Colorado Off-Road Trails

Beginning near Blue Mesa Reservoir on Highway 50, Rainbow Lake Road is a relatively easy out-and-back trail that climbs to an elevation of over 11,000 feet above sea level. It is a gravel road with sections that are washboard and have protruding rocks, which can make the drive pretty bumpy. 

The 13-mile trail crosses multiple land management agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Land, and the Gunnison National Forest, all of which have signage. It passes through low shrublands, dense stands of Aspen trees, and healthy Pine and Spruce forests. Between the 12th and 13th mile markers, there is a large unnamed pond and a spur trail (724.2A) that leads to Rainbow Lake, which is known for exceptional fishing.

Several spur trails and pull-offs lead to campsites, some suitable for a single rig and others wide open enough for an entire convoy. The Rainbow Lake spur offers spacious shoreline camping right on the lake. However, the parcel of Colorado State Land does not allow camping or campfires.

At the northernmost point is the Rainbow Lake Trailhead for a strenuous 10-mile hike into the West Elk Wilderness.

Rainbow Lake Road is closed to motorized vehicles from March through mid-May for wildlife protection and spring mud.

Once serving as a stagecoach route to the gold towns of Gold Park and Holy Cross City during the 1880s gold boom, Homestake Road is now a well-maintained, hard-packed dirt and gravel recreational access road. This wide dirt road winds through a glacial valley of lush meadows and thick pines, and offers an endless array of recreational activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, 4-wheeling, and non-motorized boating. The road is suitable for any vehicle, with the only concerns being the occasional washboard and pothole.

Dispersed camping along the road is restricted to designated sites only, marked with a sign and a steel fire ring. There are roughly 40 campsites along this stretch of road, ranging widely from hike-in campsites to large travel trailer sites. Some sites are suitable for just a single vehicle, while others can accommodate large groups. At 1.9 miles, there is a large OHV staging area with two fire rings, which is often used by trucks and trailers using the area to offroad for the day. If you are looking for something a little more formal, Gold Park Campground is a Forest Service-run campground located 7 miles down the road that has a bathroom and charges a nightly fee. During summer weekends, these campsites are popular and fill up fast.

The trailhead for Upper Johns Gulch is somewhat tucked away, which explains why the trail is not driven more often. Like many of the trails in the area, Upper Johns Gulch has been changed by heavy rainfall. There are two washouts that may be difficult for a lower-clearance vehicle. A stock 4WD will have no issues with this trail.

There is a large campsite about two-thirds of the way down the trail with fantastic views of Pikes Peak. The campsite is relatively flat, large enough for multiple rigs, and has an established fire ring.

The trail ends short of the MVUM map due to a large amount of downed trees. There is space to turn around and head back the way you came.

Echo Valley Road is a serene journey through the quintessential Colorado forest landscape. Situated within the vast Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, this easy dirt road immerses travelers in the tranquil embrace of nature. While its simplicity mirrors nearby trails, Echo Valley Road stands out by offering a densely forested experience, letting adventurers revel in the sights and sounds of untouched woodland. For those looking to delve deeper into the surroundings, the area presents countless opportunities for hiking and biking, ensuring Echo Valley Road is more than just a passage—it's an invitation to the heart of Colorado wilderness.

Stevens Gulch is a north-south road connecting Paonia, Colorado, to Buzzard Divide. In the northern sections, most of the road is on public land, while in the southern sections, it intermixes with private land. It travels through mostly open country, with panoramic views for most of its length. En route, anticipate maintained gravel the entire time, which makes it suitable for any high-clearance vehicle. The road is open year-round to the private land sections and seasonally closed in the north.

Surprisingly for its distance, you won't find an abundance of camping, but it does exist. Look towards the end of Overland Reservoir for great dispersed campsites.

Sixteener Road, a portal to the extensive network of trails within the Tarryall Mountains, is a gem just a short drive from Colorado Springs. It uniquely presents unobstructed mountain vistas that stand out from typical front-range views. Due to strategic logging, the thinned forest becomes an idyllic playground for snow-wheeling, as the depth of snow remains manageable. A trip on Sixteener Road following a fresh snowfall guarantees a mesmerizing spectacle of sun-kissed snow, making it an irresistible destination for year-round offroad enthusiasts.

If you’re looking for something off the beaten path and a little bit more rugged than Ophir Creek Road, then Little Froze Road is for you. There are a few rocky sections with basketball-sized embedded rocks to be navigated. Little Froze Road could be driven by a lower clearance vehicle with proper tire placement, but be mindful that Burn Road on the west end of Little Froze Road is not suitable for lower clearance vehicles. Be sure to take Deer Peak Road if clearance is an issue.

There is a large campsite, suitable for multiple vehicles and campers, at the east end of the trail and multiple smaller campsites generously spaced out along the trail. As you near the west end of the trail, be sure to roll your windows down and take in the aroma of Douglas Fir trees, which smells like Christmas year-round. 

Brushy Ridge travels through the Uncompahgre National Forest and connects to not only a network of other forest roads but also Divide Road and Escalante Canyon Road. This provides a pick-and-choose sightseeing journey from the aspen trees on this road to the reddish canyon walls on Escalante Canyon Road. Camping is abundant. The road is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle.

If you are looking for a bit of challenge and access to the lesser-traveled hiking trails within State Forest State Park, Ruby Jewel Road is going to be your hidden gem. This is arguably one of the harder trails within State Forest State Park and offers a bit of a challenge for a stock rig. The payoff for making it to the end is the hiking options that take you deep into the lush and unpopulated forest.

Since this is a designated route within State Forest State Park, a daily permit is needed unless you have opted-in for the Keep Colorado Wild Pass, which allows access to any Colorado State Park. All camping is designated here as well, and there are several yurts you can reserve if you'd like a bit more comfort while exploring this state park. There is no dispersed camping within the park.

This little spur can be a pleasant addition to the Hamlin Gulch trail. It offers the same spectacular views to the south and west as you traverse the open hillside and it leads to the best campsite of any along Hamlin Gulch or Upper Hamlin Gulch-Brumfield. This campsite can also make a nice lunch stop if you are not spending the night. The end of the trail and the campsite are along Woodpecker Creek, which is an intermittent stream and may or may not have water in it, depending on the time of year and recent rainfall.

At the southern border of the Castle Peak Wilderness, Blue Lake 4WD trail passes through low wetlands and creek crossings on its way to scenic Blue Lake. Lower in altitude and more tree-covered than neighboring trails, Blue Lake can be a welcome respite from the summer heat. The less traveled trail makes the few established campsites feel more secluded. The lake itself is accessible via a short hike from the end of the trail.

Forming the other half of an alluring loop with Happy Platte Road, Platte Springs Road offers a captivating off-roading experience against the grandeur of the Tarryall Mountains in Colorado's wilderness. This scenic trail rewards travelers with an enchanting blend of dense pine forests and open meadows, making it an idyllic backdrop for an engaging yet peaceful drive and a fantastic place to camp. The trail provides an ideal terrain for seasoned adventurers and newcomers, effortlessly merging the thrill of off-roading with the tranquility of the expansive Colorado landscape. The opportunity to witness the sun cast its golden glow on the Tarryall Mountains, coupled with the quiet hum of nature, transforms Platte Springs Road into more than just an off-roading trail; it becomes a mesmerizing exploration of Colorado's rugged beauty and wilderness, perfect for those seeking both adventure and tranquility.

This quick connector runs between Porphyry Basin Road and Black Bear Pass and has a handful of dispersed campsites marked by well-maintained rock fire rings. Offroaders wanting to get an early start on Black Bear will find this connector helpful. Although not technically difficult, the Porphyry end of the trail has a steep grade where a transfer case would come in handy.

Spruce Road is a short, tightly wooded 4WD trail in the heart of the Golden Horseshoe. The loop once served as a shortcut through Lincoln Park Meadow to

Humbug Hill (GH66)

, but the through-route connector is no longer legal. This 4WD trail is part of the Golden Horseshoe trail system which covers over 8,000 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. The Golden Horseshoe is crisscrossed with 4WD, ATV, single track, mountain bike, and foot trails. Keep a sharp eye out for other folks using this network and, as always, be considerate. Stay the trail, and pack out what you packed in.

Picket Pin is a lightly traveled, in-and-out spur road located near Deep Creek Lake in the Flat Tops Mountain Range, north of Glenwood Springs. This trail is the poster child of a slow-burner, as the journey along the road begins as a seemingly mundane drive through dense pine forest with an annoying amount of potholes. Eventually, the trail pokes out of the trees and rewards you with wide-open meadow views and passes a couple of camping spurs that dart off into the trees.

The first 2.5 miles of road are an easy, hard-packed dirt surface. At the 2.5-mile mark, a 20-yard-long chocolate milk-looking mud puddle will leave you looking for a depth probe. This marks the beginning of consistently muddy conditions, even in peak summer, that necessitate a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle. The trail comes to an end after 3 miles, where it T's to two separate, awesome campsites. The northern site is a large, grassy site nestled along the hillside, while the southern site is a small and level site sitting atop the ridgeline with views that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Lake Irwin Road is an easy, graded dirt road that meanders through a pine forest to the scenic Lake Irwin and Lake Irwin Campground. In the summer months, Lake Irwin is popular for fishing, boating, paddle boarding, and swimming. Nearby is the prominent Ruby Range, comprised of Ruby Peak and Mount Owen, which provides spectacular mountain scenery.

The road is well maintained and wide, posing no issue for any vehicle wanting to access Lake Irwin, including larger vehicles or vehicles towing trailers. Along the road, there are a few marked areas for dispersed camping, and at the end of the road is Lake Irwin Campground, which offers a more traditional campground camping experience.