We use essential cookies to make our website work. We also set additional cookies that help us improve your experience, help keep you safe, perform analytics, and serve relevant ads. These additional cookies will be set only if you click ‘Accept’ below. For more information about the cookies we use, or to change your preferences, please visit our Cookies Policy.
route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
+ 135

Hawes: Red Mountain Rush Loop

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
8.57 mi
1,359 ft
A true crowd-pleaser loop at Hawes.

Red Mountain Rush has become one of the most sought-after descents in the Hawes Trail System. This ripping downhill drops off the top of one of the highest ridges in the mountain range, rolling downhill along a descending ridgeline.

The singletrack follows the spine of the ridge for a considerable distance. If you can pull your eyes away from the undulating rock-filled trail, you'll enjoy incredible views of the surrounding mountain and desert. But the trail demands total focus, as the track is delightfully narrow.

While not the most technical trail in the Hawes Trail System, Red Mountain Rush mixes fun flow with challenging tech. Along the descent, you'll get to enjoy flowy rollers, jumps, rough rock gardens, and small ledge drops. The trail tread itself consists of loos decomposed granite, which adds another layer of challenge if you're really trying to rip into the downhill at top speed.

The technical difficulty ranks at the lower end of Severe, but the optional features can quickly ratchet the challenge up a notch!

**Route Options**

The loop mapped here accesses Red Mountain Rush from the east via L'Alpe d'Huez climbing trail before reaching an incredibly-beautiful trail that runs along the high ridge. Known as the Goat Trail, this traverse is unbelievably gorgeous, but it's still quite technical and challenging.

It is possible to access Red Mountain Rush from the west by climbing the Cactus Garden trail, but Cactus Garden is a tough climb that will force most riders to hike-a-bike at least a few sections.

Once done with Red Mountain Rush, you can wrap up this loop in an efficient manner as shown, but a quick lap on Big Sister is a popular addition! Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

1 mi
1,600 ft1,800 ft2,000 ft2,200 ft2,400 ft2,600 ft1.0 mi2.0 mi3.0 mi4.0 mi5.0 mi6.0 mi7.0 mi8.0 mi

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
BullDog up2 HiRidge**1.80 mi600 ft6.3%
Rushin till Noon6.79 mi-1,053 ft-0.8%
Alpe Full Meal Deal - Lance’s to Iron Goat/Goat1.42 mi548 ft7.1%
Alpe Goat Rush4.26 mi-1,063 ft-2.3%
L'Alpe Rushin' at High Noon6.26 mi-1,047 ft-1.0%
Riding to your funeral0.90 mi335 ft7.0%
Up the Alpes1.15 mi492 ft8.0%
Only Shade in the Desert to top of Alps0.31 mi154 ft9.3%
New Death Zags to Iron Goat Split0.28 mi171 ft11.3%
Don't follow me, you wont make it...2.98 mi-1,060 ft-6.6%
New Goat West**0.37 mi-66 ft-0.5%
Red Mtn Rush-Go with the Flow!2.45 mi-1,040 ft-8.0%
Your Brakes Burnin Babe??**0.33 mi-220 ft-12.3%
Red Mtn Rush DH2.24 mi-1,050 ft-8.8%
In a Rush**1.44 mi-814 ft-10.7%
#ilovehawes-2023 Enduro Seg.2 RMR Beginner2.38 mi-1,037 ft-8.2%
Smooth now like a pack of Kools!1.14 mi-620 ft-10.2%
Rushin Flow**1.91 mi-820 ft-8.1%
Your Brakes Burnin Bro??**1.11 mi-607 ft-10.3%
Surzyn's Revenge1.71 mi-781 ft-8.6%
Get Crazy with the Cheez Wiz1.79 mi-735 ft-7.6%
Red Rush DH, Segment 20.81 mi-495 ft-11.6%
Pump that Flow**0.68 mi-236 ft-6.5%
Horse Trailer Uphill2.15 mi233 ft2.0%
Full High Horse West to East2.03 mi213 ft1.9%
Pelosi0.44 mi135 ft5.6%
Stinger to Jumping Jack0.72 mi49 ft1.0%
Sidewinder hill climb 0.44 mi49 ft2.0%
Dead Puppy0.85 mi210 ft4.5%
Jump Garden1.25 mi217 ft2.5%
La Vista0.97 mi131 ft1.2%
Grinder0.50 mi121 ft4.3%