HomeColoradoDurango › Animas Mountain East Trailhead

Animas Mountain East Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 170 Google reviews · Running trail in Durango, Colorado · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Animas Mountain East Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parking

Popular hiking and biking area with varying trails and views of Durango and the valley.

What runners say about Animas Mountain East Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (170 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“This trail has great views but it is totally all up hill to get to them.”

Amazing trail with great views! There is a planned controlled burn this May, 2023 - check the BLM website around that time to make sure the trail is open.

★★★★★ — Ryan , May 2023

Animas Mountain is such a great place to go check out if you're in town and don't want to drive very far to get some hiking in. There are some great rock features. I've seen many people rock climbing here. There is a pretty extensive trail system so you can make your height as long or as short as you want it to be.

★★★★★ — Alysha , Jun 2023

4/16/21 Love the trail! Enjoyed walking it with my little brother. We didn't finish it because of time and my brothers first hike. I wouldn't mind doing the trail again. Love the scenery, the birds, the Durango view, and the over all atmosphere on the mountain. Kudos to all the friendly people along the trail.

★★★★★ — Nicholas , May 2024

Great trail up Animas Mountain with beautiful views of Durango. Hiking here is great, biking is technical. Several options including a ~6ish mile loop, shorter loops, and trails connecting you to Sailing Hawks/Dalla Mtn Park.

★★★★★ — Josh , Aug 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 170 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 22 mentions

“There are some nice views along the trail and there are many offshoots from the main trail if you want/need to cut your hike short, like we did today.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 11 mentions

“The trail is part of a leash ordinance, meaning that your dogs need to remain on a leash.”

More trails like this →

⛰️ Hills / elevation 7 mentions

“Not alot of coverage and steep incline, so be prepared but a hike like this in city limits and I'm grateful to be in Colorado!”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“The parking area is relatively small but I've only had an issue parking here once during the weekend.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Animas Mountain East Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday 5 am–9 pm
Tuesday 5 am–9 pm
Wednesday 5 am–9 pm
Thursday 5 am–9 pm
Friday 5 am–9 pm
Saturday 5 am–9 pm
Sunday 5 am–9 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Animas Mountain East Trailhead

3269 W 4th Ave, Durango, CO 81301

Get directions

Running trails near Durango

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Dalla Mountain Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 29 reviews

Durango, CO

20 miNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

under a mile away

Overend Mountain Park Hidden Valley Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 41 reviews

Durango, CO

Scenic

1.2 miles away

Overend Mountain Park Trailhead

4.2 ★★★★☆ 5 reviews

Durango, CO

Natural surface

1.7 miles away

Skyline Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 36 reviews

Durango, CO

ScenicDog-friendly

1.9 miles away

Animas River Trail & Greenway

4.7 ★★★★★ 39 reviews

Durango, CO

PavedScenic

2.3 miles away

Colorado Trail Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 130 reviews

Durango, CO

ScenicDog-friendly

Park offering hiking and skiing options, plus a public restroom.

2.6 miles away

All running trails in Durango, CO →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.