Colorado Off-Road Trails

RIM Road offers a quintessential forest drive teeming in the Pike National Forest with abundant camping options for large groups and vehicles. Frequently visited, the trail serves as a gateway to many recreational opportunities along Rampart Range Road. Known for its welcoming yet adventurous nature, RIM Road emerges as an excellent choice for those keen on exploring the forest's heart while seeking a camping haven amidst the natural beauty of the Rampart Range area.

Mosquito Creek Road is a fun trail that is less popular than other trails in the expansive Yankee Hill trail system. It is one of the many ways to access other trails in the area, and it offers beautiful views of aspens in the fall, colorful wildflowers when they are blooming, and panoramic views of the mountains in the distance when you reach the north trailhead. There are many mining claims along the trail, some still active. The trail cuts through private property, so do not leave the trail!

Rule Ridge Road combes light off-roading with magnificent forests and landscapes. As it winds along a ridge, panoramic views of towering mountains and valleys unfold, including the grandeur of Pikes Peak and the South Platte River. The trail offers a particularly stunning spectacle during Fall when aspens growing in the visible Hayman burn area explode into vibrant colors. The trail's allure doesn't stop at its vistas. It also presents a mild wheeling adventure with steep sections and rocky spots and the opportunity to spot local wildlife like deer and elk. Rule Ridge is ideal for those seeking a less crowded, visually stunning off-roading experience in Colorado.

One could consider this the origin of the Grand Canyon. Long Draw Road leads to where the Colorado River begins its magnificent 1450-mile-long journey through the southwest United States and Mexico. Long Draw Road lies along the northern edge of the Rocky Mountain National Park at the continental divide in northcentral Colorado. Beautiful and rugged mountain views are abundant as you travel near three wilderness areas, Comanche Peak, Never Summer, and Neota Wilderness. At the road’s end, there is plenty of room to park and then hike about one-half mile to the headwaters of the Colorado River and a little further to the ghost mining town of Lulu City. Make sure you have your camera along for this adventure.

Winding through the heart of Colorado’s high country, Ute Trail is a classic Central Colorado Mountain traverse that blends sweeping scenery with approachable off-road adventure. Once used by the Ute people and early settlers, this historic route runs east to west between U.S. Highway 9 northwest of Canon City and the Arkansas River Valley near Salida. It rises steadily through ranchland, open meadows, and aspen and pine groves, eventually opening up to broad ridgelines with panoramic views of the Collegiate Peaks to the west and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness to the south.

The trail itself is a well-defined, mild gravel road, making it a perfect fit for any vehicle, including overlanders, and casual explorers looking to get off the pavement. Expect packed dirt, occasional washboard stretches, and some slight mud depending on the season. Several dispersed campsites along the route offer serene overnight options beneath the stars.

Located just south of present day Lawson, Silver Creek was a booming mining and resort community first settled in 1869. Rich silver deposits helped produce over 6 million dollars until the 1893 silver crash. By 1922, most of the mines were closed and the last inhabitants left during the depression. Today, four-wheelers and ATVs have carved hundreds of trails and routes all over the area of Silver Creek, but almost any reminder of what was once a booming mine settlement has been lost. These easy to moderate dirt routes provide ample opportunity to seek seclusion and immerse yourself in the dense forest.

Water and water-crossings highlight Silver Creek Road, which travels from the base of Owl Mountain eastward toward the Continental Divide at the edge of the Never Summer Wilderness Area. The terrain is rugged, heavily forested, and wet, but the views of the peaks in the wilderness area make this trip a worthwhile adventure. Winter ends late and begins early in this part of the high country. The trail is often saturated from the late snow melt or the typical afternoon showers during the summer. Moose sightings are common in this part of the national forest.

Located in the mountains of Uncompahgre National Forest near Ouray, Sydney Basin is yet another astonishing high alpine basin that provides epic views of some of the most pristine mountains of the San Juans. This 4wd road is slightly less traveled, especially by the rental Jeeps as it is not the easiest to find, and will test your resolve with shelf roads. Great high alpine camping can be found along this route. Combine this trail with Governor Basin to extend your day of breathtaking mountain views.

In the early summer, Eureka Gulch's four-wheel-drive road just outside Silverton, Colorado, could be likened to a make-believe land where Ireland meets Switzerland. Dark emerald green grasses with yellow wildflowers combine with jagged mountain peaks and old wooden structures jutting from its edges to create a memorable landscape. On the drive up towards Lake Emma and the infamous Sunnyside Mine, ribbons of rushing whitewater flow down the gulch. While we drive this road today for enjoyment, it was once a mining road. The mine operated from roughly 1874 to 1978. The miners had drilled tunnels under Lake Emma, and on June 4th, 1978, a Sunday, tragedy struck. The tunnels could no longer hold the weight of the lake. Lake Emma burst through, and the entire lake drained into the mine tunnels. Luckily, Sunday was the only day of the week the mine was shut down. Eureka Gulch is the perfect road for those looking for an enjoyable but tame adventure for the entire family.

Baldy Mountain Road offers the nearest and easiest trip to get epic, near-360 degree views of Breckenridge, the Ten Mile Range, and the Swan River Valley. Because of this, it is a favorite of locals and somewhat of a kept secret around Breckenridge. The trail can be crowded with hikers and mountain bikes even on weekdays. And it's not unusual to find a couple of locals in a stock Subaru taking in the sunset from the summit. Along the way, you'll pass a few times under the remains of a tram that once carried silver and lead ores from the Little Tommy mine to the Iowa Mill in the early 20th century.

Following the South Fork of the San Miguel River, South Fork Illium Road is a dirt road alternative between the tiny towns of Lime and Ophir, just west of Telluride, Colorado. The road passes through the South Fork Preserve and offers incredibly rich fall color viewing. This road is best known for being the start of Section 2 of the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route (COBDR), a mostly off-road route across the entire state of Colorado from New Mexico to Wyoming.

Black Dumps Road is a true 4WD road located approximately ten miles east of Johnson Village, known for its rocks, ruts, and seasonal mud. This area of the San Isabel National Forest, commonly referred to as “Fourmile”, contains dozens of roads and spurs that provide a broad spectrum of outdoor recreational opportunities. Black Dumps Road is noted for its high buttes, boulder-strewn meadows, and Aspen forest. It is popular among OHV users, mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians. Its remoteness, the variety of outdoor activities it invites, and rugged two-track roads are the greatest attractions to Black Dumps Road.

Hidden within Pike National Forest and an extension of Schubarth Road, Hay Creek Road East is a wonderland of diverse natural beauty and mild driving challenges. As the trail meanders downhill through a lush expanse of evergreens and aspens, drivers are led to the foot of a towering boulder outcropping, unveiling panoramic views of the valley below—a perfect spot for a memorable selfie, caution aside. Open year-round, this trail morphs into a snow-wheeler's paradise during winter. Its off-camber sections and varied elevations can turn slippery but add an extra layer of adventure, with plenty of trees offering recovery support. Hay Creek Road East is not just an off-roading trail but an all-season, all-round Colorado adventure destination.

Dead Horse Gulch is a challenging connector trail between the Aspen Ridge trail and Spiral Drive in Salida, with gorgeous views of the Arkansas Valley. It's best run downhill for the views of both the Collegiate Peaks and Sangre De Christos as you descend into Salida. The trail is mostly narrow and rocky, with several moderately difficult sections and one optional ledge obstacle that requires a good break-over angle. There are few passing places, but the trail is lightly traveled, so you are unlikely to encounter anyone coming the other way. The trail isn't recommended for full-size trucks due to a couple of narrow, off-camber shelf-road sections.

While most of the trail is unsuitable for camping, there are a handful of small dispersed campsites near both the top and bottom of the trail. More camping is available off connecting roads at the northern end. The lower part of the trail is intertwined with a network of mountain bike trails, so watch for mountain bikers and share the trail.