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Raiders Ridge Tech Loop

 3.6 (17)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Southwest Rockies
  4. …Durango
  5. Horse Gulch / Telegraph Trail System
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Map Key

8.9 Miles 14.3 Kilometers


90%

Singletrack

1,376' 420 m

Ascent

-1,360' -415 m

Descent

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

7,879' 2,401 m

High

6,592' 2,009 m

Low

Shared By San Juanderer

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

“A great loop in Durango featuring some of Horse Gulch's finest technical singletrack.”

— San Juanderer
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs Leashed

Features -none-

Overview

This loop is a great way to ride Raiders Ridge without having to do an out and back. The loop takes about two hours and features some great views and technical sections.

Description

There are a few ways to do this loop. Basically, getting on Skyline Trail is the beginning. This trail is a nice climb that takes you up to Raiders Ridge. Follow the techy sandstone singletrack on the Ridge Trail on top of Raiders and look out for fun lines and drops. Eventually you'll see a concrete pad on your left.

Go back 15 feet and turn left on Snake Charmer, then stay on the road until you hit the meadow. Skirt the meadow and and enter the singletrack on your left. It will throw you into town. I usually take the paved bike path up North College to get back to the Skyline Trail, but you can take the Nature Trail up to Squawker. I recommend this trail in the spring and fall because summers are very hot around here.

Contacts

Local Club: Trails 2000

Land Manager: City of Durango, CO - Parks and Recreation

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Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Oct 8, 2018
M C
Aug 30, 2018
Shane Glazebrook
Jul 18, 2018
Paul Null
Jun 30, 2018
Brian Moberg
Jun 26, 2018
Patrick Etheridge
5mi
May 29, 2018
Chris Mccullough
Jul 10, 2017
Jun Somebody
Jul 7, 2017
Timaaay T
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.6 from 17 votes

#1

in Horse Gulch / Telegraph Trail System

#1526

Overall
  3.6 from 17 votes
5 Star
29%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
29%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
12%
Rankings

#1

in Horse Gulch / Telegrap…

#221

in Colorado

#1,526

Overall
53 Views Last Month
12,369 Since May 13, 2014
Difficult Difficult
7%
0%
0%
7%
40%
47%
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Photos

Looking south at Raiders Ridge, fall time, from Skyline trail
Looking south at Raiders Ridge, fall time, from…
 4
Beginning of descent where Skyline meets Sugar.
Beginning of descent where Skyline meets Sugar.
 4
First section features lots of slickrock
First section features lots of slickrock
 4
Sweet view of Durango from the Ridge.
Sweet view of Durango from the Ridge.
 3
At this point on the trail it is a good idea to hang a hard right. Most of the exposure is psychological. You would have to work fairly hard to go off the trail but definitely intimindating for less experienced riders.
At this point on the trail it is a good idea to…
 4
Dang...another switchback on Skyline Trail
Dang...another switchback on Skyline Trail
 5

5 Comments

Sort by: Oldest
Newest Oldest Popular
Mark Mastalski
Mark Mastalski  
Skyline is a 900 foot climb that is cooler than other trails in the summer. Raider Ridge is extremely challenging and an alternative is to take Sugar down to Horse Gulch Road. Sugar is about 200 yards north of where Skyline connects with Raider Ridge and is about as opposite as you can get. Swoopy, fast, and smooth, it is a good ride both up and down. Oct 27, 2016
Fred Turk
Fred Turk  
I would not suggest riding down raider ridge trail. Its going to be way to technical for most people and a lot of hike a bike. Dec 3, 2017
Frank Beast
Frank Beast  
Some really fun steep stuff. Aug 16, 2018

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