Red Trail Loop

In Depth Research on this Trail

Red Trail Loop
San Rafael Swell

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Peak altitude is 6700, bottom 6000. The loop has 3 miles of doubletrack before officially starting the Red Trail. The Red Trail is 4 miles of advanced-technical singletrack, with uncountable rock ledges. Just after the Red Trail joins the singletrack Orange Trail, the loop forks right on the Blue Trail. This is an ATV track that undulates along the edge of Iron Wash.

The riding surface is Coconino sandstone. Although a tad smoother in grain than the Navajo sandstone of Slickrock, Coconino has cross-hatching "ribs" that create lots of ledges and rough spots. Many climbs are extreme, intended for trials motocross. While there are a gazillion small ledges, you don't have to take big air on descents.

Trail notes:
0.0   Head east on DT
        N 38° 47.340' W 110° 42.583'
0.5   Keep straight (L)
1.4   Fork R (L = return)
        N 38° 47.232' W 110° 41.513' alt=6700'
3.0   DT ends, sign-in trail box
        N 38° 46.200' W 110° 40.865'
        Straight S on ST, follow red dashes
4.0   Keep straight - R (red dashes) at sign
        N 38° 45.780' W 110° 40.190'

Blue Trail, E to W: 3.7 to junction w Green (R)
        round knoll x 1 mi
        road at 6.6, fork R
        3 miles to parking

7.0 Iron Wash
       app N 38° 44.80' W 110° 38.70'
7.1 Fork R=Orange Trail

8.2 Junction Blue Trail
       app N 38° 44.48' W 110° 39.19'
11.0 Junction Green Trail

14.5 Trail Box, DT
       app N 38° 42.57' W 110° 39.36'
15.5 Fork R
16.6 Fork R
       app N 38° 41.29' W 110° 39.40'
17.2 Fork R
       app N 38° 41.27' W 110° 40.06'
17.9 Fork R (away from Temple Mtn)
       app N 38° 41.57' W 110° 40.55'
22.1   Fork R on main road
       app N 38° 43.60' W 110° 44.06'
24.7   Fork R
       app N 38° 44.69' W 110° 45.75'
26.6 Straight (L) (R=Blue Trail)
       app N 38° 46.03' W 110° 44.80'
27.3 Straight (R)
27.7 Straight (R)
29.6 R to parking

Red Trail area

Getting there: On US-6 approaching Green River, turn right (westbound) on I-70. Drive 22 miles and exit at Ranch Exit 129. Turn left under the freeway, then veer right with the road. Keep straight at all intersections. Note a first cattle guard at mile 3.2. After crossing a second cattle guard at 6.7, descend and turn left on a small road at mile 7.6. Park on the left 0.1 mile down the road, just before the wash, N 38° 47.340' W 110° 42.583'. Begin the ride by continuing on the road.