Kennebec Pass Shuttle

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Commonly Bikepacked · Downhill · Technical

Kennebec Pass to Durango is one of the best shuttle runs in the San Juans. While this route is mostly downhill, you'll still need to do some climbing along the way.

Once you get to the top of Kennebec Pass, the descent off the top rips through a steep, fast scree field section that's unlike anything else in the region. This top section is worth the price of admission alone, but the descent keeps ripping as the trail drops into the trees. Here, the dirt gets even better. It's classic alpine descending, with a mix of roots, rock gardens, and fast sections.

After the climb back to High Point, the descent picks back up again for miles and miles of fantastic downhill! This section gets a bit rockier and rougher in places, but overall, it's quite achievable for upper-intermediate riders.

Exactly how much climbing you'll have to do to reach the top of Kennebec Pass depends on how capable your shuttle vehicles are. The route shown here begins where the two-wheel-drive section of La Plata Canyon ends. So, if you have a pair of high-clearance 4x4 vehicles, you'll be able to drive all the way to the top of the pass and save yourself a stiff road climb of about 2,500 vertical feet.

As mentioned above, the descent off the top of the pass begins fast and furious and is absolutely iconic! The first descent will drop about 3,250 vertical feet to where it crosses Junction Creek. From here, you're faced with about a 1,000-foot climb to reach High Point before the descending resumes.

In the final stretch of the descent, you'll begin to encounter trail junctions. Pass all the right turns and stick to the Colorado Trail.

Where the COT nears Junction Creek Road, you have the option to hop out on the road, or you can finish the last short segment of the trail and then join the road to roll downhill into Durango.