more stats
2.1 miles
Distance
205 ft
Climb
-1,004 ft
Descent
00:13:50
Avg time
-799 ft
Altitude change
8,539 ft
Altitude min
9,516 ft
Altitude max
9,508 ft
Altitude start
8,711 ft
Altitude end
-7.1%
Grade
-58%
Grade max
28.9%
Grade min
2,808 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
784 ft
Distance flat
00:13:50
Avg time

Dark Canyon Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Dirtbike/Moto
  • Riding Area
    Vallecito Reservoir
    Durango, Colorado
  • Ref Number
    #814
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    25 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 35 in Hiking
    • 5 in Dirtbiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #124767 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #32472 in E-Biking
    • #137975 in Trail Running
    • #114844 in Hiking
    • #1657 in Horseback
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Land Owner
    USFS

A great downhill ride, most easily accessed from Runlett Park trail above on mountain bike. There are some loose cobbley sections, but for the most part the trail is pretty solid. As it is primarily ridden as a downhill, be aware of folks on horses or dirt bikes coming up trail.

Trail Supporters

  • USFS
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
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6 Months
  • 0 rides
  •  
All
  • 10 rides
  • Last: Aug 16, 2025
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Dark Canyon Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Nov 27, 2023 @ 7:27am
Nov 27, 2023
 Snow covered for season
Oct 28, 2022 @ 7:02am
Oct 28, 2022
 Snow above 9K
Jul 7, 2022 @ 9:11pm
Jul 7, 2022
 no trees down. tacky for now
Jun 20, 2020 @ 5:04pm
Jun 20, 2020
 Awesome trail! Little moisture would do it some good right now though. Be aware that dirt bikes may be present on the trail. The trail-head sign...
more »
Status:
on Nov 27, 2023
Snow Covered
Avg: 3.86 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
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  • > 6 months
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  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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Slope Aspect
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Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to dark-canyon trailhead (37.451230, -107.518430)
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        3.5 ★★★★★
        2 Ratings
        5 ★ 50%
        4 ★
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        2 ★ 50%
        1 ★

        1 Review & Comments

        Sdecrow
        I will shuttle bikes and riders to all mid mtn rd trails…. Call or text Steve at (518) 859-5662

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        Nearby Trails

        Vallecito Reservoir

        • By boldskoolTF Pro & contributors
        • #133765 - 2,107 views

        Frequently Asked Questions

        ▼ Where is Dark Canyon located?
        Dark Canyon is located in Vallecito Reservoir, Durango, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Vallecito Reservoir trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 37.45123, -107.51843.
        ▼ How hard is Dark Canyon?
        Dark Canyon is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 7.1%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Dark Canyon?
        Dark Canyon has 205 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,004 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 8,539 ft to 9,516 ft.
        ▼ Is Dark Canyon a point to point trail?
        Dark Canyon is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Dark Canyon?
        Dark Canyon is 2.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Dark Canyon?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Dark Canyon. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ How do I access Dark Canyon? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Dark Canyon are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Dark Canyon?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 26 minutes to ride Dark Canyon. The trail is 2.1 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Dark Canyon?
        Dark Canyon is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 82 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 83 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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