Durango rides?

[Danno]

I'm going to Durango this weekend, and want to do a little riding while there. I used to live there (though I wasn't much of a biker when I did), so I know all the basic rides up Horse Gulch, Junction Creek, Hermosa Creek. But I'm wondering if there's something different I could do.

Specifically, I am looking for something higher up, if it's hot. But here's the kicker: my GF will be with me, and she's not a strong biker, especially when it comes to technical stuff. Can anyone think of something that is higher elevation that won't be too difficult? One option would just be an out and back on Hermosa Creek from the top, I don't think it was very technical (but maybe my memory is faulty), but I'm not thrilled with a simple out and back in the woods.

[uncle crud]

If you have access to shuttle drivers or a 2d vehicle, I would suggest Molas Pass to Coal Bank Pass. Get on the road and drive out toward Silverton. Leave first vehicle in parking area at Coal Bank Pass. Keep driving to Molas Pass, park and get out onto Colorado Trail. The direction should be intuitive since you just came from your ultimate destination... meaning, head downhill to your left, not uphill to your right... unless you want to ride to Silverton and then have a hell climb back up to Molas Pass!

Local riders or shops should be able to give you more detail. I rode it a while ago and even though I don't recall any sneaky confusing intersections, I'm sure it would help to get more details than I've given.

90% of the ride takes place between 10k and 12k feet.

I rode it in 2001 or 2002, I wasn't a great technical rider then, I don't think I walked any of it. My friend Clare that I was riding with walked a few brief steep descent pitches but I'm sure she rode 99% of the trail.

My thought on Hermosa is that it's good because it never has any lung-busting climbs, but it's bad because the descent is through cow pastures.

[beaterdit]

More bang for your buck would be engineer moutain trail. park at the top of coal bank, up engine creek. Pretty mellow 45 minutes, maybe a little walk at the top. Then you get like a 45 minute nine mile downhill on engineer mnt trail to cascade creek. Hitch back up to the top for the car. Great short loop and really fun.