In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination network node, each routing arc comprising a first network node as a first end of the routing arc, a second network node as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network node configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination node via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc, at least one of the first, second, or third network nodes are implemented as a ring-based network having a prescribed ring topology; and establishing loop-free label switched paths for reaching the destination network node via the routing arcs of the loop-free routing topology, the label switched paths independent and distinct from any attribute of the prescribed ring topology.