more stats
2,776 ft
Distance
44 ft
Climb
-19 ft
Descent
00:05:55
Avg time
26 ft
Altitude change
673 ft
Altitude min
720 ft
Altitude max
694 ft
Altitude start
719 ft
Altitude end
0.9%
Grade
-5.4%
Grade max
7.4%
Grade min
1,375 ft
Distance climb
535 ft
Distance down
748 ft
Distance flat
00:05:55
Avg time

Upper Dante Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Purgatory Creek Natural Area
    San Marcos, Texas
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    70 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in E-Biking
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #16099 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #25575 in Trail Running
    • #18709 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Land Owner
    San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department

This trail twists and turns through the trees and along a dry creek with excellent scenery. Though mild elevation wise, there are some rocks and a rocky creek crossing to add some challenge. This trail is appropriate for less experienced riders as long as you realize there may be a need for a few small sections of hike a bike. Intermediate and above riders will have no issue at all.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 4 miles average
6 Months
  • 16 rides
  • 12 miles avg distance
All
  • 127 rides
  • Last: Sep 27, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Upper Dante Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 13, 2026 @ 8:14am (America/Matamoros)
Sep 13, 2026
 very rocky, not ideal for beginners. super difficult ride in reverse for those who are just starting out. stick to styx maybe! :-)
Feb 8, 2025 @ 8:54am
Feb 8, 2025
Oct 13, 2020 @ 3:19pm
Oct 13, 2020
 reporter
Sep 27, 2020 @ 4:17pm
Sep 27, 2020
 reporter
Sep 12, 2020 @ 7:18am
Sep 12, 2020
more »
Status:
on Sep 13, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.13 (1 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to upper-dante trailhead (29.883630, -97.977810)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      2 more »
      mtb
      59 |
      Aug 11, 2023 @ 11:16am
      Aug 11, 2023
      mtb
      69 |
      Aug 11, 2023 @ 11:16am
      Aug 11, 2023
      report
      mtb
      20 |
      Sep 13, 2026 @ 8:05am
      Sep 13, 2026
      report
      mtb
      19 |
      Sep 13, 2026 @ 8:05am
      Sep 13, 2026

      Videos

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      Routes with this trail

      4
      Short but mostly smooth beginner loop Upper Purgatory
      ★ 1.0 • 2 miles • 88 ft • 7 • Loop •
      This route mostly follows a 6' wide gravel trail (Styx) through upper Purgatory. The final stretch is on a...
      5.0 ★★★★★
      1 Ratings
      5 ★ 100%
      4 ★
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

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      Nearby Trails

      Purgatory Creek Natural Area

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Upper Dante located?
      Upper Dante is located in Purgatory Creek Natural Area, San Marcos, Texas, United States. It is part of the Purgatory Creek Natural Area trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 29.88363, -97.97781.
      ▼ How hard is Upper Dante?
      Upper Dante is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Upper Dante?
      Upper Dante has 44 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 19 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 673 ft to 720 ft.
      ▼ Is Upper Dante a point to point trail?
      Upper Dante is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Upper Dante?
      Upper Dante is 2,776 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Upper Dante?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Upper Dante. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Upper Dante? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Upper Dante are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Upper Dante?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 6 minutes to ride Upper Dante. The trail is 2,776 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Upper Dante?
      Upper Dante is a very popular trail. There have been 682 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 798 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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