Black Ridge Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Black Ridge Trail has three main access points. The Upper Liberty Cap trailhead on Rimrock Drive, the Visitor Center or by taking the CCC Trail from the Upper Monument Canyon trailhead also on Rimrock Drive. This description will be for a point-to-point featured run from the Liberty Cap trailhead to the Visitor Center.

Water is only available at the visitor center. This is a great trail for making big link-ups in the Colorado National Monument.

Head across the road from the Upper Liberty Cap trailhead and weave up the singletrack to join some old doubletrack as you run over rolling terrain on the east side of the ridge. After about two miles, you'll encounter some smoother trail through open meadows and two miles in you'll reach the CCC Trail junction. Stay left to continue on the Black Ridge Trail.

A couple of fences with steps will be encountered as you traverse the broad ridge and finally about 3.5 miles into the run you'll come to a rocky bridge that separates two canyons in the park. When you reach signs for the Fruita Dugway (unimproved trail), stay right to descend the final technical section and then 0.25 mile of dirt road to reach the visitor center.

This trail works well as an out and back of any distance, a shuttle run if someone is able to drive for you or as a way to link Monument Canyon and Liberty Cap/Ute Canyon.

Opportunities to see desert bighorn sheep.