Breathtaking Bike Rides Abound

Breathtaking Bike Rides Abound

Ridgway Area Trails – Ridgway Adventure Sports

Whether you are looking for an easy bike path, a long-distance ride on pavement, or an off-road mountain experience, you can access a wide variety of back roads and trails for spectacular rides around Ridgway. The area has more than 40 miles of singletrack in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, below and through the San Juan Mountains. Cyclists and mountain bikers of all ages and levels will find fun and challenges around the area.

The amazing road-biking route on Highway 62 from Ridgway to Placerville was part of the Ride the Rockies route in 2021. The highway provides a small but adequate shoulder, hits a top elevation on Dallas Divide of 8,970 feet, and rewards the strenuous climbs with tremendous views of the Sneffels range.

A challenging multi-use trail system with fantastic mountain bike terrain was created by the Ridgway Area Trails Group (RAT), the Sneffels Chapter of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Association (COPMOBA). The trails are on the edge of Ridgway and open June through Dec. 1. Go online to www.copmoba.org/ridgway for a trail map and information about local biking.

For biking in all seasons, try the beginner trails at Dennis Weaver Park; they are short but accessible all but a few weeks of the year. Gravel grinding on the lower-elevation county roads is also accessible in summer, spring, fall and the sunnier weeks of winter.

County Roads 17/23 Gravel Grinding

The route starts at Ridgway’s Athletic Fields and ends at Ouray’s Fellin Park. When starting in Ridgway, the dirt and gravel route is more challenging, with a gradual steady climb, and from Ouray, includes more coasting on gentle downhills. If you leave a car at one of the route, or arrange for a ride, you can just do a 12-mile, one-way ride.

More on County Roads 17/23 Gravel Grinding

RAT Mountain Biking Trails

Most of the system is on public lands owned by the Bureau of Land Management, but bikers should be careful not to get off track on nearby private lands. Located in a high desert area of sagebrush and low pinons and juniper trees, riders have frequent wide-open views of the surrounding mountain peaks.

You can access the RAT Trail System from Ridgway Town Park by riding north on the bike path that parallels the Uncompahgre River. You can also start your ride at the RAT parking lot at Dennis Weaver Memorial Park. To reach the east side of the trail system, you can ride across Highway 550 at County Road 10, you can park in Ridgway State Park and cross the highway. You can climb CR10B, or you can park beyond Second Chance Animal Shelter off County Road 10.

From Dennis Weaver Memorial Park, one trail takes you into the system–The Big Cheese. It’s a 1.5 mile climb with 13 switchbacks that ultimately takes you to the top of the entire network. As you continue to other sections, the steepness and difficulty increase. The trail section names say it all: Speedy Gonzales, Splinter, The Exterminator, and Ratical. On the east side of the system, you can ride Rattus Maximus or the Maze. Rattus climbs to 4 corners and links up with Squeaker (a super fun swoopy descent), the Maze, Rat Trap and Double Crosser.

Top of the Pines Biking Trail

This kid-friendly mountain bike trail begins and ends at the Top of the Pines pavilion. It descends into a shallow draw, gently climbs up the other side, goes along the ridge top, and loops back to the pavilion through ponderosa forest and scrub oak. With no logs, rocks or other obstacles, this trail is also suitable for visitors with disabilities.

In the Guide

RE/MAX Cimarron Realty

Located in the "Heart" of Ouray County - Hwy 550 & Hwy 62, Ridgway, CO. - at the "STOPLIGHT". Your ONE STOP to se...

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How to Enjoy Ridgway Like a Local

Residents and businesses take great pride in our community and surrounding open spaces. We invite visitors to consider ways to minimize impacts and maximize local benefits. Traveling responsibly means educating yourself on outdoor recreation best practices, local ethics and community expectations.

Know Before You Go

Be prepared and be informed about your destination.
Stick to the Trails

Protect our natural landscapes by staying on the trails and roads.
Trash the Trash

If you pack it in, pack it out.
Leave It as You Find It

Camp in designated areas only.
Be Careful with Fire

Follow seasonal restrictions, and keep campfires small and manageable.
Keep Wildlife Wild

Leash your dogs, pack out waste, and don’t feed wildlife.
Share Our Parks & Trails

Try out the lesser-known paths and sites, and minimize noise.

Be Prepared for Adventure

The San Juan Mountains are a rugged, steep mountain range rising to just over 14,000 feet. These beautiful public lands offer adventures year round. If you are interested in exploring the San Juans, be prepared for challenging terrain that sometimes requires technical expertise and knowledge of the area.

Come prepared by doing research online to find maps, rules and helpful guidance from public agencies and user-generated websites. Utilize local expertise when you get into town by stopping in at our local gear stores. We highly recommend working with our local guide services that employ experts who can help you achieve your goals for world-class recreation. You can also take a course in: backcountry skiing, avalanche safety, rock climbing, ice climbing, and other valuable outdoor skills.

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Visitors Center & Ridgway Area Chamber

The Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce promotes business and community development in the Town of Ridgway and the surrounding area. The Ridgway Visitor Center, located at 150 Racecourse Road, Ridgway, Colorado 81432 (across from Citizens Bank off of HWY 62), The visitor center is closed as of October 1st and will reopen Memorial Day weekend.

P.O. Box 544
Ridgway, Colorado 81432

See you in Ridgway

Adventure, night life and all around easy living await you in Ridgway Colorado, gateway to the San Juan Mountains.

Visitor Guide