Phil's World and Boggy Draw are the county's big bike-trail systems

Montezuma County has two well-known mountain bike trail systems, and they sit on land managed by different agencies, which matters for the rules.

Phil’s World is east of Cortez, off Highway 160. Most of the system is on Bureau of Land Management ground, and part of it, including the trailhead area, sits on adjacent state trust land leased for recreation. It is known for flowing, rolling trails that are low to moderate in difficulty. On the bike trails, riders travel in one direction, clockwise, to keep everyone moving the same way and cut down on close calls. There are also some separate motorized OHV trails in the area, so it pays to know which trail you are on.

Boggy Draw is near Dolores, on San Juan National Forest land, with a large network of loops winding through ponderosa pine, oak brush, and meadows. It is popular with families and newer riders. Because it is forest land, you share trails with other users, and seasonal mud or closures can apply.

Why this matters: these are real, signed systems, not random doubletrack, and each has its own map and use rules set by its land manager. At Phil’s World, that includes the clockwise direction of travel on the bike trails. At Boggy Draw, it means following the posted shared-use rules. Riding as posted and staying on marked trails keeps the trails open and protects the dry soils.

For trail maps and current rules, check the BLM for Phil’s World and the San Juan National Forest for Boggy Draw.