Blue Ribbon

The Blue Ribbon single track is a 2.5-mile trail in the Manzanita Mountain Trail System that starts on the north end near the Otero Trailhead. The south end starts off of 106 Road. Going south to north, it starts on top of a ridgeline and drops off the side of the hill with some side-hilling and several tighter switchbacks. There are several rock ledges, one of which has a big pinch in it that you have to go through. The rock ledges are a couple of feet high and there are often several in a row of intermediate difficulty. They are wider and ramped, so you can pick a good line. The trail is a pretty bumpy rocky surface the whole way with lots of loose chunky rock. The trail goes through a cool mix of forest and desert which is pretty scenic. It's a white chalky dirt that contrasts with lots of green pinyon pine and yucca. There is a nice view of the next mountain over as you are riding north. You'll drop 650 feet elevation as you head north. There are a couple of big switchbacks when you get to the bottom of the mesa and head towards Otero Canyon.