Red Ridge (Upper)

TORCA has been putting in work on this trail to resurrect it now for the SECOND time. First in conjunction with the rehab of CDO after

the Aspen Fire and now after the Bighorn Fire in 19/20. There's no quit in those guys and we're all better off for it. Consider donating or lending a hand on one of their work days. There has been no less than 5 work days since owl habitat was opened after breeding season. The first 1.5 is awesome. Still a bunch of brushing to do but the worst of the catclaw is done on the upper elevations. Since this is now a segment of the AZT it ahould see more traffic. The Forest Service has approved a new terminus that will take the trail out of the old alignment(out of drainage). The story behind this story is unsung and this trail is for mtbers. . When it's done, everybody's gonna want to ride this trail. Gravel and XC types, will need to bring your A game. It's not a trail, it's an adventure.

We rode the trail on April 21, 2024, starting from the trailhead just before ski valley, with our final destination at the 50 Year trailhead.

It starts off loose and steep. Your brakes better be pretty dialed, and even then you are still likely to have a slow motion wash out around a corner. The trail is very obviously not heavily traveled, thorny brush pokes into the trail the whole way down and will leave your legs cut up.

Trailfinding took some effort and focus at times, but wasn't a problem. Generally nothing too chunky, although some areas you'll want to be careful at. All things considered, pretty ride-able at the moment.

But we had a blast, and will probably plan to do the same ride again in 2025.

As of September 2023, trail is in great shape. Corridor is clear. Only 2 down trees. Creek was flowing at the junction with Catalina Camp.