more stats
3,999 ft
Distance
92 ft
Climb
-146 ft
Descent
00:10:04
Avg time
-54 ft
Altitude change
6,720 ft
Altitude min
6,850 ft
Altitude max
6,850 ft
Altitude start
6,795 ft
Altitude end
-1.4%
Grade
-17.7%
Grade max
23.5%
Grade min
1,207 ft
Distance climb
1,775 ft
Distance down
1,017 ft
Distance flat
00:10:04
Avg time

Outer 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 [+]
    • 45 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #117916 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #282951 in Trail Running
    • #319412 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    • 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 Outer Loops is a side trail off of Elk Traverse. The most common way to ride it is on the way back, or heading South. If going this direction the trail starts with a long fast downhill. It's not terribly steep at all but flows nicely.

Your downhill ride ends in a wash of sorts then the trail climbs back up to Elk Traverse. Along the way, you'll hit a few switchbacks and a few small crux moves in tight corners. The Outer Loop is a great alternative to coming back on Elk Traverse.

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
  • 11 rides
  • 15 miles avg distance
All
  • 65 rides
  • Last: Sep 19, 2026
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Outer Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jun 1, 2026 @ 11:51am (America/Denver)
Jun 1, 2026
Aug 12, 2021 @ 4:12pm
Aug 12, 2021
more »
Status:
on Jun 1, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.99 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to outer-loop-14115 trailhead (39.439200, -107.237060)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      63 |
      Sep 3, 2017 @ 11:19am
      Sep 3, 2017

      Videos

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      Routes with this trail

      30
      The Best of Red Hill
      ★ 5.0 • 11 miles • 1,775 ft • 13 • Loop •
      This route highlights the best trails within the in the most efficient and downhill focused fashion. The...
      4.0 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★ 33%
      4 ★ 33%
      3 ★ 33%
      2 ★
      1 ★

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      Nearby Trails

      Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area

      • By toddTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • #14115 - 1,117 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Outer Loop located?
      Outer 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 39.4392, -107.23706.
      ▼ How hard is Outer Loop?
      Outer Loop is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 1.4%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Outer Loop?
      Outer Loop has 92 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 146 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,720 ft to 6,850 ft.
      ▼ Is Outer Loop a point to point trail?
      Outer Loop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Outer Loop?
      Outer Loop is 3,999 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Outer Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Outer Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Outer Loop?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Outer Loop are:
      • June (10 activities)
      • October (7 activities)
      • May (6 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Outer Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Outer Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Outer Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 12 minutes to ride Outer Loop. The trail is 3,999 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Outer Loop?
      Outer Loop is a moderately popular trail. There have been 375 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 365 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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