Advice needed-Western US summer trip
Hello all, We are planning our first big RV road trip and I need some help. We will be leaving from Central Florida in June, and have about 28-30 days total. We have traveled quite a bit in the pas...
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A few of our favorite mountain biking areas near Durango (we're older intermediate riders so nothing too technical):
Phils World east of Mancos. Several loops on trails constructed just for mountain bikes.
Boggy Draw just north of Dolores. Again, trails for mountain bikes. More trees up there so nicer if it's warm. We ride a counter-clockwise loop starting south on Maverick Loop to Italian Canyon. We then work our way to Boggy Draw Loop and ride it counter-clockwise. While in the Dolores area, you might consider a short side trip to the Anasazi Heritage Center just south of McPhee Reservoir. Interesting little museum and they have lots of information on other sites besides Mesa Verde to visit in the area.
A quite different ride is Sand Canyon west of Cortez. You actually ride past several Native American ruins. (Make sure your bikes stay on the trail but you can walk to the ruins.)
If you go to Bryce, you might want to check out the Thunder Mountain trail. You can't ride the trails in Bryce NP, but Thunder Mountain is on NFS trails and it's like riding through the hoodoos of Bryce. From the Red Canyon visitors center, ride the paved bike path up the canyon to FR 113 (Coyote Hollow Road). Turn right and ride two miles on the graded gravel road to the trailhead. If you want to see what this ride is like, check out this link (part 1) and this link (part 2). Maybe there are short sections you might decide to walk, but it's well worth it. This trail is one of the top ten trails we've ever ridden because of the scenery. From time to time, you'll find yourself having to stop and look at the views because they are so spectacular you can't properly focus on riding!
Phils World east of Mancos. Several loops on trails constructed just for mountain bikes.
Boggy Draw just north of Dolores. Again, trails for mountain bikes. More trees up there so nicer if it's warm. We ride a counter-clockwise loop starting south on Maverick Loop to Italian Canyon. We then work our way to Boggy Draw Loop and ride it counter-clockwise. While in the Dolores area, you might consider a short side trip to the Anasazi Heritage Center just south of McPhee Reservoir. Interesting little museum and they have lots of information on other sites besides Mesa Verde to visit in the area.
A quite different ride is Sand Canyon west of Cortez. You actually ride past several Native American ruins. (Make sure your bikes stay on the trail but you can walk to the ruins.)
If you go to Bryce, you might want to check out the Thunder Mountain trail. You can't ride the trails in Bryce NP, but Thunder Mountain is on NFS trails and it's like riding through the hoodoos of Bryce. From the Red Canyon visitors center, ride the paved bike path up the canyon to FR 113 (Coyote Hollow Road). Turn right and ride two miles on the graded gravel road to the trailhead. If you want to see what this ride is like, check out this link (part 1) and this link (part 2). Maybe there are short sections you might decide to walk, but it's well worth it. This trail is one of the top ten trails we've ever ridden because of the scenery. From time to time, you'll find yourself having to stop and look at the views because they are so spectacular you can't properly focus on riding!
