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16.9 miles
Distance
3,390 ft
Climb
-3,385 ft
Descent
2 miles
High Point
5 ft
Altitude change
7,912 ft
Altitude min
8,744 ft
Altitude start
8,750 ft
Altitude end
-85.5%
Grade max
61.5%
Grade min
9 miles
Distance climb
7 miles
Distance down
3,543 ft
Distance flat
This mostly singletrack loop starts with a peaceful woods climb through Durango Hills trails with a nice traverse across Missionary Ridge. Then get ready for a technical descent down Red Creek. Refill your water (certainly treat it in this cow zone), and get ready for a grunt of a climb up First Fork. Take a left on Missionary Ridge and finish off with a singletrack descent down Mud Springs.
This loop is best June with flowers, or late Sept / early October with the leaf change. In late July / August thistles come in pretty big and can make it less enjoyable.
Detailed Description
Missionary Loop is a 17 mile popular expert route located near Durango Colorado. This mountain bike only route can be used one direction and has a moderate overall physical rating. This route includes 7 trails. This route climbs 3,390 ft with a max elevation of 9,869 ft then descends -3,385 ft.
Trail Issues on Route
- Significant Issue / Amber: 1 trail (newest: Nov 23, 2025)
Local Trail Association
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Stats
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Distance17 miles
-
Altitude min7,912 ft
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Altitude start8,744 ft
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Altitude end8,750 ft
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Climb3,390 ft
-
Descent-3,385 ft
-
Grade max-85.5%
-
Grade min61.5%
-
Distance climb9 miles
-
Distance down7 miles
-
Distance flat3,543 ft
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Trails in Route
| 1,703 ft | |||||
| 725 ft | |||||
| 167 ft | |||||
| 3 miles | |||||
| 3 miles | |||||
| 262 ft | |||||
| 2 miles |
Details
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Riding area
-
Primary ActivityMountain Bike
-
Difficulty ratingBlack Diamond
-
Route TypeLoop
-
eBike Allowed
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Bike typeAM, XC
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DirectionOne Direction
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Physical ratingModerate
Directions
- Walk north on Mud Springs.
- Continue for 700 meters.
- Keep right to stay on Mud Springs.
- Continue for 300 meters.
- Turn left onto Fitch-Sage Pass.
- Continue for 900 meters.
- Walk north on FSR 249.
- Continue for 2.5 kilometers.
- Bear left onto Missionary Connector.
- Continue for 100 meters.
- Make a sharp right onto Missionary Ridge.
- Continue for 7 kilometers.
- Turn right onto Red Creek.
- Continue for 5 kilometers.
- Turn right onto First Fork.
- Continue for 5 kilometers.
- Turn left onto Missionary Ridge.
- Continue for 100 meters.
- Walk south on Missionary Ridge.
- Continue for 2 kilometers.
- Make a sharp left onto Missionary Connector.
- Continue for 100 meters.
- Make a sharp left onto FSR 249.
- Continue for 200 meters.
- Turn right onto Mud Springs.
- Continue for 1 kilometer.
- Walk southwest on Mud Springs.
- Continue for 2 kilometers.
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- By jasbushey
Durango & contributors - #56598 - 577 views
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