Colorado Off-Road Trails

Minnehaha Basin is an extremely scenic in-and-out trail that provides epic vista views like many others in the Silverton area. Mining history along the road is very prevalent, and this is the only trail in the area that allows you to look down on the Gold King Mine, the epicenter of the 2015 EPA wastewater disaster. This road has three branches making for a fun-filled day of exploring.

Missouri Gulch Road, part of the Rainbow Falls Trail Network, offers a charming drive with its rolling terrain and brief scenic moments. This trail is especially magical when the plentiful aspens turn golden in the fall, making it a perfect spot for leaf peeping. Enjoy a peaceful and visually rewarding journey through Colorado’s natural beauty on Missouri Gulch Road.

Richmond Hill is an extremely scenic road near Aspen with big mountain views and a picturesque landscape. The road is only open to highway-legal vehicles and has no seasonal closure dates, but it does become impassable due to snow. The northern half of the road traverses thick evergreen forests with rolling, bumpy, and rutty climbs that can be steep and muddy. The southern half travels mostly above treeline, topping out at 12,308 feet, with longer, steeper, and rockier terrain of grades as high as 22 degrees and rocks as large as grapefruits. The route is generally 1 to 2 vehicles wide with plenty of room to pass oncoming vehicles and no narrow shelf road sections to contend with. The bumpy terrain makes the drive slow, so expect the road to take 1 to 2 hours in one direction to complete.

Dispersed camping is thin along the route, with only around a dozen sites along the entire length. Be aware that the road crosses patches of private property where camping is never allowed.

This trail is suitable for stock high-clearance vehicles with low-range 4x4 gearing.

Situated in Colorado's Pike National Forest, Manchester Creek Road showcases nature's recovery from the 2002 Hayman Burn and what the forest looked like, offering a captivating drive. Alongside the light off-roading challenges, the trail is a portal to an extensive network of off-road adventures, perfect for thrill-seekers. Its proximity to serene camping spots makes it an ideal base for an overnight wilderness experience. In short, Manchester Creek Road combines poignant history, off-roading, and camping into a unique Colorado adventure.

Two Brothers Road is an easy offroad trail that connects the old mountain mining towns of Idaho Springs and Central City. If you are one that shys away from the highways and would rather take the dirt roads, this is a trail you need to consider. Take a trip through history and revisit the early 1900s structures that once made up the blossoming network of mines surrounding "The Richest Square Mile on Earth".

Tucked into the high country north of Leadville, Slide Lake is a quiet backcountry escape where a rough forest road winds through dense lodgepole pines, open mountain meadows, and occasional views across the surrounding peaks. The drive feels increasingly remote as it climbs toward the edge of the Holy Cross Wilderness, ending just a short hike from a secluded alpine lake beneath Homestake Peak. More peaceful than extreme, Slide Lake is memorable for its combination of rocky four-wheel-drive travel, cool mountain solitude, and the promise of a beautiful lake waiting just beyond the end of the road.

Located only minutes from downtown Leadville, Mount Zion is a scenic, high-alpine trail providing incredible views of the nearby towering mountains. This off-road trail is a great half-day adventure providing viewpoints that cannot be seen by any other trail in the area. Several campsites and good cellular service make this a popular location for mountain boondocking.

Only 10 minutes from Silverton, Cunningham Gulch is a popular camping, hiking, and fishing trail that follows Cunningham Creek past many old mines and mill sites, including the Highland Mary Mill, and cascading waterfalls to the bottom of Spencer Basin. This trail offers stunning high-alpine valley views and is rich in mining history. This fantastic backcountry trail is one of the quickest ways to access the Continental Divide Trail and incredible fishing at Highland Mary Lakes.

Quarry Road is a hidden treasure in the Rainbow Falls Trail Network near Woodland Park, Colorado. It's a moderate trail with a significant long rock climb challenge. This climb tests new and experienced drivers, but it's easier than the nearby Mini-Moab on Flake Road. Once you conquer the climb, you're rewarded with a nice drive through the Colorado forest with scenic views of the Front Range and Pikes Peak. With challenges and beauty, Quarry Road is a must-visit for off-roaders.

This is an easy trail for drivers of all kinds who’d like a nice drive in the woods. Off of Hall Valley Road, Beaver Creek offers a little challenge for stock vehicles and some amazing views of the forest throughout including Beaver Creek and its natural dams, and connects to the network of trails in the Jefferson Lake area.

If you would like to run Webster Pass (FS 285.181) and/or Red Cone (FS 565), then this is a an alternaitve place to camp though can be very busy with small vehicle traffic.

Pass Creek Pass is a useful route that allows one to save time traveling from one side of the Sangre De Cristo mountains to the other. Using this route saves about 30 minutes and around 32 miles from Hermit Pass to the Blanca Peak trailhead by not going through Walsenburg. Pass Creek Pass is as beautiful as it is useful. It is a great route for photography and scenic views of mountain ranges and rock formations. Make sure to pay attention to private property signs as they are on both sides of the road for almost the entire route; this does not hinder any of the scenic views. Some other sights include geology, old structures, and the town of Malachite that you pass through on the northern side.

Coal Canyon is a one of a kind trail that takes you to an incredible viewpoint on the very edge of the Bookcliffs high above the town of Palisade, Colorado. With several different routes and viewpoints, you will be at a loss for words at the picturesque views of the Grand Valley. Don't forget to check out the many different coal seams paralleling your route through the wash on your way up to the Bookcliff edge. Several side trails can be explored and offer plenty of recreation opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. This trail is located in the southern portion of the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Area, and it is not uncommon to see wild horses roaming around. This trail is ideal for any 4wd vehicle in dry conditions but can become extremely treacherous and impassible when wet. This trail is seasonally closed each winter to protect wildlife.

Phantom Road meanders through the lush forests and rolling hills of the Rocky Mountains, presenting an awe-inspiring backdrop of Pikes Peak and the expansive valleys below. The route is a harmonious blend of tranquility and adventure, with peaceful woodland stretches interrupted by the excitement of navigating whoop-de-dos and ruts that demand a driver's attention. Seeing areas recovering from past wildfires adds a sobering yet inspiring element, highlighting nature's resilience and cyclical renewal. As a relatively accessible trail with varying features, Phantom Road is the perfect playground for newcomers seeking their first off-road adventure and experienced drivers yearning for a scenic and engaging drive.

Where else can a stock truck take you above 13,000 feet in under an hour, into a granite amphitheater surrounded on three sides by 1,000-foot walls? Nestled between Mount Lincoln, Mount Cameron, and Mount Bross, the Mount Lincoln 4WD trail once served the rich mining operations that tunneled deep into these three 14ers. Today, it offers a short, easy drive with extraordinary high-alpine views.

Historic Waldorf Wagon Road, off Leavenworth Creek Road, offers a distinctive off-roading experience in Colorado's lush wilderness. Its claim to fame comes in two major water crossings, an exciting feature that's a rarity in Colorado's trail network. As you navigate these aquatic challenges, you're enveloped by dense forests, creating a stimulating and soothing environment. This trail is not just a joyride but a trip down memory lane, carrying the legacy of its wagon road history and adding a fascinating historical dimension to your adventure. With its blend of natural allure, water-based excitement, and historical charm, Waldorf Wagon Road ensures a unique and unforgettable journey.

Brown’s Pass is situated in the Pike/San Isabel National Forest a few miles south of Fairplay, Colorado. This area of South Park is remote and far less traveled than other passes, making it a desirable destination for weekend overland exploration. Brown’s Pass features moderate climbs and descents, with several connected roads providing spectacular views. Brown's Pass closes seasonally each year from January 1st to June 15th.

Platte River Road is located to the west of the popular Rampart Range trail system and travels along a beautiful section of the South Platte River ending near Buffalo Creek, CO.  This portion of the Platte River Road is used primarily for traveling, and there aren’t very many areas to park or pull-off.  You can swim and fish in this area, but you have to get there early to grab one of the few parking spots available on this section of the road.  North Platte River Road is a primarily graded dirt road with a few narrow sections, only big enough for one vehicle at a time.

The southernmost portion of this road connects directly to South Platte River Road, which takes you deeper into Pike National Forest and connects you to a plethora of hiking/biking trails, campsites, fishing spots, offroad trails, and even canoe trail systems.

There aren't any camping sites on this road, but you can find plenty in the surrounding areas.

Prospect Hill Road is an easy 4WD trail that runs along the southern edge of the Golden Horseshoe. This scenic trail offers some great views of Breckenridge across the valley as well as some great historic mining sites and cabins. Prospect Hill's eastern trailhead is in Lincoln Park Meadow, the hub of the Golden Horseshoe, thus connecting to several other trails and offering some epic camping. It is part of the Golden Horseshoe trail system which covers over 8000 acres between the Swan River and French Gulch. The area has a rich history and is dotted with countless mines, mills, and cabins dating from the late 1870s through the 1950s.