Box Canyon

Box Canyon is a fun and longer single track in the San Juan National Forest by Mancos, Colorado, that has a variety of terrain and some challenging switchbacks. From the trailhead off of Forest Service Road 561, the trail starts with a series of really steep and tight switchbacks down to a walking trail. Some of the switchbacks are rocky and steep. After crossing the walking path, there is a trickier creek crossing that is 20 or so feet long, rocky and has deep spots. Next, stay left at the intersection with Coyote North Trail. Then the trail has a moderately challenging long loose climb up with a couple more switch backs, rocks and roots, and one spot that is pretty steep. It mellows out after this climb, and continues as a fast flowy trail on top of a flat mesa in wide open meadows, with a view out towards Hesperus Mountain. The east end of the trail starts descending into an aspen grove of trees with some tight turns and muddy spots. There is one really big downed log that you have to go over. Overall this is a really fun trail with great scenery.