more stats
5.0 miles
Distance
458 ft
Climb
-457 ft
Descent
00:41:14
Avg time
1 ft
Altitude change
6,784 ft
Altitude min
7,172 ft
Altitude max
6,824 ft
Altitude start
6,824 ft
Altitude end
-14%
Grade max
17.9%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
2 miles
Distance flat
00:41:14
Avg time

Northside Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area
    Carbondale, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    45 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 75 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #113173 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #109785 in Trail Running
    • #106422 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    Popular Direction Shown
    • Both Directions for Trail Running
    • Both Directions for Hiking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Season
    Closed Dec. 1–Apr. 15 for bikes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    BLM — Colorado River Valley Field Office

The Northside Loop is a 4.9 mile loop with a bit of everything. If done in the counter-clockwise direction, it starts with a long rocky climb with some technical spots thrown in for fun. As you top out, the trail descends out of the woods and into open sage.

This is where the fun really begins. The sage fields in the middle of this loop are super fast and so much fun. Wooded technical spots are thrown into the mix but the fast sage riding starts again. Riding in this direction can be tough later in the day as you're riding into the sun in all the high speed sections.

The loop ends as you climb back into the forest. The rocks start again as well. Overall the loop is a blast and begs for fast riding.

Disclaimer

This area is closed to Elk Calving Season Dec 1 to April 15

Trail Supporters
  • BLM
    BLM
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 12 rides
  • 17 miles avg distance
All
  • 80 rides
  • Last: Sep 26, 2026
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Northside Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jun 1, 2026 @ 11:51am (America/Denver)
Jun 1, 2026
Jun 6, 2024 @ 3:50pm
Jun 6, 2024
Jul 24, 2023 @ 6:46am
Jul 24, 2023
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Status:
on Jun 1, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.88 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to northside-loop trailhead (39.446960, -107.223780)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      142 |
      Sep 3, 2017 @ 11:20am
      Sep 3, 2017

      Videos

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      3.7 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★ 33%
      4 ★ 33%
      3 ★
      2 ★ 33%
      1 ★

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      Nearby Trails

      Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area

      • By toddTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • #14114 - 1,780 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Northside Loop located?
      Northside Loop is located in Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area, Carbondale, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.44696, -107.22378.
      ▼ How hard is Northside Loop?
      Northside Loop is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Northside Loop?
      Northside Loop has 458 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 457 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,784 ft to 7,172 ft.
      ▼ Is Northside Loop a point to point trail?
      Northside Loop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Northside Loop?
      Northside Loop is 5.0 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Northside Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Northside Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Northside Loop?
      Northside Loop is best visited during: Closed Dec. 1–Apr. 15 for bikes.
      ▼ How do I access Northside Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Northside Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Northside Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 38 minutes to ride Northside Loop. The trail is 5.0 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Northside Loop?
      Northside Loop is a moderately popular trail. There have been 355 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 337 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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