DEL NORTE — One may have heard the steady pulse of rumors circulating about the trails surrounding Del Norte, Colorado, and rightly so.  From high alpine perma-grin downhill, to naturally featured-flowy-high desert canyon single-track; the area offers trail systems for all abilities and ages.  Not to mention the creation of miles of new trails each year.  That combined with Del Norte’s relative anonymity has created some unforgettable and intimate experiences.

For the past three years the Del Norte Trails Showcase has invited industry influencers to join several of the area's experienced bike riders for a few days of mountain bike rides and trail runs hosted by San Luis Valley locals - always accompanied by evening festivities and entertainment.  

Attending this year’s event for the familiarization tour rides are Ian Steyn, Colorado Tourism Board;  Brandon Mathis, Executive Director of Adventure Pro-BCI Media;  Sterling Mudge, Director of the Cloud City Wheelers;  Emma Walker and Lindsay Shapiro, freelance writers;  Leigh Bowe, VITA MTB and pro enduro racer;  Holly Batista-Resignolo and Joy Martin of MTNTown Magazine;  Jason Blevins of Blevins Media/Freelance writer;  Chris Yuan-Farrell, Senior Program Officer Great Outdoors Colorado and a photographer;  Chris Castillian, Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado;  Erica Doemland, a freelance writer;  and a writer for Elevation Outdoors.

This area is still relatively undiscovered, but in many ways Del Norte area trails offer a similar experience to Fruita, Moab, and Crested Butte in terms of quality and diversity.  Local riders and trail runners will lead group trips from Sunday evening until midday Tuesday, June 10 – 12, on trail networks at Stone Quarry, Pronghorn, Penitente Canyon, San Francisco Creek.  
Sponsored by the Del Norte Chamber of Commerce, Rio Grande Tourism, Windsor Hotel, Three Barrel Brewing, High Valley Community Center, Kristi Mountain Sports, and Del Norte Trails Organization, the trails showcase kicks-off on Sunday, June 10th at 4pm with a Street Party on Columbia Avenue between Hwy 160 and 6th Street and runs until 9pm.  

There is no entry fee for the Sunday kick-off party, and locals are encouraged to join. Food will be available from Gosar Sausage and High Valley Community Center (HVCC), and beer by Three Barrel Brewing.  High Valley Community Center will sponsor fun with a relaxed family-oriented bike ride at around 4:00, and will have inflatables, games, information/giveaway booths, and a HVCC Teen Art Show and Silent Auction.  Live music begins at 6 pm with Maggie Raines and the Crooked Keys.   A silent auction will run simultaneously at the Windsor Hotel, with winners announced Monday night at the Windsor Courtyard Party after the conclusion of the day’s rides.  

As always, a group ride hosted by Kristi Mountain Sports is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Stone Quarry; riders will meet at 4:00 pm in the foyer of The Windsor Hotel, gather their gear and head to the Stone Quarry for a semi-challenging ride.  
Monday and Tuesday rides are organized to accommodate a wide range of levels. All rides meet at the Windsor Hotel prior to traveling to the trails.  Monday 9am: Chill Ride at Pronghorn hosted by Kristi Mountain Sports (KMS) and the Thrill Ride at Penitente hosted by Brinkley Messick of the Colorado Mountain Club to include a “design your line” input for a new trail.  Monday 2pm:  Chill Ride at Stone Quarry hosted by KMS and the Thrill Ride at Middle Frisco or Treasure Mountain Trail (pending access).  Tuesday 9am: Chill Ride by KMS at Penitente and Thrill Ride at Pronghorn.  

Monday night from 6-9pm is music by Taos’s The Noseeums in The Windsor Hotel Courtyard sponsored by KMS.  Adjacent to the courtyard, in the Windsor’s Events Room will be a trade show, a venue to let the visitors see some of what is currently going on and what is planned for the near future in the Valley for recreational tourism.