Top Trail Runs in Durango's Expansive Trail System

The small mountain town of Durango serves as the primary jumping off point for mountain adventure across the entire southwestern corner of Colorado. With hundreds of miles of singletrack accessible from downtown and the main artery of Highway 550 leading deep into the San Juan mountain range, there are more trails accessible within day trip distance of Durango than you could run in a lifetime.

As southwestern Colorado's hub, you can choose to fly into the small regional airport if traveling from a distance. Once in town, a wide array of hotels and resorts offer lodging options, and the nearby national forest offers dozens of campgrounds. Local stores can easily outfit you with any gear you didn't bring. And even when you're not running, the bustling downtown food and beer scene will keep you entertained.

With so many trails to choose from, the question is: where do you begin? Well, with this guidebook, for starters! Within this guidebook we've rounded up the most-recommended trail runs accessible from Durango.

For in-town runs, the three most popular spots to start are Animas Mountain, Hogsback Ridge, and the Grandview Ridge Loop. All three routes gain vantage points above downtown Durango, with long-range views of the mountains beyond.

If you head up Highway 550 into the mountains, consider an out-and-back on the high alpine Molas Pass section of the Colorado Trail, or an out-and-back on the isolated Hermosa Creek Trail.

Looking to bag a peak? Engineer Mountain is a visually-impressive summit that rewards climbers with 360-degree views of the San Juan mountains.

Last but not least, Ice Lake Basin is renowned as one of the most beautiful spots in all of Colorado! While it requires the longest drive from downtown Durango of any route on this list, it is well-worth the commute, or even flying from around the world to experience!