The trail starts from the Marvine Road and climbs Big Ridge. Once onto the ridge, the view to the southeast reveals the Marvine drainages, Rat Mountain, and the Little Marvine Peaks. Three miles from the road you drop into a saddle with Red Springs on your right about 100 yards below the trail. In addition to the aspen and sagebrush parks you've been traveling through, scattered lodgepole pine may be seen along the trail to the north. One and one-half miles beyond Red Springs, you enter a stand of lodgepole from which the Wild Cow Park Trail branches to the south.

Once past this stand of pine you enter the grassy meadows of Big Park for about two miles. Sable Point is the dominant land mass in front of you as you cross Big Park. Once again you enter the forested area which has changed from aspen and lodgepole pine to Englemann spruce and alpine fir. Nine miles from the start of the trail, you arrive at Sable Lake. From Sable Lake, the Mirror Lake trail is 3 miles to the east. The trail enters the Wilderness about 1 1/2 miles past Sable Lake where the trail starts to drop into the Mirror Creek drainage.
 

Difficulty: More Difficult
Trail Use: Moderate
Length: 9.5 miles
Elevation: Starts at 7,571 feet and ends at 9,936 feet (highest point 10,163 feet)
Elevation Gain: +2,787 feet – 426 feet = +2,361 feet
Open To: HIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING
 

Access:
• The Big Ridge Trail is located 30 miles east of Meeker.
• From Meeker, take State Highway 13 east for 1 mile.
• Where Highway 13 turns north, turn east on Rio Blanco County Road 8 for 28 miles.
• Turn south at Fritzlans Guest Ranch, cross the bridge and turn east on the Marvine Creek Road (Rio
Blanco County Road 12) for 1 mile to the Big Ridge Trailhead.
 

Important Information:
 

• THIS TRAIL IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING HIKING AND HORSEBACK RIDING.
PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.
• DOMESTIC CATTLE MAY BE GRAZING IN THE AREA.
 

PACK IT IN - PACK IT OUT!! LEAVE NO TRACE!!