2.7 miles

Distance

224 ft

Climb

-802 ft

Descent

00:59:11

Avg time

Ridge Trail Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
Riding Area

Chuckanut Mountain
Bellingham, Washington
Difficulty Rating

Black Diamond rate
Trail Type

Singletrack
Bike Type

AM
Direction

Downhill Primary
Popular direction shown
Dogs Allowed

Yes
eBike Allowed

Yes up to Class 1
Global Ranking
#72529 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #22031 in E-Biking
- #2184 in Trail Running
- #3597 in Hiking
Local Popularity
40 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 70 in E-Biking
- 80 in Trail Running
- 75 in Hiking

As so many commenters have pointed out - this trail's middle section is not rideable. The preferred route is to skip the middle by taking Galen's Step down to Cleator Rd, and the ridge connector trail back up to catch the last section, which is still pretty gnarly.

Local Trail Association

Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition
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Traditionally Indigenous Territory

More Stats for Ridge Trail mountain bike trail trail

Altitude change

-578 ft
Altitude min

1,185 ft
Altitude max

1,770 ft
Altitude start

1,763 ft
Altitude end

1,184 ft
Grade

-4%
Grade max

-51.1%
Grade min

50.9%
Distance climb

4,173 ft
Distance down

2 miles
Distance flat

1,165 ft
Avg time

00:59:11
Avg reverse time

02:44:31
view trail stats

Status:

on Jun 20, 2021

Dry

Avg: 3.1 (28 votes)

Your vote: 0

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Directions to ridge-trail-18760 trailhead (48.655010, -122.462850)

update trails status or condition

Ridge Trail Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Jun 20, 2021 @ 4:22pm Jun 20, 2021	This is an old school rooty rocky bear of a trail. Great fun, but do not ride the middle section that Trail Forks suggests that you skip. They...
	Apr 17, 2021 @ 9:24pm Apr 17, 2021
	Mar 14, 2021 @ 10:48am Mar 14, 2021
	Nov 29, 2020 @ 4:53pm Nov 29, 2020	Upper and lower ridge in great shape right now.
	Nov 17, 2020 @ 11:08am Nov 17, 2020	reporter

view all reports »

Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

Past Week

0 rides

6 Months

12 rides
15 miles avg distance

All

268 rides
Last: Aug 1, 2022

Photos

447 |

Nov 4, 2018 @ 2:01pm

Nov 4, 2018

652 |

Apr 26, 2018 @ 3:41pm

Apr 26, 2018

2,435 |

Mar 22, 2014 @ 8:09pm

Mar 22, 2014

| 7 comments

959 |

Sep 12, 2009 @ 2:24am

Sep 12, 2009

Routes with this trail

title	distance
Double Black, Double Down	6 miles
16+ mile route looping Pine and Cedar to Burnout	17 miles
GLC	56 miles
2018 CDC Chuckanut Enduro - Pro/Expert/Hardtail race	16 miles

Trail Products

Pacific Northwest National Forest Recreation App
Phone App

15 Reviews & Comments

Score Time Post Comment

ohlyss

(Apr 2, 2022 at 18:22)

Meh. As recommended we rode the upper trail to Galen’s (Galen’s was fun but short) got back on the lower section and much like the upper section was some long flattish bits with some rooty techy xc… if that’s your jam you’ll live this trail. The area is beautiful.

[Reply]

savagefilms

(Jun 13, 2021 at 9:05)

I had a blast on this trail! I would consider it a must do if you seek out gnarly trails, enjoy adventure rides, and have the skills to clean it. I think other black trails should feel like a walk in the park for you to fully enjoy this one. I think it’s a lot harder to get down this trail clean than it is to do the same on double down. It’s somewhere in between downhill and XC. That said, it’s a riot when you nail the right line and carry your momentum through a web of massive diagonal roots or clean one of the rock lines! I made the mistake of taking galens step down and skipping the middle. That felt like a waste of time and elevation. I’d rather pick my way down the ridge and walk a few sections if need be.

[Reply]

longboardersp

(Jun 3, 2021 at 15:04)

Trials riding skills needed to ride this trail clean! More hike a bike sections than you can count riding North going (down) feels like you do as much up as down! Once again if you are a Trials rider, love really technical almost un-rideable trail that goes up and down in little short steep parts this trail is for you. Even as a hiking trail its silly. Why always stick to the top of the ridge about 30 bypasses around the million little ups along the ridge crest are needed to make this a fun trail. If you love hike a bike this is your trail.

[Reply]

roborant (Aug 2, 2020 at 1:16)

Unassuming, brutal trail with empty promises of flow and rocky technicality. 85% is pushing through brush, cursing the trees, and hike-a-bike ascents. Downhill suggestion on the map is misleading as the variance is so close. Several awesome rock sections for technical navigation, but certainly not worth the effort of the entire route. Stay on DBD and DD.

[Reply]

joebmx

(Jul 12, 2020 at 10:01)

I don’t know. Maybe i like pain but aside from the mandatory hike a bike there really is only one other section that needs to be pushed otherwise with solid skills and lots of mashing it is all doable. Its not for everyone and that is fine not every trail should be. The best way to put it is the trail is physical.

[Reply]

yman98

(Aug 25, 2019 at 16:23)

Super fun trail, lots of technical moves on upper and lower. Keep your speed up to make it over those roots and rocks.

[Reply]

pbr1985

(Jun 27, 2019 at 12:17)

I find the ridge trail to Galen’s step to the connector trail (bypassing the middle section of ridge), followed by hush hush to be a very nice trail, technical and fun and in a beautiful location. Dirt is great. Certainly not a manicured flow trail but it’s definitely worthwhile.

[Reply]

davidscole (Jun 10, 2019 at 13:42)

The people who are saying trail "isn't worth it" or is "unridable" are most likely attempting to ride the middle part of the trail, which is indeed unridable and not really intended as part of the downhill mt bike route. It's an up-and-down scramble in there. The upper ridge and lower ridge sections are techy and fun. Good mt biking if you like challenging, technical terrain. Hard, yes, but a lot of us like that. Great stuff! Do skip the middle part, either way. That is not part of the route. Take Galen's Step out, go down the road a bit and get back on via the Ridge Trail Connector. Enjoy.

[Reply]

masonguy

(May 27, 2019 at 16:25)

Ride the upper ridge until Galen's step for the best mountain bike experience. The middle section is unrideable

[Reply]

Knoerpsi (May 9, 2019 at 20:10)

No trail for mountain bikes.

[Reply]

chrisclifford

(Mar 29, 2019 at 23:01)

Not worth riding. It’s a hiking trail. The first few minutes are ok, mostly just tech and tight roots and rocks between tight trees. The last minute or so is ok. The middle absolutely sucks. Multiple unrideable sections interspersed with short (20-30 seconds) periods of mediocre flat pedaling sectors before the next dismount. The kicker is that after this you lose about 1000 feet of elevation on a crushed gravel path back to the parking lot. I’m honestly kind of pissed this trail was recommended to me

[Reply]

Blake1

(Jun 9, 2018 at 23:09)

This is not a bike trail. It’s a hike trail that you can take your bike for a walk on. Don’t bother, there are much better options.

[Reply]

s3ntin3l

(Dec 7, 2018 at 20:21)

I agree!

[Reply]

mtb2233 (Aug 13, 2017 at 9:09)

Lower ridge is a super long sprint to begin with then with out any warning drops in to a full on dh cluster f*ck of roots that have grown over rocks, the trail also sports super blowen out cornnors or no corners at all, super fun trail!

[Reply]

sw1zz1e (Jul 12, 2017 at 19:53)

This trail upper,middle and lower ridge should be called techter gnar! If you're a trials rider with an xc bent holler

Ridge Trail

Ridge Trail Details

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

More Stats for Ridge Trail mountain bike trail trail

Ridge Trail Trail Reports

Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

Past Week

6 Months

All

Photos

Routes with this trail

Trail Products

15 Reviews & Comments

Videos

Nearby Trails

Chuckanut Mountain