The Mancos Spur is a premier high-country trail in the Mancos Valley, beginning at nearby Mancos State Park just above the town of Mancos. It continues for 23 miles up to 12,000 feet in the High La Plata mountains, where it connects with the Colorado Trail. From Mancos, you can walk all the way to Durango or Denver, or even connect to the Continental Divide Trail for journeys to Canada or Mexico.

Originally part of the Colorado Trail as conceived in the 1990s, the Mancos Spur remains an alternate start or end point for through-hikes or rides of the CT. The trail supports multiple uses including hiking, backpacking, trail running, mountain biking, horseback riding, and winter snowshoeing. A few sections allow two-wheel motorized uses, and one short segment is open to ATVs with connections to the larger Aspen Loop ATV trail.

Download a high-resolution PDF map of the Mancos Spur Trail.

With five different trailheads—some requiring high-clearance and 4WD vehicles—and several other nearby access points, shuttle options enable trips of almost any length or difficulty. For mountain bikers, one popular option is shuttling to Sharkstooth Trailhead at 11,000 feet for a technical, 4,000-foot descent back to Mancos with steep sections. For shorter adventures, out-and-back options suit all skill levels, with elevations ranging from aspen and ponderosa forest to high alpine tundra.