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      The Horse Gulch/Telegraph Trail System is the perfect trail system for all levels and user types. Located right in-town, it is a local favorite for hiking and mountain biking, and with so many different connecting trails it’s easy to go for a quick ride or turn your hike into a longer adventure.

      It accommodates beginners or advanced users, short rides, long rides, quick trail runs, dog walks, and more. You can start this trail any time of day, but plan ahead and make sure you are done before dark. In the summer months these trails are mighty hot so bring lots of water. The climb up the road is the hardest part for beginners, but once you arrive at the Meadow you are greeted with rewarding 360 degree views and wide open space vistas.

      The trailhead features a self-service bike repair station with all tools for changing a flat, adjusting brakes and derailleurs, etc. You’ll start with a half mile climb that many people just walk up. But this walk/ride is worth it. Once up in the meadow, there are signs giving variations of different rides. For rides involving the whole family, or less experienced riders, it is suggested to stick to the “meadow loop.” It is relatively short and flat. There are many options for longer rides. The trail is very well marked with trailhead signs at major intersections.

      History of Horse Gulch
      Durango native Daryl Crites, then president of Goff Engineering and longtime Trails 2000 board member, kicked off the preservation of the Horse Gulch area. In the early 1990s, he approached Noel Pautsky, the owner of the vast area east of Durango, about preserving its many trails with permanent easements. Pautsky agreed, and Crites went to work surveying all of the trails, including Crites Connect, Telegraph and Anasazi Descent. Pautsky eventually gifted the easements to La Plata County.

      That initial partnership laid the groundwork for a series of recent open space purchases in Horse Gulch by the City of Durango. In addition, Trails 2000 facilitated an easement opening legal access to Raider Ridge in 2009. The acquisitions have promised that the trail network and the pristine high desert surrounding it will be preserved for perpetuity and enjoyed by Durangoans and visitors for generations to come.
      Horse Gulch google parking directions
      Links
      Activities Click to view
      Region Details
      • 5
      • 5
      • 18
      • 14
      • 3

      Region Status
      Open as of Jun 4, 2025
      Local Trail Association

      Stats

      Avg Trail Rating
      Trails (view details)
      45
      Trails Mountain Bike
      46
      Trails E-Bike
      2
      Trails Horse
      7
      Trails Hike
      46
      Trails Trail Running
      46
      Total Distance
      33 miles
      Total Descent
      6,878 ft
      Total Vertical
      1,532 ft
      Highest Trailhead
      7,945 ft
      Reports
      882
      Photos
      172
      Ridden Counter
      28,102

      Photos of Horse Gulch Mountain Bike

      trail: Half Ridge
      5 |
      Mar 30, 2025 @ 1:52pm
      Mar 30, 2025
      trail: Rooster
      149 |
      Jul 28, 2022 @ 8:48am
      Jul 28, 2022
      trail: Rooster
      141 |
      Jul 28, 2022 @ 8:47am
      Jul 28, 2022
      trail: Snake Charmer
      391 |
      Dec 12, 2018 @ 11:09am
      Dec 12, 2018
      trail: Snake Charmer
      305 |
      Dec 12, 2018 @ 11:09am
      Dec 12, 2018
      | 1 comments
      trail: Telegraph
      236 |
      Oct 30, 2018 @ 7:50am
      Oct 30, 2018
      trail: Snake Charmer
      1,170 |
      Sep 20, 2013 @ 10:50am
      Sep 20, 2013
      trail: Telegraph
      259 |
      Sep 5, 2013 @ 6:53am
      Sep 5, 2013

      Videos of Horse Gulch Mountain Bike

      The Lookout from the Telegraph Trail
      trail: Telegraph
      0:17 | | Jun 30, 2022
      Medicine down to the electric slide.
      trail: Medicine
      3:00 | 495 | Jan 18, 2018
      Potato strapped to helmet
      trail: Medicine
      2:27 | 252 | Nov 27, 2017
      a day in the life of a freerider
      trail: Telegraph
      3:39 | 113 | Sep 30, 2017
      RAW plose trail
      trail: Telegraph
      2:10 | 66 | Sep 30, 2017
      testing out some drone footy
      0:00 | 409 | Sep 25, 2016
      Trek Test Bike Development
      2:06 | 186 | Jul 15, 2015
      Anasazi to Meadow
      trail: Telegraph
      5:34 | 211 | Jun 30, 2014

      Recent Trail Reports

      statustraildateconditioninfouser
      Mike's Trail
      Jun 4, 2025 @ 8:18am
      Jun 4, 2025
      DryPretty dry as of 6/4/25- 11:00 am. If it...EdLCFudJ
      Bread Express: Road
      Jun 3, 2025 @ 11:44am
      Jun 3, 2025
      Drywheelbarrowdog
      Send It
      May 8, 2025 @ 12:47pm
      May 8, 2025
      Idealradmande1
      Bandito
      May 8, 2025 @ 12:13pm
      May 8, 2025
      DryBonnieJo
      Cuchillo: South
      May 8, 2025 @ 12:13pm
      May 8, 2025
      DryBonnieJo
      Stacy's Loop
      May 8, 2025 @ 12:13pm
      May 8, 2025
      DryBonnieJo
      Horse Gulch - CR 237
      May 4, 2025 @ 4:25pm
      May 4, 2025
      Dry jasbushey Durango
      Sugar
      Apr 30, 2025 @ 11:41am
      Apr 30, 2025
      DryDusty and rockymarkphotowoodbikeski
      Smokejumper Trail
      Apr 30, 2025 @ 11:41am
      Apr 30, 2025
      DryThis trail near the end is killer...markphotowoodbikeski
      Sugar Connect
      Apr 30, 2025 @ 11:41am
      Apr 30, 2025
      DryStarting to get dustymarkphotowoodbikeski

      Activity Feed

      usernameactiontypetitledate
      huntsykesriddentrailactivity #73705348 and 2 more
      Jun 13, 2025 @ 2:36pm
      1 day
      anthonyraleywishlistrouteactivity #73700371 and 1 more
      Jun 13, 2025 @ 1:05pm
      2 days
      ConnorKnowleswishlistrouteactivity #73551156
      Jun 11, 2025 @ 9:04am
      Jun 11, 2025
      EdLCFudJaddreportactivity #73077882
      Jun 4, 2025 @ 11:03am
      Jun 4, 2025
      sweetpotatoeswishlisttrailactivity #73026849
      Jun 3, 2025 @ 3:34pm
      Jun 3, 2025

      Recent Comments

      usernametypetitlecommentdate
      bensgigtrailBen's Down N OutI actually rode up it to get to the top. No...
      Jun 3, 2025 @ 3:14pm
      Jun 3, 2025
      bensgigtrailTelegraphSo another trail that sort of makes sense...
      Jun 3, 2025 @ 3:09pm
      Jun 3, 2025
      bensgigtrailRocky RoadI gave it three stars. The problem is that...
      Jun 3, 2025 @ 3:08pm
      Jun 3, 2025
      bensgigtrailMike's TrailThis is a great getup trail. Windy not techie....
      Jun 3, 2025 @ 3:06pm
      Jun 3, 2025
      bensgigtrailCuchilloThis is a fun trail either way you do it. I...
      Jun 3, 2025 @ 3:05pm
      Jun 3, 2025

      Nearby Areas

      namedistance
      Durango Mesa Park 5 2 10.7 km
      Fort Lewis College 32 6 21.1 km
      Grandview Ridge 2 17 1 11.7 km
      Smelter Mountain 31.8 km
      Three Springs 15 42.3 km

      Local Badges


      Activity Type Stats

      activitytypetrailsdistancedescentdescent distancetotal verticalratingglobal rankstate rankphotosreportsroutesridelogs
      Mountain Bike4533 miles6,880 ft16 miles1,532 ft
      #340#166175883923,660
      E-Bike2
      432185
      Horse73 miles59 ft623 ft1,280 ft
      #270#2142181
      Hike4633 miles6,880 ft16 miles1,532 ft
      #218#1273884531
      Trail Running4633 miles6,880 ft16 miles1,532 ft
      #217#1248841,240
      • By canadakaTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • Admins: Durango, Durango
      • #19233 - 14,223 views

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