The Big Idea
Click on the image below to view a larger image of the plan
Get to Know Durango Mesa Park
La Plata County with its towering peaks, tumbling rivers and endless blue skies is one of the most beautiful places on earth. No wonder so many are drawn here. For those who live in this paradise, there’s a natural instinct to protect what makes it so special.
Located just south of Durango, Durango Mesa Park overlooks downtown with commanding views of the La Plata mountain range. Its high desert terrain is crowned with piñon and juniper forests that spill out into grassy meadows dotted with sage and native grasses.
Decades ago, corners of the property once housed a gravel operation and a coal mine, giving way to farming and grazing. The land has since been restored to its natural state, and is situated between over 1,500 acres of public Bureau of Land Management terrain and more than 1,500 acres of City of Durango Horse Gulch trail system and Horse Gulch open space. A popular trail system for hikers, bikers and horse riders currently exists on these properties.
Long-time Durango resident Marc Katz was driven to preserve this natural wonderland while enhancing the community’s economic vitality. After building and selling a business in Durango, he purchased the 1,850-acre property in 2015 for the explicit purpose of donating it. He quickly reached out to City and County planners, as well as citizens, to form a shared vision for the Mesa. In 2019, ownership was transferred to the Durango Mesa Park Foundation, which continues to work closely with officials and the public. Once milestones are met, the Mesa will be donated to the community.
What’s Next?
In cooperation with the City of Durango and interested partners, Durango Mesa Park Foundation envisions a multitude of cultural, recreational and educational uses for the land.
Phase one outlines the following:
- Expanded and accessible trails for hiking, running and cycling
- Regional venue for hosting music festivals
- World-class outdoor sports complex with Colorado’s largest bike park
Limited use, for now.
In September 2023, Durango Mesa Park Foundation and the City of Durango opened seven miles of new trails, connecting Durango Mesa Park to the Horse Gulch Trailhead and the Horse Gulch and Telegraph trail networks. Visit the Durango Mesa Bike Park page for more information.
In recent years, Durango Mesa Park has been home to Meltdown on the Mesa, which is a Durango bluegrass music festival, the Colorado High School Cycling League State Mountain Biking Championships, portions of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships, and other cycling events. Outside of these events and the new trails accessed via the Horse Gulch Trailhead, the property remains closed to the public until proper roads, restrooms and infrastructure can be built to assure the best and most sustainable use of the land and Southwest Colorado open space. Please respect that the Mesa is currently private property.