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Eagle Alley

Rating: 
One-way Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 6929 - 7012 feet
Cellphone: 2-4 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Dennis Weaver
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic singletrack




The Eagle Alley trail is located in the Dennis Weaver Memorial Park near Ridgway, Colorado. The one-way trail is meant to be followed in the north to south direction beginning off of the Cimarron Loop and ending near the trailhead. Eagle Alley has some moderately steep downhill sections and a stretch of narrow sidehill track that make it a little more challenging than the other trails in the park.


The upper end of the Eagle Alley trail begins about a quarter mile from the trailhead. To get there climb the Stagecoach trail from the parking area and continue on the Cimarron Loop for a few hundred feet.


After breaking off from the Cimarron Loop the Eagle Alley trail drops down into a shallow wash that drains this part of the hillside into the Uncompahgre River.


The trail bounces right back out of the wash and crosses a hump where it once again heads into the wash.


The trail continues working the wash, up one side and down the other, as it keeps heading downhill.


With speed being easy to come by and limited visibility of the trail ahead it is easy to see why they opted to make this a one-way only route.


Before reaching the river the trail turns south and travels along the side of the hill.


As the trail heads south the sounds of the river mask everything else. With the trail secluded from sight, and the nearby traffic on Highway 550 muted by the rushing water, Eagle Alley feels more remote than it actually is.


The trail gets a little higher above the river as it continues on the narrow trail that has been cut out of the steep hillside. The scenic river corridor with the San Juan Mountains for a background makes for a pleasant setting.


Towards the end of the trail the ground flattens out and it becomes an easy roll to the finish.


Eagle Alley meets up with the Stagecoach trail near the parking area. We gave Eagle Alley a blue/black mountain bike skill level rating but most seasoned mountain bikers probably won't see anything that they would call all that technical about it. We rated it mostly in comparison to the other trails in the park and the steep downhill caution sign at the top of the trail. Since there is nothing scientific about our ratings they should only be considered as general guidelines anyway. Eagle Alley provides a unique experience within the Dennis Weaver Memorial Park. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is grab your bike or 'Take a hike'.