West Mancos

West Mancos is a hard hike in the Mancos/Dolores Ranger District of Colorado's San Juan National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 10 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,034 feet, taking you from a low point of 8,244 feet to a high of 9,228 feet. The trail is on natural surface and allows both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. The trip is open from about June 15 to October 15, and the parking area is at Big Al Trail. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Cortez show May highs around 65°F and September highs around 71°F, with July the warmest month at about 82°F. That station sits roughly 1,200 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The Rim Trail and Box Canyon both start within a third of a mile. Transfer Campground and Transfer Horse Camp are about a mile away, and the West Mancos River offers paddling about 1.6 miles off.