Ready to ride

The City of Durango is planning to break ground on new mountain bike trails this April.

In 2015, local philanthropist Marc Katz bought land southeast of town off Highway 3 known as Ewing Mesa.  The 1,850-acre parcel, which sits about 300 feet above town, is now known as Durango Mesa Park. Katz procured the land with big dreams: a new fairground, an outdoor venue and a new trails.

While most of the projects are still in the planning stages, five new trails are ready for construction, the City announced last week. The City of Durango, along with the Durango Mesa Park Foundation, Durango Trails, and AJ Construction and other local builders will construct the trails and make improvements to the Horse Gulch trailhead starting in just a few short weeks. The project also will include a 2.15-mile connector from Durango Mesa Park to the Telegraph Trail (Hey! Our namesake!)

“There are a lot of moving pieces, and it’s a very complex project,” Ture Nycum, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said. “But we are very excited to break ground on this trail project.”

All told, the city said the new mountain bike trails and improvements are expected to be completed later this year.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the city on this exciting project,” Moira Compton, spokeswoman for the Durango Mesa Park Foundation, said in a statement. “Mountain biking, running and hiking are a big part of the outdoor recreation scene in Durango, and we’re excited to provide more opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the trails.”

The new trail system will be the first authorized public use of the prized piece of land. But in the meantime, eager bikers are asked to sit tight until the official opening.

For more information, go to durangomesapark.org