Karni Mata Loop

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 2.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 7020 - 7344 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 1 hr. 30 mins. (hiking)
Trailhead: East
Fee: none
Attractions: Nice loop

The Karni Mata Loop is part of the RAT-Ridgway Area Trails system that is a few miles north of Ridgway, Colorado. The RAT trails were designed with mountain bikers in mind but they get quite a bit of use from hikers and trail runners as well. Most of the Karni Mata Loop only requires intermediate mountain bike skills but there are a few very steep downhill corners on the north end of the loop that fall into the advanced category.

Karni Mata

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 6942 - 7025 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: East
Fee: none
Attractions: Fun singletrack

Karni Mata is one of the RAT-Ridgway Area Trails located just north of Ridgway, Colorado. The trails all have a rat related naming scheme to go along with the RAT acronym for the trail system. Sticking with that theme Karni Mata refers to the Temple of Rats in India. Mountain bikers and hikers should find the trail to be easy to slightly moderate.

Gnawley Line

Rating: 
One-way Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 7189 - 7262 feet
Cellphone: 1-4 bars
Time: 10 mins.
Trailhead: County Road 10
Fee: none
Attractions: Short connector

Gnawley Line is located in the RAT-Ridgway Area Trails System near Ridgway, Colorado. The lower end of the trail begins near the point where Rattus Maximus crosses the gravel pit road. From there the trail parallels the road heading north while it travels along concealed by the pinyon and juniper tree forested hillside. Before reconnecting with the road at its upper end Gnawley Line is met by the Exterminator trail that drops off of the mountain from The Big Cheese. A short spur trail continues on the west side of the road that connects up with The Maze trail.

Squeeker

Rating: 
One-way Distance: 0.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 7146 - 7221 feet
Cellphone: 1-4 bars
Time: 5 mins.
Trailhead: County Road 10
Fee: none
Attractions: Short alternative route

Squeeker is in the RAT-Ridgway Area Trails System near Ridgway, Colorado. The short trail branches off of The Maze trail near its upper end and runs down a semi-deep wash for about a quarter mile before reconnecting to The Maze near a junction with Rattus Maximus. At one point the trail makes a steep 10 foot drop into the wash that is followed by a high banking corner as it exits. An advanced level of mountain biking skills and a courageous attitude will probably come in handy with this intimidating trail feature.