Overend Mountain Park: Durango's Easy Access Bike Haven

Quick Facts:

• Distance: 5 miles
• Level: Very Easy
• Route Type: Network
• Location: Durango, Colorado

Introduction: A Quick Escape to Nature

Located on the fringe of Durango, Colorado, Overend Mountain Park is a 300-acre landscape, home to about 12 miles of interlinked singletrack trails. Established in 1994 with the help of Trails 2000 and a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the park offers easy-to-reach cycling adventures for both locals and visitors.

Getting There: A Breeze from Downtown

To reach the trailhead from downtown Durango, take Main Avenue and turn west at the intersection with 9th Street. Continue across Hwy 550/Camino del Rio and the Animas River. Upon hitting a three-way stop sign, go north on Roosa Avenue. Turn left on Avenida del Sol. For parking, simply turn left into the Manna Soup Kitchen lot. From there, a brief walk or ride up Ella Vita Court leads you to the Overend Mountain Park trailhead.

The South Section Loop: What to Expect?

• Start and End Point: Trailhead behind Manna Soup Kitchen on Avenida del Sol
• Route: Ella Vita to Brown's Ridge, Falcon Trail, Spirit, and back
• Special Features: Figure-eight loop with multiple entry points

Begin this 5-mile figure-eight loop from the trailhead behind Manna Soup Kitchen. Turn right onto Ella Vita, which leads up to Brown's Ridge. Turn right again, following Brown's Ridge to Falcon Trail. After a descent, another trailhead (TH) on Avenida del Sol appears.Turn right up Falcon Way to the cul de sac and continue briefly to the right. Venture left onto Falcon Trail singletrack, circling back to Ella Vita. From here, go up to Brown's Ridge and turn left, following it until you reach Hog's Foot. Turn left and descend until Spirit junction, where a final left will lead you back to the starting point.

The Dual Sections: North & South

Just like the Durango Telegraph Trail System, Overend Mountain Park is easier to navigate when thought of in two distinct sections: north and south. Though they interlink, focusing on one section at a time offers a manageable, enjoyable cycling experience.

Final Thoughts: Why Choose Overend?

• Easy Access: Its close proximity to Durango makes it highly accessible.
• Flexible Routes: Plenty of loop options and easy to moderately challenging trails.
• Inclusive: A range of cyclists, from beginners to seasoned riders, can enjoy the trails.

In sum, Overend Mountain Park serves as an "outdoor bike park," offering a quick, fun, and flexible cycling escape without needing to venture far from Durango's downtown.