Colorado Off-Road Trails

Mount Herman Road provides direct access to Rampart Range Road from the I-25 corridor. It climbs through the forest amid enormous boulders and precipitous hillsides. There are spectacular views of Pikes Peak and the valley below. Spend some time at one of the numerous viewing areas or hike among the curious rock formations.

California Pass is a historic four-wheel-drive road near Silverton, Colorado. It began with a purpose - to find and transport gold. Today, it is a pleasurable route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains with abundant, deeply rich, and colorful wildflowers. From the top of California Pass at 12,963 feet, look northwest for a fantastic view of the shimmering aquamarine Lake Como. The eastern side of California Pass offers glimpses of one of the most booming mining areas Colorado had to offer in the late 1800s, with the well-preserved ghost town of Animas Forks and the Frisco Mill. It is a perfect trail to combine with so many other trails that southwestern Colorado is known for and for anyone looking to get comfortable driving on shelf roads for the first time.

Devil's Canyon off-road trail is one of the gems close to Denver, Colorado. The trail is relatively easy and gives you a great taste of what mountain terrain is like in that low 10,000-foot level ecosystem. You experience dense forests, mixed with pine and aspen, which are all intermittently separated by open grassy areas making for great dispersed camping opportunities. This is a great four-wheel drive trail for anyone seeking an easier trail with mountain scenery, or merely a quick adventure.

Colorado is known for high-elevation roads with stunning views. Trails like Black Bear Pass and Red Cone are obviously on that list. And Saxon Mountain deserves to be right there with them. With an exciting ascent, historical significance, and picturesque mountain scenery, Saxon Mountain is a must-visit for experienced wheelers. The trail features a continuous 4x4 climb with 20 steep switchbacks and a 3,00-foot elevation gain, culminating at an 11,500-foot summit. Along the route, you'll encounter rocky and exposed shelf roads that are both thrilling and challenging, even for the most seasoned drivers. The views are magnificent, but don't take your eyes off the trail.

Mount Baldy Road follows a quiet, forested path toward the edge of timberline, where narrow mountainsides and sweeping views create a surprisingly remote adventure close to the city. The journey becomes increasingly dramatic as the trees thin, the road traces exposed slopes, and broad vistas open across the Front Range and plains below. With its combination of solitude, shelf-road excitement, and lofty scenery beneath Almagre Mountain, Mount Baldy delivers the feeling of venturing deep into Colorado’s backcountry without traveling far from home.

Yansing Gulch, previously known as Chinaman Gulch, is a very popular, difficult rock crawling trail ideal for testing the limits of modified vehicles. Minimal snow to the area makes it a great location for winter wheeling. There are many obstacles and rocks to play on along this 4WD trail, many of which provide multiple lines from intermediate to extremely difficult. Although not very scenic, the occasional views of the Collegiate Peaks are astonishing. This trail is a great trail for groups as the main obstacles provide enough room for vehicles to pull out of the way and watch other vehicles attempt the obstacle.

Sugarloaf Mountain, one of the closest offroad trails to Boulder, offers stunning views of the snowcapped Rockies to the west. The drive gradually winds through aspen and lodgepole pine forests with lovely views of the area's valleys and gulches. The hills burst with gold color when the aspen trees transform in the Fall. This captivating journey offers adventurers a glimpse into the area's rich mining history. Originally part of a narrow-gauge railroad bed that served the mining communities of the late 19th century, this trail now beckons hikers, bikers, and explorers to traverse its scenic track.

San Juan County Road 2 is a historic and scenic route in the San Juan Mountains above the charming mining town of Silverton, Colorado. The picturesque road takes you through stunning and rugged terrain en route to the well-preserved ghost town of Animas Forks. Prepare to immerse yourself in towering mountain peaks and lush alpine meadows and journey back in time to a once bustling hub of mining activity. San Juan County Road 2 is a unique and rewarding adventure for those who appreciate history and the great outdoors.

Dakan Road is a very pleasant trail in the Pike National Forest near Castle Rock that runs from Perry Park Road to Rampart Range Road. In recent years, the forest service has done significant work on Dakan Road to establish designated campsites and install boundaries to help protect the natural features, as this area sees heavy traffic during the summer months. There are a few tremendous views of the front range along the trail, and a handful of incredible rock features the general area is known for. Camping is plentiful along the trail. However, it is subject to fees and reservations, so stop at the self-serve pay station or book via Recreation.gov.

Located in the Arapahoe National Forest, west of the town of Lyons, Miller Rock is a moderately trafficked, out-and-back trail that will lead you to the Miller Rock rock formation, the South St. Vrain Creek, and the remains of an old sawmill site. The three branches of this trail system offer users different options from a moderate drive through the thick forest to some great camping and hiking locations, the ability to test your rig's flex and capability over rock and washout obstacles, and also the option of fording a creek or taking a dip in the cold creek waters. This trail system is entirely landlocked by private property on all sides. Thus it is an out and back trail system.

Please note, there is no parking for trailers or unlicensed vehicles at the start of this trail.

Following a 4% railroad grade through the Roosevelt National Forest, Rollins Pass East is a beautiful and scenic drive above timberline that offers endless views of the Continental Divide, access to beautiful fishing spots, excellent hiking opportunities, and abundant dispersed camping. This historic route long predates the railroad, with an ancient hunting and migratory history dating back 3,000-10,000 years ago.

If you are a novice driver looking to challenge your skills or perhaps a seasoned offroader looking for a scenic Sunday drive with expectations of wildflowers and scenic vistas, look no further than Old Flowers Road. This trail provides a mountain passage that connects the Stove Prairie community to Pingree Park. It meanders through a section of the Roosevelt National Forest, known by locals as High Park, with a long history of mountain ranching.

While you will encounter many varieties of flowers and what seems to be a never-ending supply of them, the trail itself is named after Jacob Flowers, a settler of the area, born July 4, 1827. In 1879, Jacob constructed a wagon road in rough terrain over the nearby mountains to North Park, which is still called "Old Flowers Road." To get to the trail, you will pass through private property, including the historic Stove Prairie Ranch. This active, rustic mountain ranch is filled with many stone buildings and homes that are still in use today by the owners and ranch hands. You will be treated to other old homestead cabins and spectacular views along the way. In 2012, the High Park Fire, ignited by a lightning strike, began south of Old Flowers Road. The fire devastated 87,000 acres, or 136 sq. miles, of private and National Forest land, burning over 250 homes. Old Flowers Road will take you through the core of the burn area in the National Forest.

If someone told you they had a day to explore the mountains in their 4WD vehicle within a stone's throw from Denver and wanted a bit of challenge and fantastic scenery, Barbour Fork definitely should be on the shortlist. This trail has just about everything you'd want in a trail. As you traverse this rolling hillside, expect heart-racing obstacles, off-camber sections, deep ruts, and big rocks. If camping is your thing, Barbour Fork provides top-notch sites with established fire pits. Since it wasn't easy to get past these obstacles, you might have the entire place to yourself. Factor in the vast swaths of Aspen trees; this trail might be your go-to high-country fall leaf-peeping zone. Either bring the tent and stay the night or leave in the morning or even afternoon and still be home in time for dinner. Barbour Fork is one of those trails close to Denver that has it all!

Hackett Gulch is a well-known trail in the Wildcat Canyon area near Divide, CO, and the most popular of "The Gulch Trails." The trail is notable for its impressive scenery and challenging obstacles. While the Hayman Fire of 2002 stripped much of the tree cover, it provides a unique view of the Colorado Mountains, adding to the trail's epic feel. The dense collection of rocky obstacles, including a climb with features reminiscent of Moab's slickrock climbing, draws scores of Wheelers from all over the Front Range in search of a challenge. While the obstacles make this a local rite of passage, the scenery offers an adventure for everyone, making Hackett Gulch an excellent trail for all levels of off-roaders.

Tucked into the forested mountains just west of Colorado Springs, Eagle Rock is one of the Front Range’s most memorable rock-crawling adventures. The trail climbs through a relentless rhythm of obstacle after obstacle, threading tight, bouldery choke points where dense pines press close on both sides and create an almost tunnel-like atmosphere. Eagle Rock challenges more than your skid plates, suspension articulation, ground clearance, and tire traction. It also demands patience, throttle control, and careful line selection from the driver. If you are looking for one of the best rock-crawling trails along the Front Range, Eagle Rock is sure to live up to expectations.

Situated in the Arapaho National Forest's Clear Creek District, Loch Lomond offers high alpine lakes, fishing, wildflowers, and great dispersed camping, all within one hour from Denver, Colorado. This trail can be crowded on the weekends, but you can expect to have it all to yourself during the week.

Trekking along the western edge of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, Taylor Pass is an extremely fun, fairly technical, and breathtakingly scenic trail used to connect Taylor Park and Aspen. Winding its way through tight, rocky, and rugged terrain, this trail boasts stunning vistas of alpine meadows, dense forests, and towering peaks. The variety of terrain and views are sure to entertain everyone from the first-timer to the extreme offroad enthusiast.

Just north of Lake George, Colorado, China Wall is a favorite spot for off-roaders in the Colorado Front Range. Part of the more extensive China Wall Trail System, it connects with Forest Service Trail 204 and Box Road to form a loop perfect for a day of adventure. This trail offers a mix of challenging rock crawls and smoother sections, making it a great place to see what your vehicle can do. As you tackle the obstacles, you'll enjoy fabulous views of the Tarryall Mountains, adding a beautiful backdrop to your adventure. China Wall is a must-try for anyone who loves off-roading and wants a memorable day on the trails.

Boreas Pass (pronounced "bor-ee-yus") follows the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad bed. As it was originally designed for a railroad, the route is gentle and smooth, with no climbs steeper than a gradual 3%. Some have nicknamed it "Boringest Pass". Besides the road itself being a bit boring, it does have incredible camping opportunities and numerous hiking trailheads. The road is popular with cyclists and distracted tourists. Stay alert, be cautious, and courteous.