Mountain Biking Colorado Trail: Bolam Pass to Hotel Draw Adventure

The Colorado Trail from Bolam Pass to Hotel Draw offers an exhilarating mountain biking experience that challenges your stamina and rewards you with soaring alpine views and rugged singletrack thrills. Starting just north of Durango, Colorado, this 10.7-mile route beckons riders eager to ascend from forested roads into rocky high country above 11,000 feet. The journey begins with a climb up Forest Road 578, a rutted path that tests your pedaling legs with wet patches around Hermosa Creek and intermittent downhill breaks. At the 4.5-mile mark, a series of switchbacks ramps up the ascent, steepening for two miles until you reach Bolam Pass. Here, the air thins and the landscape opens, revealing a tiny lake on your left as you turn south onto the Colorado Trail’s singletrack—a corridor marked by exposed rocks that demand attention but not technical wizardry.

Navigating above treeline is a sensory shift: wind whispers across the stones, and fatigue nudges in as the oxygen thins. Cairns guide the way through subtle twists and turns, helping orient you toward an intersection with a rough doubletrack near mile 8.8. After a challenging climb and a brief downhill, the trail veers right onto the official continuation, carrying you on a 2.6-mile final ascent to the summit of Blackhawk Pass at 12,000 feet. This stretch escalates from a moderate gradient into steep, rocky switchbacks demanding focus and grit.

At Blackhawk Pass, the reward is tangible—a panoramic vista stretching across Colorado’s rugged folds and alpine expanses. The descent is a technical thrill, dropping southeast toward a creek with loose, tight switchbacks that test your bike handling before opening into a fast, momentum-fueled descent. A few minor climbs intervene, but the valley of Hotel Draw spreads to your right as you glide down Forest Road 550. After about 4 miles, you'll turn right at FR 578, completing the loop back to your vehicle.

While mountain biking is the primary draw, the trail also welcomes hikers and trail runners seeking a high-altitude challenge with dramatic views. The terrain is mostly moderate in technical difficulty but demands endurance and care, especially on rocky descents. Elevation gain is roughly 1,200 feet, which while not extreme, feels substantial at these heights.

For planning, Durango remains the gateway city, offering convenient access, gear shops, and lodging. The trail sits within the San Juan National Forest, a protected landscape that preserves the area’s wild character and sweeping vistas. Expect crisp mountain air, potential afternoon thunderstorms in summer, and snow closing the trail in winter months.

In all, this ride is a must for riders looking for a well-rounded mountain biking challenge paired with the grandeur and quiet pulse of Colorado’s high country. Whether you’re chasing personal bests, exploring new terrain, or absorbing the alpine ambiance, the Bolam Pass to Hotel Draw section of the Colorado Trail delivers rugged beauty and memorable adventure.