Colorado Off-Road Trails

Penrose Commons is a BLM OHV recreation area near Penrose, Colorado. The area is full of crisscrossing full-size and ATV trails of varying difficulty. BLM Route 6102J is a short spur that connects to ATV trails. This trail itself is an easy, rutted dirt road. It would be muddy when wet. Camping within Penrose Commons is limited to designated sites only, which are marked with camping signs. No campsites can be found along this trail. Vault toilets are located at the entrance to the OHV area.

Quartz Road is an easy, quick out-and-back trail off the popular Rampart Range Road in the Pike National Forest. Once the trail serviced the Spielman Mine. The trail rides a ridgeline through a pine forest. There were no established sites seen along the trail.

Noble Road, in Pike National Forest, is a serene and secluded spur off Figure 9 Road. Despite its smaller footprint within the vast 110-square-mile Badger Flats Trail Network, it offers a tranquil journey through the woodland. Its charm and tranquility make it a valuable addition to any offroad adventure in the area.

Gold Bar is a well-maintained trail leading away from Middle Creek just north of Love Lake. A majority of the trail travels within a burn scar, where the pines still stand bare, but the undergrowth has come back strong. The trail ends at a gate with room to turn around. The trail has no obstacles making it suitable for any high clearance vehicle. There are two small campsites along the trail.

Lincoln Road is a short connector that, when combined with Bull Road, connects Burns Park Road, Thorpe Road, and Puma Road (AKA La Salle Pass). The trail doesn't offer much scenery but is a vital part of the Badger Mountain Trail Network.

Penrose Commons is a BLM OHV recreation area near Penrose, Colorado. The area is full of crisscrossing full-size and ATV trails of varying difficulty. BLM Route 6102D is a short connector between 6102 and 6102A. It begins as a rough dirt road through open meadows followed by a long rock and gravel hill. This trail is suitable for any 4x4 with moderate clearance. Camping within Penrose Commons is limited to designated sites only, which are marked with camping signs. No campsites can be found along this trail. Vault toilets are located at the entrance to the OHV area.

Tucked away as an attractive detour off Sixteener Road, Picnic Area Road presents a unique vista of a once-dense forest, now transformed by logging in 2019. This reshaped landscape exposes the beauty of the forest while providing an open and scenic experience. Remarkable rock formations enhance the trail's appeal, marking Picnic Area Road as an excellent supplement to a day of exploration within this network.

Illinois Texas BR is an easy trail that begins by taking you through the trees, past a handful of campsites and ends in the wide-open tundra typical of Taylor Park.

There can be mud in the early summer and small ruts that come and go along the trail, depending on the season. Any vehicle with clearance can easily drive this trail.

A few campsites are in the trees along the north part of the trail.

Winding through the lush forests of Pike National Forest, Sore Foot Road offers an accessible and delightful trail for all types of off-roaders. This scenic journey around Round Mountain ends at a breathtaking overlook, rewarding travelers with awe-inspiring views of Pike's Peak. With its relatively mild terrain interspersed with stunning vistas, Sore Foot Road is an excellent choice for those seeking a blend of natural beauty and a touch of adventure in their offroad experience.

Jake Road skirts the outside of this small trail network just north of Rainbow Falls. After climbing a small hill, the trail treats you to views of the surrounding mountains from a comfortable campsite. These trails are a little to speak of now, but as the forest regrows around them from the 2002 Hayman burn scar, they will get more interesting.

Cake Ridge Spur is a short dirt trail connecting three other nearby trails. This trail is part of a network of trails between Cottonwood Pass and Cumberland Pass. Cake Ridge Spur offers a chance to get out of the trees and catch glimpses of the surrounding area. The trail crosses Cow Creek at its south end, but the crossing has a man-made hard bottom that is usually only a few inches deep. It's also common to see cattle on this trail.

Although there are no campsites on this trail, all nearby trails have obvious campsites.

This trail is rated as moderate due to the frequent rutted-out sections along its length. A few of these ruts have bypasses, while others must be driven through. The ruts can be around a foot deep, which poses risks to vehicles with low clearance. However, any vehicle with AWD or 4WD and clearance can easily drive this trail.

Mitchell Road is an easy 3.3-mile connector trail that travels through the North Desert OHV area with world-class mountain bike and OHV trails. The road travels along the base of the Book Cliffs, where numerous recreation trails crisscross the region. The trail system and abundant camping provide great opportunities to experience the diverse desert environment along the base of the Bookcliffs. The designated OHV area is for max 50" width ATVs.

At the trail's beginning, the North Fruita Desert Campground has primitive-type campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, but no water. Campsite rates are $20 per night and include up to 10 people and 2 vehicles. There is an $8 non-refundable reservation fee for each reservation.  Food, lodging, and other supplies can be found nearby in the City of Fruita.

Penrose Commons is a BLM OHV recreation area near Penrose, Colorado. The area is full of crisscrossing full-size and ATV trails of varying difficulty. BLM Route 6101B is an out-and-back rocky trail that leads to the trailhead of ATV T6101A. The rocky trail has one tight banked turn and a couple of small rock steps. This trail is suitable for any 4x4 with moderate clearance. The trail's end has a large turnaround loop suitable for 5-6 vehicles.

Camping within Penrose Commons is limited to designated sites only, which are marked with camping signs. No campsites can be found along this trail. Vault toilets are located at the entrance to the OHV area.

Phantom Meadow is a quick out-and-back trail off its parent Manchester Road. It travels along Phantom Creek, passing a few campsite spurs along the way. Towards the end of the trail, the road gets tight with overgrowth and exposed rocks.

Trash Road is a mildly challenging trail connecting off Rule Ridge Road with regular dirt and loose rock typical of the region. Dispersed camping is permissible along the route, though no established sites were spotted, making it a potential option for overland vehicles seeking a location to set up camp.

Santiago Cutoff Road is a half-mile connector that links Leavenworth Creek Road with Waldorf Wagon Road. This rocky, inclined trail offers more than just a path between points; it provides picturesque views as it descends the mountain. Although the MVUM allows for camping within 300 feet of the road's centerline, no established camping spots were observed along the route. Ideal for those seeking a short but scenic drive, Santiago Cutoff Road enhances any journey through this area, offering a glimpse of the surrounding beauty from a unique vantage point.

Paradox Road, located along the Colorado and Utah border, is a scenic drive leading to the picturesque Buckeye Reservoir at 7,600' of elevation. It easily winds up a maintained gravel and dirt road with countless switchbacks, offering fleeting views of the valley below. The road can be heavily corrugated, and the weekend campers' towing trailers can be dangerous on the many blind corners. Camping is primarily found at higher elevations where only a few campsites are immediately off the trail. Around Buckeye Reservoir, you can find campsites with large firepits and wonderful lake views. In dry conditions, the entire route can be completed in 2WD vehicles equipped with durable tires and high clearance. The trail can be impassable in the winter due to deep snow and icy conditions.

Flowing Park is an out-and-back trail starting from Lands End Road and leading to the Flowing Park Reservoir. Compared to Lands End Road, most of the route is wooded. En route, a few dispersed campsites are nestled in the trees, but they are sparse, considering the length of the road. No camping can be found near the reservoir, as it is part of the drinking water supply. The road is suitable for any vehicle.

As the name suggests, this was once an old highway over the mountains, climbing to over 4,000 vertical feet, up a semi-maintained gravel and dirt road into Uncompahgre National Forest. Before connecting with Divide Road at the summit, you will wind through colorful canyons with a notable change in vegetation as you twist up the switchbacks. The trail can have deep corrugation washboard bumps, and sections may be rutted after being graded for the season. There are numerous primitive campsites along the route, with the most and best being at higher elevations. Use caution around corners as this road is commonly used by large trucks pulling campers.

Trail Canyon winds through the Dolores Ranger District of San Juan National Forest, northeast of Dolores, Colorado. This rough dirt road can be done in a stock 4x4 or high clearance vehicle. It offers access to mature Ponderosa Pines, stands of Aspen trees, and mixed meadows, as well as historic sites, such as the Beaver Creek Massacre Trail. The short spur at the southern end of the trail offers 360-degree views of the surrounding forest and canyon below. 

There are various options for dispersed camping in open meadows or within the pine forest. 

Seasonal closures typically run from December through mid-April; always check with the Dolores Ranger District for up-to-date motorized access information. It’s a popular corridor for dispersed camping, off‑road driving, hiking, wildlife viewing, and mountain biking—use proper etiquette, pack out trash, and respect trail regulations.