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Raiders Ridge Tech Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Difficult
 3.5 (25)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Southwest Rockies
  4. …Durango
  5. Horse Gulch / Telegraph Trail System
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“A great loop in Durango featuring some of Horse Gulch's finest technical singletrack. ”

San Juanderer
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Map Key

9.0

Miles

14.5

KM

90%

Singletrack

7,870' 2,399 m

High

6,604' 2,013 m

Low

1,328' 405 m

Up

1,307' 398 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

32%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

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: Durango Trails

Jan 17, 2023: Showshoeing Around Durango

Jan 10, 2023: Winter Trail Conditions

Nov 25, 2022: Seasonal Wildlife Closures Dec. 1 through April 15

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

Shared By:

San Juanderer with improvements by Max Molello
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.5 from 25 votes

#1

in Horse Gulch / Telegraph Trail System

#1751

Overall
  3.5 from 25 votes
5 Star
36%
4 Star
24%
3 Star
16%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
24%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Horse Gulch / Telegrap…

#271

in Colorado

#1,751

Overall
37 Views Last Month
16,331 Since May 13, 2014
Difficult
4%
0%
0%
0%
54%
42%
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Photos

View from the top of Sugar trail
Apr 12, 2020 near Durango, CO
Looking south at Raiders Ridge, fall time, from Skyline trail
Jul 2, 2014 near Durango, CO
First section features lots of slickrock
Aug 22, 2014 near Durango, CO
Beginning of descent where Skyline meets Sugar.
May 10, 2016 near Durango, CO
Sweet view of Durango from the Ridge.
May 10, 2016 near Durango, CO
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.
Aug 22, 2014 near Durango, CO

7 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jun 6, 2022
Joy Norris
Oct 18, 2019
Keelan Vandello
This trail sucks, at least from where is has you start. Lots of road riding, or riding right next to the road.
Sep 11, 2019
Jesse Fruman
May 24, 2019
Mike Trefry
Oct 8, 2018
M C
Aug 30, 2018
Shane Glazebrook
Jul 18, 2018
Paul Null
Jun 30, 2018
Brian Moberg

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