Ridgeline Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Bentonite clay becomes extremely slippery when wet. If it has rained in the last few hours, the steep sections and stairs can be treacherous — postpone or move very carefully.
There is zero shade on the ridgeline. In summer, temperatures on exposed clay can feel fifteen degrees hotter than the forecast, so avoid the midday window from June through August.
Trail Details
- 1
Hit this trail early morning or late afternoon when the low-angle light turns the banded sediment layers into a painter's palette — midday sun washes everything out to a flat gray.
- 2
Wear shoes with decent tread rather than sandals. The clay surface gets slick as ice after even light rain, and those staircase sections have no handrails in spots.
- 3
Pair this with the nearby Coal Vein Trail for a solid hour of badlands exploration without any serious mileage — the two trails together give you the full geological story of the park.
