The Molas Pass portion of the Colorado Trail is regarded as one of the most pristine sections of the entire 535-mile trail. Both the remote location with jaw-dropping high alpine views and the narrow, sinuous singletrack provide the trail experience that mountain bikers crave.

This segment is known for its high alpine tundra and fields filled with wildflowers in the early summer. In the fall, whispering aspen groves turn a brilliant gold, providing some of the best leaf peeping in the state. On this ride, you'll pedal for miles through the very best portion of the Molas Pass segment before taking a left on the Engineer Mountain Trail.

Engineer Mountain is one of the Durango locals' favorite descents—and with as many trails as they have to choose from, that's saying something! You'll drop over 4,000 vertical feet down fast, wide-open singletrack. As you descend into the trees, the track gets a bit twistier and more rugged, with root webs and rock gardens amplifying the difficulty of the high-speed descent. Most sources give Engineer Mountain a strong black diamond rating.

If you don't have enough vehicles or time to set up a self-shuttle, reach out to Hermosa Tours for a commercial shuttle option on this route.