Ruby Anthracite Trailhead

About

The Ruby Anthracite Trailhead is located in Somerset, Colorado, on the Western Slope, serving as the access point for Ruby Anthracite Trail #836. The trail begins at the end of Forest Service Road 796 off Trout Creek Road and enters the Raggeds Wilderness. The route descends through aspen forest and past beaver ponds to the edge of Ruby Anthracite Canyon. Hikers navigate a series of switchbacks down into the canyon. The trail is rated moderate to challenging, with a total distance ranging from 4.4 miles to 9.9 miles depending on the specific route segment or if the full out-and-back is completed. The typical duration is approximately 2 hours for the trailhead section or up to 5 hours and 29 minutes for the full 9.9-mile out-and-back. The trail allows hiking and leashed dogs from July through October or November. Parking is available at the trailhead. The surface is dirt, and the elevation gain is approximately 925 feet.