Red Hill Loop

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

The Red Hill trail system will put a smile on your face. It's all singletrack, and there's something for just about everyone here. There's a technical, challenging climb to start the ride, then a mix of easy to somewhat challenging ups and downs on mostly flowy singletrack. There are even some great views out over Carbondale to Mt. Sopris in the distance.

This route touches on most of the great singletrack in the main Red Hill trail system, and provides nice flow as ridden. However, there are many options to ride trails in a different order, or even to extend the ride out to the Elk Traverse and the Northside Loop (note that the Northside Loop and the trails to the north of it are closed Dec. 1st - April 15th due to wildlife habitat concerns).

The main parking lot for this trail is right on the edge of Carbondale on Highway 82. It's very easy to ride this from town, and makes a fantastic evening ride, with plenty of options to shorten or lengthen your outing.

Ride from town or drive to the large parking lot right along Highway 82 to start the ride. If you choose to park here, park on the upper tier of the lot as the lower tier is reserved for carpool/commuter parking.

You'll get a short warmup climb as you head up the dirt road (Rte. 107) from the parking lot. It's about 1/3 mile up to the clearly marked trailhead with a map kiosk on the left side of the road. If you are looking for a more interesting (read: challenging) start to your ride, head up Lower Three Gulch Trail. A few minutes of exciting and hard riding will bring you straight into the bottom of Three Gulch Trail.

Once on Three Gulch, climb steadily and at times steeply on a mix of red sandstone and red clay dirt. The trail is full of techy rock moves and step-ups. It's all rideable by strong intermediates, and a nice place to work on your technical skills. Less experienced riders may find a few obstacles frustrating.

Towards the top the geologic landscape transitions from sandstone to basalt. The final section of trail before it tops out is the crux... the steep basalt rock garden with a tight switchback tests even the most advanced riders.

Next, you'll take a right to ride a very short section of Blue Ribbon, then look for signs for Skeeter's Ridge Trail to the right. The trail surface is generally much smoother here, although there are still a few rocks to contend with. You'll be rewarded very quickly with incredible views out over the Roaring Fork River and Carbondale, all the way out to Mt. Sopris in the distance.

There are plenty of spots to hang out and enjoy the scenery once you reach the ridge. Just remember to stay right at the first fork you come to, and just before you reach the highest point along the ridge, be looking left for a 180 degree turn to the left for Roller Coaster.

If you miss Roller Coaster and continue straight, you'll end up at Mushroom Rock Trail, which becomes unrideable. Roller Coaster is super fun, but far too short. It's a twisty ride in a descending gully with a smooth trail surface and bermy sides. The traction is great, and it's hard to rip down this trail without hooting and hollering. If only it dropped another 1000 vertical feet!

Continue off Roller Coaster straight into Faerie Trail. This trail starts out with a short continuation of fun descending like Roller Coaster, but then becomes level and climbs briefly through the juniper before arriving at the intersection with Bogus Trail. Hang a left to continue your flowy descent down Faerie Trail.

Once you've gotten your ya-yas out on the Faerie Trail descent, you'll climb back up through sandstone where you'll eventually see the Bogus Trail come in from your right. Take this back to the Faerie/Bogus intersection or, to make your ride longer, play out-and-back add-on to your left in the Elk Traverse/Northside Loop area.

Either way, you'll eventually head east on Bogus Trail until reaching the Bogus Trail/Blue Ribbon Trail meadow. Bang a left on Blue Ribbon, exit out the Meadow, and start the long descent back toward the trailhead (most choose to descend Blue Ribbon versus Three Gulch Trail as it offers more varied and flowy riding. Some intermediate riders may choose to walk some technical features on Blue Ribbon here and there).

Toward the bottom of Blue Ribbon, look for B-Line branching to the right. This is an advanced, steep, technical one-way trail that drops you straight down to the parking lot. Conversely, one can stay on Blue Ribbon back to Rte. 107 for a more tame end to their ride.