Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Pitkin

Ring Dike Drive

Ring Dike DrivePhoto: Mshuang2, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.7 mi
distance
86 ft
climb
8,190 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun–Sep
best months

Ring Dike Drive is a short, easy cross-country ski route on Bureau of Land Management land in Colorado's Gunnison Field Office, about 0.65 miles long with a total elevation gain of 86 feet. The route starts at about 8,096 feet and reaches a high point of 8,190 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 0.22 miles in, where the grade reaches 6 percent. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Gunnison show January highs around 26°F with lows near -6°F, while July highs reach about 80°F. That station sits roughly 568 feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the drive run a little cooler. The Corridor, The Slot and Best Crack Wall climbing areas all sit about 0.1 miles away, and the Ring Dike mountain biking route is about 0.4 miles off. For an overnight stay, Gunnison KOA is about 2.3 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Gunnison KOA

    Campground

    Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Pie-Zan's

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Pitkin

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Ring Dike Drive

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      26° / -6°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      30° / 1°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 14°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      56° / 23°

      5 wet

    5. May

      66° / 30°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 36°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 44°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 43°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 34°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 22°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 11°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / -3°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gunnison 3sw, CO, 2.4 mi away at 7,622 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors