Boggy Draw Trails Mostly Dry as Spring Riding Season Kicks Off

Seventy-five miles of singletrack sitting just north of Dolores are ready to ride. The Boggy Draw trail network, tucked inside the San Juan National Forest off County Road W, is running mostly dry with a few sandy and muddy spots as spring arrives, giving area riders an earlier-than-expected window after winter.

The conditions come at the start of what is historically the most active period for both trail use and maintenance work on the network. The Southwest Colorado Cycling Association, the volunteer nonprofit formerly known as the Kokopelli Bike Club that draws members from Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, and Durango, runs weekly Tuesday evening trail work sessions throughout the spring and summer. Those sessions are now ramping up.

Late-March warmth and wind can dry exposed sections quickly, but drainage areas and low-lying spots remain susceptible to rutting under rider pressure. Choosing the right day matters: damaged wet trails push repair hours onto SWCCA volunteers, who already shoulder stewardship of both Boggy Draw and Phil's World. The call this time of year is to ride smart in changing conditions.

The network itself has grown considerably in recent years. MTB Project counts over 30 miles of dedicated singletrack, with more proposed, and a recently approved connector trail will allow riders to reach the system from the town of Dolores without grinding up the road. The U.S. Forest Service describes the full 75-mile system as "an extremely popular destination for tourists and locals alike, specifically beginner mountain bikers," a characterization backed by Trailforks' listing of 27 individual trails at varying difficulty levels. The longest, Little Bean Canyon, runs 11.7 miles. The core Boggy Draw Loop covers just under 9 miles of smooth, flowing trail, much of it built by linking together the cow paths left by grazing cattle.

The riding season also puts the Boggy Draw Beat Down on the horizon. The Rotary Club of Dolores founded the race in 1998 as a charity fundraiser, and this year marks its 27th edition. The 2025 race drew a 75-person field across distances of 3, 15, 18, 33, and 60 miles, plus a 60-mile relay. A standout moment from last August: eight adaptive riders joined the 15-mile Goose circuit through an inaugural partnership with Telluride Adaptive Sports, the fastest finishing in just over an hour. Cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 went to the top three finishers in the 60-mile Beat Down and 33-mile Oso categories. Race weekend also includes a Friday kids' bike rodeo at Joe Rowell Park, a beer garden, food and retail vendors, and live music.

Beat Down proceeds fund children's programs, scholarships, and youth initiatives across the community, which means the condition of Boggy Draw's trails carries stakes beyond any single ride. When the trails stay intact through spring, the race draws well and SWCCA's Tuesday volunteer pool doesn't get stretched thin catching up on rut repairs. Right now, the network is cooperating.