MTB Project Logo

A fun loop exploring some of the trails in the Turkey Springs trail system.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

20.6

Miles

33.2

KM

100%

Singletrack

8,146' 2,483 m

High

7,453' 2,272 m

Low

1,230' 375 m

Up

1,229' 375 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

16%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Trails generally have enough snow melted away to start riding in late April and are usually snowed in by November. Cattle, horses, and wildlife are present in the area. Temporary trail closures can be expected from time to time. Keep all gates closed.

Overview

Wildflowers adorn this scenic loop through well-managed forest throughout the spring, summer and fall. Elk, mule deer, and turkey abound along relatively easy singletrack. Brockover Mesa's minor slope gains little elevation for a trail in this region, leaving energy to explore long distances on smooth, wandering trails that are very beginner-friendly.

Need to Know

For more Pagosa Springs trail info check out PagosaTrails.net or "Pagosa Trails" on Facebook. Expect frequent encounters with hikers and runners near the trailheads, and with cows farther out. There are many fence crossings, but they are all bike friendly - as in, you don't even have to get off the bike!

Description

Starting at the main trailhead on Country Road 600, start riding on the doubletrack. At an intersection with the Turkey Springs trail, turn right. This trail wanders through pine forest, touches occasional exposed rock surface, spirits a meadow here and there, and brushes the aspens. Pretty much everything is downhill from this trail. Keep an eye out for Gopher to join from the left.

Gopher rolls off past Brockover Road making a fun and fast descent along a tributary and into Peterson Gulch on singletrack that ranges from long swooping turns to tight skirts around stumps and between bushes. Just as one begins to feel guilty for all that downhill and starts to wonder how much climbing they'll have to do next, the trail quickly departs the canyon with a surprising, short but steep, technical section. Then, it's quickly back to meandering singletrack atop the mesa through Pine forest to join up with Lower Rim Trail.

Lower Rim skirts the west side of Martinez Cr. Canyon and features more rocky and steep sections than what has been encountered so far. Such remains the ride as a very brief jaunt on Creek. After a right turn, you'll quickly come to another right turn which keeps you on Upper Rim, back to the starting point of the ride. There are some minor climbs near this end of the ride, but fret not, for it is short-lived and the price to be paid for all the fun downhill in the canyons! Besides, the views over the canyon are worth it.

Take Upper Rim to join with Newt Jack. Two minor rocky sections at the beginning may have you thinking twice if you're a beginner, but don't get discouraged! Just hike a bike for 10 feet and don't worry about it again for 15 solid miles!

Newt Jack is probably the least desirable of the trails encountered on the loop, with its rocky, former two-track character. That said, it is short lived and crosses a nice little creek setting.

Leave the rocks and erosion behind and quickly forget them on the superb, smooth singletrack of Catamount (313). At an intersection with Park Ave, turn right to stay on Catamount. Arrive back at an intersection with Turkey Springs and turn right, re-tracing your tracks back to the trailhead.

History & Background

These trails were unofficial until 2012 when the local forest service mapped, signed, and sanctioned them as part of its Turkey Springs Management Plan. Now enjoy well-maintained singletrack with nearly limitless opportunities.

Contacts

Shared By:

Robert Stump with improvements by Dan Hickstein

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 38 votes

#628

Overall
  4.0 from 38 votes
5 Star
34%
4 Star
32%
3 Star
32%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#163

in Colorado

#628

Overall
16 Views Last Month
16,305 Since Sep 7, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate

9%
16%
75%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Great photo op on the lower rim trail
Aug 6, 2014 near Pagosa…, CO
Winter snow transforms this trail to a mecca of frozen streams and fields of snow pillows.
Feb 7, 2016 near Pagosa…, CO
Pagosa Peak from USFS 309 in Turkey Springs Trails System
May 31, 2014 near Pagosa…, CO
The intersection of Park Ave and Turkey Springs trail.
May 30, 2013 near Pagosa…, CO
A nice place to rest and catch the view over Martinez Creek canyon.
Sep 8, 2014 near Pagosa…, CO
Taking a break. Trails are marked quite well.
Jul 2, 2018 near Pagosa…, CO
loading

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 78 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 20, 2023
Atsuko Ohtake
Jul 14, 2023
Gavin Gillette
Turkey Springs Loop, Pagosa Springs 21.6mi
May 10, 2022
Atsuko Ohtake
Apr 9, 2022
Casey Ennis
Aug 13, 2021
Kendall Beggs
First half was great, easy but very fast and flowy. Second half was the bumpiest crap I've ever ridden on in my life. 20.6mi — 1h 50m
Jul 4, 2021
Lucas Falconer
Such a beautiful trail, very flowy a lot of the time. A bit too rocky for me at times, but overall an epic ride 19.9mi — 1h 00m
Jul 3, 2021
Jonas Reynolds
20.6mi — 2h 15m
Aug 9, 2020
Honza Fedak
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.