Trail Description
E-bikes NOT allowed on Ridge Loop
Ridge Loop connects the Swampy Lakes Sno Park to the junction of the Flagline Tie and the Swampy/Dutchman connector (where you can access a great photo opportunity at Vista Butte).
The trail is often used as part of a fun, high-country loop ride from Swampy Sno Park. Like other trails in the area, Ridge Loop is really prone to winter deadfall — so early season rides often mean climbing over or around lots of trees. Check out our post about clearing deadfall if you’re handy with a saw and want to help keep the route clear.
This trail is maintained by Central Oregon Trail Alliance.
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Can someone point out to me the “fun, high-country loop”, from swampy that the description mentions..
Thanks
this loop. https://bendtrails.org/trail/northfork-southfork-loop/ but start at swampy instead of Skyliners. Note the loops as shown is closed currently as Middle flagline is closed for elk calving till mid August.
There’s no specific loop per se… but Ridge Trail to Flagline Tie to Lower Flagline back to Swampy Sno Park is a good one. Once Middle Flagline Opens (Aug. 15) you can take Swampy/Dutchman up to Middle Flagline and back down for a bigger loop option.
You aren’t naming the trails correctly from their original ski trail designations. Ridge Loop doesn’t connect to Flagline Tie. It meets the Butte Trail then descends to the Swampy Loop. See: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd533720.pdf
As you already mentioned, you could drop the skier’s Ridge Loop and include this segment as part of the Swampy-Dutchman trail which is the USFS designation.
About 3/4 mi up, snow patches begin. About 2.4 mi up, snow becomes deep and unable to pass. Didn’t quite make it to the Flagline Tie section.
As if Oct 14 the trail is clear of trees. It had over 30 trees down after the big wind storm
Just a couple of tiny snow patches that will likely be gone before anyone reads this.
Any deadfall? Specifically interested if there was any new stuff below the cutoff because prior to the storm it had been clear. Thx
Nope, nothing on ridge loop. I think I mentioned one on Vista Butte and a couple on Lower Flagline. Still could be something on Flagline Tie under the snow but it’d be minimal.
Freeze thaw mud and patches of frozen snow/ice (all rideable) just for a few hundred yards towards the top near Flagline Tie to the start of Vista Butte trail. Otherwise perfect down to Swampy Snopark. Two small trees down between Flagline tie and Vista intersection.
Thanks for report on trees. Going by Bendtrails descriptions the section between Flag Tie and Vista is considered to be part of Swampy/Dutchman connector
strange factoid: did you all realize that ridge loop is the ski trail name and that the actual trail is swampy dutchman from Ducthman all the way to swampy? :)
Cleared this morning.
18″ tree across the trail about 1/4 mile below the Flagline tie jct
All clear. Thanks for the report
No dead fall and only 2′ of snow that’ll be gone by this afternoon.
Talked to someone on the trail that said there were about 12 trees down in this section.
I ran this trail on Nov. 6th and there were over 12 trees down across trail. No big or complicated deadfall just more trees than I would want to carry my bike over.
Went out to clear these but they were already taken out. Thanks gnomes!
6″-8″ tree down after the first climb out of swampy sno park. Trails are perfect!
3-5″ new snow from Swampy to Flagline tie. Perfect for the fatbike. Starting to congeal and melt by the end of my ride with standing water near Swampy snopark.
Clear of deadfall and snow, go get some!
Cleared of deadfall this afternoon. No snow or puddles. Riding great!
All clear. It’s a little sandy in spots but no worse than mid-season in any typical year.
Rode up there today. At least 1/3 of the snow that was on Ridge Loop yesterday was gone today.
Only about 50 yards worth of snow shortly before you get to Flagline Tie (coming from Swampy). But there is one downed tree about .25mi from Flagline Tie.
Lot’s of snow patches still, some small and rideable but plenty that will force most people off the bike.
Snow gets pretty deep about two thirds of the way to flagline tie. The tie is still covered with snow and flagline to swampy is patchy at best. Lots of hiking here.
From Swampy TH, Ridge is riding well and no deadfall. You can continue up Vista Butte, which is also clear of deadfall, but deadfall immediately greets you towards Swampy/Dutchman or Flagline Tie.
Lots of deadfall uphill after the intersection of Ridge trail and Butte trail, however you can take that unmapped right to drop down to the Swampy loop unimpeded.
Trail closure has been lifted as of today. Thanks FS! Gary Reynolds has been active logging out deadfall, but I don’t believe this is clear as of yet.