Red Ridge Trail #2
A three-mile-long, 2,500-foot dive off the north side of the mountaintop, with unobstructed views of Reef of Rocks, Oracle Ridge and Biosphere II.
Difficulty: The trail has a fairly constant grade, so it is not very eroded and doesn’t have many tall steps. However, returning to the trailhead involves a 2,500-foot climb, topping out at 8,160 feet elevation.
Current Condition (Nov. 2023): The trail could use a little brushing here and there, but it’s easy to follow as far as the creek (East Fork of Canada del Oro).
Connecting Trails and Loops: After Red Ridge Trail crosses the East Fork of Canada del Oro Creek, it arrives quickly at a T-junction. If you stay on Red Ridge Trail (which turns left and heads down the creek), you will reach a junction with the Canada del Oro Trail after 1.9 miles. Instead of turning left at the T-junction, you can turn right onto Catalina Camp Trail/East Fork Trail #401, which climbs over 1,000 feet to Dan Saddle. From Dan Saddle you can hike up Oracle Ridge to the Catalina Highway and then walk west on the highway and Ski Valley Road about one mile to your car.
Directions: Take the Catalina Highway past the Oracle Control Road. Turn right onto Ski Valley Road. The trailhead will come up on the right in about one mile. The trailhead is just an eroded pull-out, but it’s well signed.
Red Ridge Trail in Pictures…
Red Ridge is a series of knolls, each lower than the last, that are separated by brief flats
At first the trail is flanked by grass; the forest burned off in 2020. Oracle Ridge is at top right
Reef of Rocks dominates the view on the left
Near the bottom of Red Ridge there is an overstory of old trees
There is often water in the creek at the bottom of Red Ridge. Follow cairns to cross it
Sign at bottom of Red Ridge Trail, on the northeast side of the creek