail SystemGoodupdated Sep 6, 202309.03.23 Bear Track (Shush) re-route completed.
Bean Canyon TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
McPhee Overlook TrailGoodupdated Jun 16, 2023
Chicken CreekGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Phil’s World Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Road Apple Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23
Sand Canyon Trail SystemGoodupdated Jul 24, 202307.24.23

Find Your Adventure

All Winter Trails

La Plata Canyon

Enjoy fat biking and touring skiing up the groomed County Road. Snowmobiles are allowed on the road but typically it is to access cabins or backcountry terrain. It is an out and back road and does not go through. 

Hillcrest Golf Course

The golf course grooms a track for skate and class cross-country skiing when there is enough snow. This in-town 5k track is a community treasure. Due to the fact that it is a golf course, travel across the course and off the track is not permitted. Dogs are not allowed.

Durango Nordic Center

Durango Nordic Center is groomed for cross country skiing and you must purchase a pass to ski. Dogs are not allowed.

Vallecito Nordic at Vallecito Lake

At Vallecito Nordic you will find approximately 15km of nordic trails groomed for classic and skate skiing along the beautiful shores of Vallecito Reservoir. Ski trails are groomed for only nordic skiing and a separate snowshoe trail starts just below Old Timers campground (our trailhead). No fat bikes or aggressive dogs allowed.

Andrews Lake

Just past Molas Lake, look for a parking lot on the east side of the highway. It is not groomed but good for touring skiing and snowshoeing.

Molas Pass

Typically groomed by the snowmobile club, the area offers great fat biking and nordic skiing options.

Silverton Groomed Trails

Silverton groomed ski trails are fantastic for fat biking and cross country skiing (skate and classic), located at Kendall Mountain and Memorial Park.

Junction Creek Road (USFS 171)

Junction Creek Road is a great area for touring skiing and fat biking (once compacted). Start just past the lower gate.

Boggy Draw

Boggy Draw has 14 miles of groomed fat bike trails starting at FS Road 527 (Boggy Draw Road). Snowshoers and walkers should stay to the right of the groomed track. 

Chicken Creek

Chicken Creek is located outside of Mancos and is groomed for cross country skiing (skate and a class track). No walking on the groomed trails. 
 
To get there, take 184 north from Mancos 3 miles, then turn right on CR 42/Millwood Rd. Folllow this 3 miles until you reach the National Forest. Take a right into the Chicken Creek parking lot.

Priest Lake and Trout Lake

Priest Lake and Trout Lake are located 12.5 miles south of Telluride, on the east side of Hwy 145, just past the Materhorn Campground off of Lizard Head Pass. The trail head is at the Forest Service facility about 500 yards past the campground entrance.

These trails feature a variety of interconnected loops over rolling terrain approximately 10 miles north of the top of Lizard Head Pass and are groomed for cross country skiing.

Additionally, there are six nordic skiing areas in the immediate vicinity: Telluride Town Park, the Valley Floor, the golf course in Mountain Village, the top of Chair Ten (TopAten) on the ski area, Trout Lake and Priest Lake. Each offer different terrain, varied lengths of groomed trail and excellent views.

Fat bikes should not be used on trails at Priest or Trout Lake but there are designate multi-use trails on the Valley Floor where mountain bikes may be used. Dogs are not allowed on any groomed trail on the Valley Floor. 

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