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The new aqueduct trail system
Welcome to the newest trail system in Mancos! In 2023, Mancos Trails Group along with the BLM completed construction on 12.4-mile trail system. Located just a couple miles from town, these trails will eventually be accessible from Mancos via the Paths to Mesa Verde multi-use pathway.
The Aqueduct Trails are multi-use non-motorized (plus class 1 e-bikes) featuring beginner and intermediate trails through pinyon, juniper and sage with big views of Mesa Verde, the Sleeping Ute and the La Plata mountains. Hikers, bikers, dog walkers, horseback riders and class 1 e-bikers are welcome. It is recommended that bikers follow the trails in a clockwise direction
The Aqueduct Trail System is open for use May 1 - November 30. It is closed from December 1 - April 30 for wildlife.
Beginner Loop Suggestions:
Moonscape Loop (1.3 miles +): From the north trailhead, go left at the gate onto Moonscape. At the first intersection go straight to stay on Moonscape for a fun, swoopy downhill. At the next intersection you can choose to go right onto Bivalve to do the Moonscape downhill one more time! Or two more times, it's that much fun! Once you're Moonscaped out, go left after the Bivalve intersection to finish up the Moonscape loop back to the trailhead. Each additional Bivalve/Moonscape loop adds approximately .4 miles onto your ride
Evenflow (approx. 3 miles): From the south parking lot, head up Discharge and go left onto Evenflow. At the first intersection go left onto Moonscape for a short section, then right at the next intersection onto Bivalve. Finally, complete the Evenflow loop by heading right at the next intersection to return to Evenflow and the south parking lot.
Moonscape + Evenflow (approx. 4.2 miles): From either the North or South parking lots, combine the two loops! Lots of fun, flowy goodness! Add in as many Bivalve/Moonscape loops as you choose.
The Full Aqueduct Tour - a 12.4 mile loop including all of the Aqueduct trails:
To ride the full trail system as one 12.4 mile loop, each individual loop will be ridden in clockwise direction. In addition there are two connector trails to complete the whole loop: the Riprap uphill and the Crosscut downhill.
Begin at the main (north) trailhead and head left at the gate onto Moonscape. Go left at the intersection onto Evenflow and right at the next intersection to stay on Evenflow. At the next intersection go left onto Riprap. Ascend Riprap to the summit intersection and take a break with a short hike out the hikers-only Overlook trail to a nice viewpoint. Back on the bike, stay to the left and descend the fun Crosscut downhill to the intersection with Ridges. Bear left at the intersection with Mountain View. Descend Mountain View and bear left back onto Ridges for a short roller coaster segment. Climb to Pump Station and bear left. Descend back to Ridges and bear left. Climb to the Summit intersection with Riprap and Crosscut. Bear left to descend Ridges downhill to the intersection with Evenflow and Riprap. Go straight onto Evenflow to the intersection with Moonscape. Bear left on Moonscape to return to the north parking.
The Aqueduct Trails are multi-use non-motorized (plus class 1 e-bikes) featuring beginner and intermediate trails through pinyon, juniper and sage with big views of Mesa Verde, the Sleeping Ute and the La Plata mountains. Hikers, bikers, dog walkers, horseback riders and class 1 e-bikers are welcome. It is recommended that bikers follow the trails in a clockwise direction
The Aqueduct Trail System is open for use May 1 - November 30. It is closed from December 1 - April 30 for wildlife.
Beginner Loop Suggestions:
Moonscape Loop (1.3 miles +): From the north trailhead, go left at the gate onto Moonscape. At the first intersection go straight to stay on Moonscape for a fun, swoopy downhill. At the next intersection you can choose to go right onto Bivalve to do the Moonscape downhill one more time! Or two more times, it's that much fun! Once you're Moonscaped out, go left after the Bivalve intersection to finish up the Moonscape loop back to the trailhead. Each additional Bivalve/Moonscape loop adds approximately .4 miles onto your ride
Evenflow (approx. 3 miles): From the south parking lot, head up Discharge and go left onto Evenflow. At the first intersection go left onto Moonscape for a short section, then right at the next intersection onto Bivalve. Finally, complete the Evenflow loop by heading right at the next intersection to return to Evenflow and the south parking lot.
Moonscape + Evenflow (approx. 4.2 miles): From either the North or South parking lots, combine the two loops! Lots of fun, flowy goodness! Add in as many Bivalve/Moonscape loops as you choose.
The Full Aqueduct Tour - a 12.4 mile loop including all of the Aqueduct trails:
To ride the full trail system as one 12.4 mile loop, each individual loop will be ridden in clockwise direction. In addition there are two connector trails to complete the whole loop: the Riprap uphill and the Crosscut downhill.
Begin at the main (north) trailhead and head left at the gate onto Moonscape. Go left at the intersection onto Evenflow and right at the next intersection to stay on Evenflow. At the next intersection go left onto Riprap. Ascend Riprap to the summit intersection and take a break with a short hike out the hikers-only Overlook trail to a nice viewpoint. Back on the bike, stay to the left and descend the fun Crosscut downhill to the intersection with Ridges. Bear left at the intersection with Mountain View. Descend Mountain View and bear left back onto Ridges for a short roller coaster segment. Climb to Pump Station and bear left. Descend back to Ridges and bear left. Climb to the Summit intersection with Riprap and Crosscut. Bear left to descend Ridges downhill to the intersection with Evenflow and Riprap. Go straight onto Evenflow to the intersection with Moonscape. Bear left on Moonscape to return to the north parking.
