DownHill Biking – Get At It and Go With The Flow at Purgatory

MTN Town Magazine Bicycling, Treks & Travels 0

Downhill Biking at Purgatory — Purgatory Bike Park

Nothing brings bliss like riding a bicycle – especially on packed dirt groomed to smooth, snaking perfection through tall pines and blooming wildflowers. Twenty-five miles north of Durango, Purgatory Resort’s Divinity Flow Trail invokes pure joy for riders of all ages and abilities on the area’s only lift-accessed downhill trail – and the longest at 1.5-miles.

Built in 2013, the bike-only Divinity Trail is a collaboration between Purgatory Resort, the Forest Service and Trails 2000. Local company, AJ Construction, also pitched in with equipment and manpower to help craft the blue-rated singletrack, which was designed and implemented by Grady James and Purgatory Trail Manager, Josh Hamill.

With tabletop jumps, berms, hits, flyovers, boardwalks, a wallride and more, advanced riders can send it to their heart’s content. For those who’d rather take it easy and soak in the scenery and scents of butterscotch wafting from the towering Ponderosa, most features are rollable, so no need for speed. Just settle in for an unparalleled ride in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.

Purgatory Resort is a half-hour’s drive from Durango, and parking is a breeze. Cyclists can make their way to the main plaza for
lift access to the top, while those who want a heart-thumping approaching can pedal up the historic World Mountain Bike Championship Trail built in 1990. As well, twelve singletrack trails wind around the mountain, so turn the day into an adventure with a bit of exploration.

To celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Divinity Flow Trail, Purgatory is throwing a party on September 16, 2017, inviting riders to BYO-bike, enjoy live music, drinks, food, free lift access all day and free entry to a friendly race starting around noon. Presented by McDonald’s, the MTB Festival and Flow Trail

Race encourages riders young and old, expert and novice, to participate – if anything for the stunning views captured from the lift.

If you can’t make it to the festival, no worries. The lift operates on weekends through the end of September. Don’t bother with purchasing special downhill gear or bike; any mountain bike will do. So let gravity do the work and your inner eight-year-old

awaken as you spin, zig, zag, hoot and holler your way through Purgatory’s little slice of heaven.

Purgatory – Purgatory Resort

(970) 247-9000

www.purgatoryresort.com