more stats
1.2 miles
Distance
559 ft
Climb
-57 ft
Descent
00:17:35
Avg time
502 ft
Altitude change
6,278 ft
Altitude min
6,798 ft
Altitude max
6,295 ft
Altitude start
6,798 ft
Altitude end
7.9%
Grade
-25.5%
Grade max
45.7%
Grade min
5,115 ft
Distance climb
1,109 ft
Distance down
95 ft
Distance flat
00:17:35
Avg time

Three Gulch Trail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area
    Carbondale, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #54776 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #9117 in Trail Running
    • #46322 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Uphill Primary[+]
    Popular Direction Shown
    • Uphill Primary for Trail Running
    • Uphill Primary for Hiking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Open all year, don't ride if muddy or wet!
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    BLM — Colorado River Valley Field Office

This is a challenge but easier than Blue Ribbon to climb into the network and the rest of the trails. Don't be fooled; it is still hard up or down.

Perhaps not everyone will call this trail "fun" on the way up, but I find it to be challenging and... fun A good number will walk sections of this trail.

This is tough climb, but it is generally easier up and down than some of the other trails in the network to get to the easier upper area

There's a main trailhead for the Red Hill trail system right on highway 82 where you'd park your car if you drove here, then it's a straightforward 0.3 mile climb up a smooth dirt road to the easy to spot trail kiosk with a map on the left side of the road.

Three Gulch starts in immediately from the kiosk, climbing steadily and at times steeply on a mix of red sandstone and red clay dirt. The trail is full of little rock moves and step-ups. It's all rideable by strong intermediates, and a nice place to work on your technical skills. But less experienced riders will find it frustrating.

Towards the top, you'll start climbing over volcanic rock, and you'll continue to be challenged. The final section of trail before it tops out is brutal - your heartrate will be high from the steepness, and you'll have to conquer a rock garden that leaves very little room for error. Only a few advanced riders will be able to clean this one from bottom to top, but many will have fun trying!

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

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 2 rides
  • 11 miles average
6 Months
  • 61 rides
  • 9 miles avg distance
All
  • 326 rides
  • Last: Sep 1, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
February
March
April
May
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August
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Status:
on Jun 1, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.99 (6 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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  • > 90%
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  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
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  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to three-gulch-trail trailhead (39.419420, -107.221060)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        7 more »
        mtb
        237 |
        Sep 3, 2017 @ 10:54am
        Sep 3, 2017
        mtb
        202 |
        Sep 3, 2017 @ 10:53am
        Sep 3, 2017
        mtb
        227 |
        May 13, 2019 @ 10:20am
        May 13, 2019
        mtb
        204 |
        Mar 14, 2018 @ 8:24pm
        Mar 14, 2018

        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 ★★★★★
        6 Ratings
        5 ★ 17%
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        3 ★ 17%
        2 ★
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        3 Reviews & Comments


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        Frequently Asked Questions About Three Gulch

        ▼ Where is Three Gulch located?
        Three Gulch 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 39.41942, -107.22106.
        ▼ How hard is Three Gulch?
        Three Gulch is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 8%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Three Gulch?
        Three Gulch has 544 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 42 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,278 ft to 6,798 ft.
        ▼ Is Three Gulch a point to point trail?
        Three Gulch is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Three Gulch?
        Three Gulch is 1.2 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Three Gulch?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Three Gulch. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Three Gulch?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Three Gulch are:
        • July (19 activities)
        • November (16 activities)
        • April (14 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Three Gulch? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Three Gulch are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Three Gulch?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 22 minutes to ride Three Gulch. The trail is 1.2 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Three Gulch?
        Three Gulch is a very popular trail. There have been 4,058 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,980 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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