Red Hill Loop

Dogs Off-leash

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This route touches on most of the great singletrack in the main Red Hill trail system. However, there are many options to hike trails in a different order or direction. You can also do a much longer hike by extending out to Elk Traverse/North Side Loop (note that North Side Loop is closed for wildlife habitat preservation Dec. 1 - Apr. 15).

On the front side, the main volume of traffic usually ascends Three Gulch & descends Blue Ribbon/Ruthie's Run. If you want a steeper, more direct route with fewer bikers, consider going up Mushroom Rock and linking to the trails on the backside from there.

Expect people, dogs & bikers. Feel free to bring your dog, but please clean up after them because this area is a heavily used. Be on the alert for cryptobiotic soil and stay on the trail to avoid damage to sensitive ecosystems.

Start from the large parking lot at the main Carbondale stoplight right along Highway 82. Park on the upper tier of the lot as the lower tier is reserved for carpool/commuter parking.

You'll get a short warm up as you head up the dirt road (Rte. 107) from the parking lot. It's about 1/4 mile up to the clearly marked trailhead with a map kiosk on the left side of the road. Alternatively, you can start by taking the Lower Three Gulch Trail to the Three Gulch Trail, adding a slightly steeper and more demanding warm-up to your day.

Once on the Three Gulch Trail, climbing steadily and at times steeply on a mix of red sandstone and red clay dirt. Your heart rate will be on the up throughout this short-lived but righteous grind.

With your heart in your mouth, relax onto the smooth, mellow Blue Ribbon Trail, climbing very gently on the northeast aspect of Red Hill. After about 1/4 mile, bang a right on Skeeter's Ridge Trail. After ascending Three Gulch Trail, you'll find this section easy, though a few steeper switchbacks will get you working again. You'll be rewarded very quickly with incredible views out over the Roaring Fork Valley and the town of Carbondale. Many locals agree this vantage point offers the best views in the valley of Mt. Sopris, one of the state's biggest mountains when measured from its base to its summit.

There are plenty of spots to hang out and enjoy the scenery once you reach the ridge. Just before you reach the highest point along the ridge, be looking left for a 180 degree turn to Roller Coaster Trail, or continue straight on the ridge just a short distance and you'll soon find yourself at Mushroom Rock.

The short but sweet Roller Coaster Trail is aptly named. Its flowy, banked corners means it's best enjoyed on a bike, but hiking and running it will also put a smile on your face.

Next up, go straight on Faerie Trail from the end of Roller Coaster (or bail right on Blue Ribbon to head down the way you came up). If you proceed down Faerie Trail you'll continue descending through the gulch below Roller Coaster, but you'll soon find the trail flattening out and climbing through basalt rock and a juniper forest.

Look for a marked intersection with Bogus Trail, and you'll stay left to do the full Faerie Trail. Or, once again, you have the option to bail right to head back toward Blue Ribbon Trail.

If you continue on Faerie, the next stage is a notable descent for several hundred feet, followed by a moderate climb out. This is a great add-on loop if you want the extra mileage and some more vertical.

2/3 of they way up the climb, you'll see a signed juncture with Elk Traverse on the left. For a much longer hike, head that way, or continue right. At the end of this loop, make a left on Bogus Trail. This seems counter-intuitive, but the trail bends back south shortly.

At the end of Bogus, make a left on Blue Ribbon. If you opt to continue the descent on Blue Ribbon, it is slightly steeper/more direct than Three Gulch, but either way gets you down to the bottom in short order.

Towards the bottom of Blue Ribbon, look for signs for Ruthie's Run, take a right on this trail, and continue descending well-built singletrack back down to the parking area.