One-way Distance: 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 4880 - 5018 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: Tabeguache/Lunch Loop
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic ridge
Raven Ridge is located in the Lunch Loop Trails System in Grand Junction, Colorado. The almost half mile long trail crosses a scenic ridge that makes a connection between Curt's Lane and the High Noon trail. The Holy Cross trail courses through the valley on the east side of the ridge while Moto does the same on the west. Many portions of other trails in the Lunch Loop system can be seen from its elevated vantage point.
Raven Ridge is fun in both directions. For this post we are beginning where it departs from Curt's Lane and following it southward. The slideshow at the end of the post includes pictures of the trail coming back in the other direction also.
The trail starts out traveling along the broken slickrock near the edge of the cliff.
Part of the trail through here travels over moqui ball looking concretions that speckle the sandstone like the old candy dots that were sold stuck on pieces of paper.
The Moto and Tabeguache trails are visible looking off the west side of the ridge.
Before the trail has quite gone a quarter mile the Coyote Ridge trail breaks off on the left heading over to Ali-Ali-Loop, Miramonte and all points beyond.
After climbing over a rocky hump on the ridge the trail drops down to a narrow bench and continues heading southward.
The trail is mostly only moderately technical for mountain bikers as it travels along the bench.
Towards the end of the ridge the trail makes a scenic passage between some boulders.
As the trail finishes up it makes a plunge that takes it down to a saddle in the ridge.
Raven Ridge comes to and end on a saddle where the Moto trail branches off on the right and the High Noon trail continues straight ahead. Moto leads back toward the trailhead while the High Noon trail makes connections with Pucker Up, Lemon Squeezer, Tabeguache, Pet-e-Kes, Eagle's Wing and Eagle's Tail. For this post we turned around and rode the trail back the way that we came. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is grab your bike or 'Take a hike'.
