Colorado Trails

Green Ridge Trail

5/5 (13 reviews)

Red Feather Lakes, Colorado (Larimer County)

Last Updated: 07/26/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Camping

Forest

Mud

Scenic

Water

Standing water and mud await your journey on this 15-mile trek through the high-country forest near Cameron Pass in the upper Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins, Colorado. Even during the driest parts of the summer season, water holes with 36” of standing water are abundant and common. Early season off-roaders will find water even deeper when the trail opens after the spring snowmelt. This is not a technical trail but the risk of getting stuck and actually using that winch for more than a conversational piece is real. Find a like-minded off-roader to go with you and hit the trail for a day of beautiful scenery with a drive through an adult off-road water park. Green Ridge Trail is the third leg of the three-trail loop known as the “Mud Loop.” Off-roaders will combine Sevenmile Road, Bald Mountain (USFS517), and Green Ridge Trail as a day-long trifecta where you will experience a diet full of rocks, water, and mud. Green Ridge Trail is, by far, the wettest and muddiest in this loop that starts and ends in the Poudre Canyon.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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Tim Palmer

Official Crew

Trail Navigation

Green Ridge Trail is a very fun and adventurous trail that travels north along the Green Ridge from Poudre Canyon to the Deadman vicinity near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. The trail has numerous water crossings with some of them exceeding 36" in depth. The route remains in the trees except where it passes through a couple of meadows. Significant water is always present along the trail which becomes more easily passable later in the season. With the water comes mud. Rocks on this trail can be 18" in diameter with some hidden in the water features. Because this trail travels through a remote mountain area without cell phone service and there is a significant risk of getting stuck on this trail, recovery equipment is a must for this trail. For safety reasons, don't run this trail alone. Green Ridge Trail, when combined with Bald Mountain (USFS 517) and Sevenmile Road, is known as the "Mud Loop". The Green Ridge Trail leg is the most difficult and could be problematic for beginning off-roaders and stock vehicles.

1. Trailhead Green Ridge Trail (0 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 1: Trailhead Green Ridge Trail

Green Ridge Trail begins off a small parking area on the east edge of the Laramie River Valley Road. This parking area is a great place to air-down for the adventure. A USFS pit toilet is conveniently located here as well. If there are not too many vehicles parked in this lot, a truck towing a trailer could easily park or turn around in this lot.

2. USFS #177C Intersection - Veer Right (0.56 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 2: USFS #177C Intersection - Veer Right

Veer right. This spur that intersects from the left is marked with the typical USFS road marker. It is a short dead-end route that has opportunities for rustic, dispersed camping. Standing water is commonly found along this trail so choose your camping spot carefully. With all the water during the summer months, mosquitoes found here resemble small birds.

3. Take Left Path (1.31 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 3: Take Left Path

Stay left. Here you will come across what appears to be an intersection. This non-designated route is a muddy bog. Although it is tempting the "play in the mud", there are plenty of designated places to splash through mud and muck. Please Stay The Trail.

4. Rocky Mud Hole - Continue Straight (1.53 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 4: Rocky Mud Hole - Continue Straight

The first obstacle along this trail is a muddy watering hole. This is the first of many others to come. During the dry season, which is late summer or early fall, this bog is about 36" deep. Although this bog has a fairly solid bottom, there are large rocks hidden under the water's surface. This is not the place to make a big splash. Go slow and crawl your way through this obstacle.

5. USFS #177B Intersection - Veer to the Left (1.74 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 5: USFS #177B Intersection - Veer to the Left

Veer to the left. Off to the right is a 3/4 mile long spur that wanders back and dead-ends at Twin Lakes. Quiet, secluded, and off the beaten path, fly fishing is a great activity to pass the time at these high mountain lakes. Dispersed camping back here will give you the peace and quiet you have been seeking.

6. The Trench (1.92 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 6: The Trench

Veer right. The left path is officially closed by the US Forest Service. This is known as The Trench. At one time, this was the most difficult obstacle on any trail in the area. This was closed because of resource damage. The Trench is deep with thick, sticky mud and very large boulders. Unfortunately, many in the area teardown the road closed signs and still attempt passage through The Trench. Please protect our trails and respect the designated roads. Please Stay the Trail. The proper path can be found to the right through the trees and around The Trench.

7. Meadow View Twin Lakes (2.72 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 7: Meadow View Twin Lakes

Continue straight. This is a large meadow opening just to the west of the Twin Lakes. Looking off to the west, the 12,123 ft. Cameron Peak, part of the Rawah Wilderness, can be seen in the distance. Dispersed camping is popular nearby this meadow, especially during the hunting season.

8. Water Pit - Continue Straight (4.35 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 8: Water Pit - Continue Straight

Continue straight. Like most of the water obstacles along Green Ridge Trail, there is no by-pass here. This water pit has a solid and firm bottom and ranges from 24"-36" deep depending on the time of the year.

9. Rocky Climb (5.85 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 9: Rocky Climb

Continue straight. Not everything along Green Ridge Trail is wet and muddy. Here is a rocky climb typical for back roads in the Roosevelt National Forest. This is not a technical climb, but some of the rocks range from 12"-18". If you brought a stock vehicle this far, please choose a careful path to avoid banging up the undercarriage of your ride. Dispersed camping in this area tends to be drier, but options are few in the thick forest.

10. Watering Hole (8 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 10: Watering Hole

Continue straight, no bypass for this water obstacle. This is the deepest of the water obstacles along the road. Although the water is deep, there is a solid and rocky bottom to this watering hole. The water depth is more than 36" here. During the dry season, the water will flow over the bumper of a stock height vehicle. This will test if your vehicle is water-tight or not. Getting water into your air-intake will be harmful to your engine. This is also a bad place to make a big splash.

11. USFS #177A Intersection - Go Right (12.09 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 11: USFS #177A Intersection - Go Right

Veer to the right. To the left/north is USFS 177A which connects to USFS Road #319. Many people call this Green Ridge Road. It is an easy path that will lead to Deadman Road and can be used as an early exit from Green Ridge Trail. USFS Road #319 is a graded, gravel road that is dry and free from obstacles. If you've had enough water and mud, taking this road might be for you. If you are doing the "Mud Loop" (Green Ridge Trail, Bald Mountain, and Seven Mile Road), then veer right to continue.

12. Trail Ends at Bald Mountain Road (15.1 mi)

Green Ridge Trail - Waypoint 12: Trail Ends at Bald Mountain Road

Green Ridge Trail ends at its intersection with Bald Mountain (USFS 517). At this point, you are near the western edge of Bald Mountain Road. A turn to the left/west will take you to USFS #319 and onto Deadman Road. A turn to the right/east will put you onto Bald Mountain Road with all the rocky sections ahead. There are a couple of bailout options a few miles up on Bald Mountain Road. The area around the trail's end offers many ample dispersed camping opportunities but tends to be heavily used by ATVs and side-by-sides. Dispersed camping along Roaring Creek Road and Deadman Road are far more popular and can accommodate larger groups.

Trail Reviews

5/5 (13)

Alexander Solon

100

Temporary Closure

Rated 5/5

Visited: 09/14/2023

Closed gate at beginning of trail

Trevor M Broersma

500

Open

Visited: 07/19/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Great trail with fun mud holes. We had a lot of jeeps in a group ride and it was good day of wheeling.

Matt

1000

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 09/25/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

I drove Green Ridge from north to south on Sunday, 25 Sept., 2022. It's open all the way through now. Most of the trail was in good condition. It get's a little thready between Laramie Lake and the top of the ridge, through the fire. There's some low hanging branches (well, less now LOL) and the 2-track is just getting beat back in. The water holes were all fine, not too deep for my Xterra and almost all of them have a solid bottom. I did burry the Xterra up to the body in an optional mud hole at waypoint 11, so be prepared if you try for that one. No pics, we were busy driving. In the conditions that are out there right now I don't know if I'd give this a 5, more like a 4 to 4.5, but I'm sure it gets harder with more water on the trail and deeper water holes.

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

47250

Temporary Closure

Visited: 06/22/2022

Green Ridge Trail remains closed by order of the USFS because of fire damage from the Cameron Peak fire in 2020. There is no estimate on when the area will re-open to the public.

Todd

Official Crew

117100

Seasonal Closure

Visited: 12/01/2021

Closed for the season! See you in 2022!

Green Ridge Trail

Trail Information

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Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead Green Ridge Trail (0 mi)

2. USFS #177C Intersection - Veer Right (0.56 mi)

3. Take Left Path (1.31 mi)

4. Rocky Mud Hole - Continue Straight (1.53 mi)

5. USFS #177B Intersection - Veer to the Left (1.74 mi)

6. The Trench (1.92 mi)

7. Meadow View Twin Lakes (2.72 mi)

8. Water Pit - Continue Straight (4.35 mi)

9. Rocky Climb (5.85 mi)

10. Watering Hole (8 mi)

11. USFS #177A Intersection - Go Right (12.09 mi)

12. Trail Ends at Bald Mountain Road (15.1 mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Tim Palmer

Green Ridge Trail

Trail Information

Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Recommended Vehicle:

Concerns:

Summary:

Community Consensus

1 votes

1 votes

0 votes

Mandatory

Optional

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Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead Green Ridge Trail (0 mi)

2. USFS #177C Intersection - Veer Right (0.56 mi)

3. Take Left Path (1.31 mi)

4. Rocky Mud Hole - Continue Straight (1.53 mi)

5. USFS #177B Intersection - Veer to the Left (1.74 mi)

6. The Trench (1.92 mi)

7. Meadow View Twin Lakes (2.72 mi)

8. Water Pit - Continue Straight (4.35 mi)

9. Rocky Climb (5.85 mi)

10. Watering Hole (8 mi)

11. USFS #177A Intersection - Go Right (12.09 mi)

12. Trail Ends at Bald Mountain Road (15.1 mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Tim Palmer

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