Colorado Off-Road Trails

Irwin Lodge Road is a short, rough dirt road that primarily serves as access to both the namesake Irwin Lodge and hiking trail access for the popular and incredibly scenic Scarp Ridge. The road is a bit rocky and rutted in spots, but it is suitable for most vehicles with careful line selection in the event of 2WD and low clearance. Any 4WD or AWD vehicle with moderate clearance will have no issue driving Irwin Lodge Road. For those uncomfortable with rougher dirt roads, it may be advisable to park at Lake Irwin and hike up the road if you are looking to hike Scarp Ridge. This road is notably rougher than Irwin Lake Road as it is not graded or nearly as well maintained.

Along the drive, there is parking along the side of the road before the last turn that wraps up to Irwin Lodge. This parking is limited and can fill up on busy days. Please do not block the road and respect all no-parking signs, as well as the abundant private property in the area.

Camping is restricted to designated sites only. While there is no camping available along 7826.1C, Irwin Lodge Road proper, there are a few designated sites along 7826.1D, Green Lake Road. Additional camping is also available at the nearby Lake Irwin Campground.

This camping spur off of Washington Gulch provides access to designated campsites 3-10 of the 47 designated camping locations in this area. Its only purpose is to access these campsites. The beginning of the road is very easy and maintained. The second part of the road is notated with a "4x4 only" sign, but an experienced driver in an AWD vehicle or van should have no issues. This trail's proximity to town could make finding a spot to rest for the night difficult, so plan accordingly.

The Cemetary Trail is a short out-and-back side spur off the Middle Fork Trail. This route immediately passes by an old cemetery and offers history enthusiasts the chance to walk around the long-forgotten gravesites tucked away in the dark timber. The trail continues up the drainage for less than a mile through tight timber and larger rocks. The trail is suitable for stock, high-clearance 4x4s with a low range, but the tight brush and trees will make for certain pinstriping. Due to the steep terrain, there are no established dispersed campsites along the route. This route is now a full-size motorized trail and requires a Colorado OHV sticker for plated 4x4s.

Harbour Road sits between Webber Park Road and County Road 77, with views of the Tarryall Mountains to the east. The road has some mild undulations but is otherwise an easy drive through the forest. There is no camping along the trail.

North Beaver is a short, out-and-back spur off Beaver Creek that leads to several campsites. This trail is a little rougher than Beaver Creek itself but has no major obstacles. It is a simple dirt and rutted trail throughout where most stock SUVs and higher should have no problems.  There are several small dispersed campsites along the trail, but you likely wouldn't be able to get a camper or large vehicle into any of those spots. The ending offers a large campsite where a trailer could possibly maneuver.

Located within the Leadville Mining District, southeast of town, Lake County 1C is a moderately rough 4-wheel-drive road that climbs sharply through Pigtail Gulch, connecting County Road 2 to County Roads 1A and 1B. The first half mile, traveling west to east, follows a single-lane dirt road next to a water culvert, passing several abandoned mines, including Modest Barrel, Garibaldi Tunnel, and the New England Mine. The trail then travels through two tight switchbacks that can be traversed in one go with careful tire placement and then continues in a northerly direction up a steep and loose hill, peppered with baseball-sized rocks and an occasional larger rock just breaking the trail's surface. The trail can be driven in either direction and is a good final trail if completing the Route of The Silver Kings Driving Tour and having an appropriate vehicle. This trail requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle with selectable low-range gearing.

No camping is available along this trail.

Do not let the name scare you. Devil’s Hole is a tame trail suitable for any stock 4WD drive vehicle. There are not any obstacles or campsites to note on this trail. If you are in need of a campsite, there are multiple campsites at the south end of Wylie Gulch. Views along the trail are limited. Devil's Hole is easily connected to other trails in the area for a day full of trail riding. ATVs are allowed on this trail. 

When four-wheeling on the western slope of Colorado, you’ll find colorful mesas, snow-capped mountain ranges, and, among other things, a rich mining history. Outside Gateway, Colorado, Calamity Road leads to the Calamity Camp, hidden at 6,500' on the Uncompahgre Plateau. The semi-restored mine site was established sometime between 1915 and 1925. The historic site has rock cabins, a bunkhouse, and much more. Miners extracted uranium, vanadium, and radium from the region from 1916-1980. Several of the structures are being restored by volunteers at the fenced-off camp area. A short out-and-back spur travels out to the unrestored area where the mill, workhouse, and other resident buildings can be found. The trail out and back to both sites requires 4x4, high clearance, and durable tires to get over the rocky section leading to the info boards. Please help preserve the site and do not camp in the immediate area.

Francisco Loop is a maintained road within State Forest State Park that offers beginner drivers a place to test their skills. Advanced drivers won't find too much in the way of entertainment here. The trail also leads to a few designated campsites for people who want to spend a bit of time exploring this state park. This trail has its moments of scenery that showcase the taller peaks of the adjacent Never Summer Range and Rawah Wilderness.

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. There is no dispersed camping within the park.

West Dolores Road, also known as Dunton Road on some maps, provides a quick access point to epic San Juan National Forest primitive camping. FR 535, is an excellent addition to Black Mesa, FR 611. Entering from Highway 145, you immediately climb through dense aspens on a grated gravel road. It can have heavy traffic on weekends, where caution is needed when passing other vehicles. Camping is found on a couple of short spur trails leading to free primitive sites, or you can choose to stay at the organized Burro Bridge Campground. The best primitive camping is found at the northern trailhead, along the creek. In dry conditions, the route is passable in 2WD, high-clearance. The route is closed to large campers and trailers.

Spring Gulch Road sits on the northern end of the Badger Flats Trail Network in the Puma Hills of Colorado. The trail has scenic views of the Tarryall Mountains to the east. There is no camping along the way, so this trail is good to add to a day of wheeling in this area.

Deep within the Uncompahgre Plateau of western Colorado, Campbell Lake Road is a moderate 10-mile 4x4 trail that travels west to east, connecting the rugged uranium mining district to the Divide Road at over 9,000'. If you are looking for epic high-elevation camping and a slight challenge along the way, this is the trail for you. No camping will be found along the western portion of the trail within the BLM lands, but limited, small, primitive campsites can be found on the eastern end in the pines near Divide Road. The trail travels through a burn area that has started to come back to life, but it doesn't take away from the unobstructed panoramas of the Manti-La Sal Mountains. The trail comprises loose dirt, rocks, narrow ledges, and tight switchbacks. The entire route is wide enough for full-size vehicles with 4x4, offroad tires, and high ground clearance. The higher elevations within the National Forest will be impassable during winter.

This trail in Pike National Forest is one of two paid camping areas at the base of the Devil's Head (FS 611) walking trail. This is a dirt road throughout that doesn't pose any risk in good weather. Some of the road is chewed up a little more and will require clearance though. Located off Rampart Range Road, Devil's Head was constructed in 1907 after the newly formed Forest Service decided to build seven fire lookouts along the Front Range of Colorado into Wyoming. Only three were actually built, and Devil's Head is the only one still in operation. Drive this trail and climb up to the top of the Devil's Head tower, and on a clear day, you can get 360-degree views of Colorado for over 100 miles.

Deer Creek Road is a short spur that primarily serves as an access road to Deer Creek Trailhead and the Deer Creek Trail (No. 568), which is open to hikers, horses, and mountain bikes. It is a spur road off of West Brush Creek Road (FS 7738.2A) that gently climbs and winds its way up an open hillside to reach Deer Creek Trailhead. In early July, the hillside is covered with wildflowers, and the views are quite nice for such an otherwise short and uneventful trail. The road itself is mostly easy, rough dirt, with occasional rocky sections that pose little challenge. There is no camping along Deer Creek Road.

Tabeguache Creek is an easy road that winds through a scenic canyon and across the foothills of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Tabeguache Creek, Z26 makes for a wonderful gateway trail from Nucla, Colorado, into the vast network of trails crisscrossing the uranium mining district. The trail is a maintained dirt and gravel road that can be traveled in 2WD with durable tires and good ground clearance. The southern trailhead is a wide gravel road with one campsite near the narrow bridge crossing. The middle and northern sections are a mix of private and BLM land where no camping was found. The northern trailhead ends at U18 and the more difficult Spring Creek trail. You can easily travel south on U18 to reach Rim Rocker and Highway 90.

This short but rewarding trail leads to the historic site of Hessie and a beautiful bridge at the start of the popular Hessie hiking trail. Once home to a brief high-altitude mining town, the township site is now a wide meadow with sweeping views of surrounding peaks and glacier basins. The road itself is rugged and best suited for high-clearance 4x4 vehicles, though capable AWD rigs may manage with care. Expect multiple water crossings, often running high during spring runoff, and rocky stretches that demand attention.

The most challenging section is the main river crossing, where two large boulders sit midstream, forcing wider vehicles to pick a precise line. A field of baseball-sized rocks adds to the technical feel, but with careful driving, most offroad vehicles will get through. Beyond the driving, this trail serves as a gateway to a network of excellent hiking routes, including the trail to Lost Lake. While camping is not allowed here, the scenery, fall foliage, and historic character make it a destination worth the effort.

This trail in Pike National Forest is one of two paid camping areas at the base of the Devil's Head (FS 611) walking trail. This is a dirt and small rock road with no major obstacles on it. Located off Rampart Range Road, Devil's Head was constructed in 1907 after the newly formed Forest Service decided to build seven fire lookouts along the Front Range of Colorado into Wyoming. Only three were actually built, and Devil's Head is the only one still in operation. Drive this trail and climb up to the top of the Devil's Head tower, and on a clear day, you can get 360-degree views of Colorado for over 100 miles.

Lost Lake is a camper's paradise located just outside of Red Feather Lakes in Northern Colorado. This easy trail will allow campers of all types to enjoy the great outdoors. It is not uncommon to see many people out camping in anything from a ground tent to a 40+ foot 5th wheel camper. This trail is very popular, so if you plan to camp, either go on a weekday or get there early. The 235.A spur is also very easy, but at the very end, it does offer a bit of challenge, in which 4WD with a transfer case is recommended. Most of this trail is very easy, and any passenger vehicle will have no issues completing the entirety of the trail. OHVs are not allowed on this trail, only highway-legal vehicles.

Lake Evelyn Trail is mainly used as an access trail to the Lake Evelyn hiking trail and the other hiking trails in the Byers Peak Wilderness. It is a short and relatively easy drive with beautiful views as you travel along the north side of the valley. Keyser Creek winds along the south side of the trail for the length, providing great views and a good chance of spotting wildlife. There are marshy areas where you may see moose grazing early in the morning or evening. It is also accessible with most vehicles and is a great "scenic detour" when in the area. Dispersed camping is available in a few locations along the trail marked by rock fire rings.