Colorado Off-Road Trails

Shallow Creek is an easy, dead-end road to the Shallow Creek Trailhead, a hiking and non-motorized trail. The road is hard-packed and suitable for any vehicle the entire way. You are rewarded with incredibly scenic views during this short trek and pass several campsites suitable for all types of camp setups. The first campsite is at the hard turn with Sawmill Gulch, followed by another large pullout next to a corral a short distance down the road. Near the trail's end, another sizeable grassy campsite sits under a large shade tree. Before ending at the trailhead, several small tent campsites are outside the roundabout.

Creedmore Lakes Road is a popular and mild access road that leads to a series of smaller, yet scenic lakes in Northern Colorado. This trail is a short out-and-back with no camping allowed by vehicle, but does allow hike-in camping at the lakes. This trail is relatively easy, but will test an AWD or 2WD vehicle due to deep rutting and protruding rocks near the end, just before the very large parking lot. This is a great opportunity to take the family for a picnic or to take the kids out for a day of fishing. Keep in mind that there is private property surrounding this trail, so please be respectful and only drive and park where it is designated to do so.

Splitting off from Middle Creek is Copper Creek, a nearly 2-mile-long, easy, packed dirt road with occasional small rocky patches. Any high clearance vehicle can enjoy this route. The trail ends at a couple of short hiking trails that follow the creek up in elevation. If you are after camping, this is the spur for you. One large site in view of the main trail has fantastic views of the valley below. If you have high clearance and 4WD, a short sput leads you to an incredible and secluded site right on the cliff edge.

Steamboat Ridge is a connector trail that links the Granite Creek, Sheep Creek, and Steamboat Point trails. It follows the spine of a ridge on Steamboat Mesa through dense forest. Though the overall difficulty is moderate, the road is extremely rocky and rough, with almost constant grapefruit-sized rocks and small slickrock ledges. After crossing into Utah, the last quarter mile on the western end suddenly becomes a graded dirt road connecting to Steamboat Mesa Road.

Because it is mostly in thick forest, there are no real views along this trail except where it opens up at the western end. The route's main value is as a connector road and for camping. There are several large, flat campsites in the trees near the intersection with the Sheep Creek Road, some of which are near the rim of the mesa and have nice views through the trees down into the Sheep Creek valley. These campsites could make a nice base camp for exploring the Dolores Triangle area.

This trail offers a unique experience, serving as a gateway to a massive recreational network. While the road itself is scenic, it doesn't lead to a final destination with a view. Instead, it serves as the access point for over 100 miles of multi-use trails, open to hikers, horseback riders, ATVs, and bikes, including Muddy Creek and Rainbow hiking trails. The road is best suited for 4WD vehicles with good ground clearance due to large humps that require careful navigation.

Camping along this trail is dispersed but restricted to designated spots. The road ends at a clearly marked private property with a gate, which, while unlocked, should not be entered.

This is a great alternative if the more popular Medano Pass campsites are full. For those needing to stay connected, you'll likely have some internet reception at the start of the trail, though service becomes unreliable further in, especially on Medano Pass.

At roughly 18.5 miles long, No Name Road is a straight-through, point-to-point road through the White River National Forest near Camp Hale, with three distinct sections that blend easy mountain cruising with a rocky and demanding high-country climb. From the north, the road begins as a wide, graded gravel drive winding through spruce and pine forest, with semi-obstructed views and a few open glimpses of Homestake Valley and Camp Hale. Along this northern section, drivers will find several roadside pullouts and a couple of nice campsites tucked into the pines, large enough for smaller travel trailers, vans, and tent campers. Around the 6-mile mark, the road changes quickly, narrowing to a single-vehicle-width climb over loose, football- to basketball-sized rocks where careful tire placement, high clearance, and low range are required. Skid plates are highly encouraged for this middle section. After climbing nearly 750 vertical feet in less than a mile, the reward comes near the ridgeline at mile 7, where large, grassy, shaded campsites open toward Mount Powell, Homestake Peak, and the Holy Cross Wilderness. After more rocky, slow-going terrain, the road eases again at mile 8.3 and follows the historic Wurts Ditch corridor toward the Wurts Ditch Trailhead. This southern section is easy but remains primarily one-vehicle-wide, with only sporadic places to pass, so drivers should be prepared to back up long distances if they encounter oncoming traffic. There are no suitable camping options until reaching the southern end, where several large areas in the trees can accommodate most camp setups and larger groups.

This is a short and relatively easy out and back off-shoot of Grouse Road that offers a little bit of camping and an area less traveled. This trail has short turns and is overall tight with little room to turn around. Large groups are not recommended for this trail. It is recommended you limit the group to three or four vehicles. Even though the trail doesn’t have a lot of obstacles to negotiate, ruts may require that you have a high clearance vehicle. Longer and taller vehicles will also have issues here. The longer ones won’t be able to maneuver some spots, and the taller ones will hit low-hanging trees.

The end of this trail has three dispersed campsites near Rule Creek, an old mine shaft that is now gated and mostly collapsed in. This is a great place for a small group that wants to be away from the masses. If you are looking for more room, Rule Ridge has lots of dispersed camping, and there is a paid site called Painted Rocks Campground on Painted Rocks Road near Rule Ridge.

Hancock Road, also known as Alpine Tunnel East, is a 5.5-mile-long connector road that begins near the historic town of St. Elmo and follows the old Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad grade into the upper reaches of the Chalk Creek Valley. The drive is not technical, following a wide dirt road with embedded rocks, shallow potholes, and washboard sections that are suitable for any high clearance vehicle, although passenger cars can usually make the trip in favorable conditions. The trail surface is bumpy and slow going for most of the route. The primary attraction of this road is the history. You will travel through the ghost town of Romley, which existed as a service town for the Mary Murphy Mine. Romley was also known as the "red town" because all its buildings were painted red with white trim. It was originally called Murphy's Switch because of the presence of its railroad siding.

You will also pass the remains of the once bustling mining town of Hancock, where interpretive signs tell the story of a community established in 1880 that served nearby mines and the construction of the Alpine Tunnel before being abandoned after railroad operations ceased in 1910. It is said that Mark Twain took the ride one time just for the experience.

Additional remnants of railroad infrastructure can be found along the drive, including a historic trestle and collapsed structures, which offer a fascinating glimpse into Colorado's railroad era. The road ends at the eastern portal of the Alpine Tunnel, once the highest railroad tunnel in North America, making this an ideal destination for history enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone looking for a relaxed drive into the heart of the San Isabel National Forest. Dispersed camping is only found at a small, roadside pullout across from the Hancock townsite. Additional dispersed camping can be found along all connecting roads in the area.

Left Hand Road is a straightforward camping spur off Rule Ridge Road. This trail has a rocky climb that gets tight and off-camber. Large vehicles will have serious problems getting past the pictured rock outcropping. Dispersed camping is permitted, with a good-sized campsite at the trail's end. Please follow "Leave No Trace" principles to preserve the area's natural beauty.

While Long Draw Road offers a scenic and adventurous route near Colorado’s Continental Divide for most vehicles, FR156C provides a more rugged and secluded camping experience.  This short two-track trail is perfect for high-clearance vehicles looking to escape from the regular crowds that occupy the other more easily accessed campsites in the Roosevelt National Forest. When the other Long Draw Road campsites are completely full, the sites along FR156C are usually available.  This route is rarely used and provides more quiet and seclusion for your high mountain getaway.

Within the Badger Flats Trail Network, Quartz Rock Road offers a serene escape characterized by its mild and meandering journey through verdant Colorado forests. With a terrain of easy dirt and occasional ruts, the trail provides a laid-back ride that contrasts with the more challenging routes nearby. The trail’s charm is enhanced by sporadic rock outcroppings within the woodland, creating scenic points of interest throughout the drive. Although not testing the full potential of your offroad vehicle, Quartz Rock Road delivers a refreshing break from the usual hustle. With the entire trail network teeming with recreational opportunities, this road fits seamlessly into a day full of diverse outdoor adventures.

South Trail is a 2.5-mile, rough dirt trail that ascends about 500 feet through the trees of Taylor Park in the Gunnison National Forest. Although the trail doesn't provide great views of the surrounding area, it offers solitude for those looking to briefly escape the more popular and busy trails in Taylor Park.

Years ago, this trail went much further and connected to a whole network of other trails. Today, this trail is a victim of partial trail closure, as evidenced by the US Forest Service barrier blocking the road's southern end.

There is a single wide-open camping spot at the beginning of the trail, although it's not ideal due to its proximity to a moderately trafficked, dusty dirt road.

Any vehicle with a bit of clearance could easily traverse South Trail.

Palo Alto is a moderate out-and-back trail leading south off Lime Creek. It does not have one specific obstacle. Instead, there is a long, steep, bumpy hill climb littered with loose, softball-sized rocks. 4WD is necessary to climb this hill. The trail dead ends at a locked gate for private property with little room for even one vehicle to turn around. Camping is not available along this trail.

If you're in the Flat Tops on a busy day and looking for an escape, this trail is for you. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is strongly recommended due to a few steep, rocky climbs (up to a 17-degree pitch) and large humps that require good ground clearance; a stock 4x4 should be sufficient.

The double-track road leads you through beautiful aspen groves and into serene, silent meadows dotted with wildflowers. Be advised, there is a high risk of vehicle pinstriping from brush along the trail. The route concludes at a gate, although the MVUM map shows the road continuing for another 0.2 miles, there is no discernible trail beyond this point. It's the perfect place to find true quiet; we visited on a weekend and saw absolutely no one.

Camping: According to the MVUM, dispersed camping is permitted along this road. However, you will not find any established campsites. To protect this area, please use established campsites elsewhere.

County Road 100J is an easy, dead-end segment that extends off of County Road 100 and provides access to one hiking trail in the Roosevelt National Forest. It is otherwise surrounded by private property and dead-ends at a fork that continues into two private roads. There is no camping along this road. Please respect private property in the area.

Deep Creek Overlook is an easy, short spur road off Coffee Pot Road that leads to breathtaking views of Deep Creek Canyon. From a large parking lot, an easy hiking trail takes you to a fenced viewpoint where you can soak in a stunning, 180-degree panorama. Your view will stretch across a vast horizon, including some of Colorado's highest peaks and the distant ribbon of I-70. Ample parking is available at the trailhead, which provides access to two different trails. This quick adventure is a perfect addition for anyone exploring the Flat Tops area.

Quickly climbing up from the small community of Paradox, CO, Carpenter Ridge winds 2000' up a towering red wall to the iconic Rimrocker Trail. The trail winds along a maintained but rough dirt road with numerous tight switchbacks and fleeting views of the Paradox Valley. In different sections, the hill is an 8-9% grade. It's bumpy and loose, so it's advised to use 4x4 on the climb to help prevent the creation of washboards. Short sections are rough rock and slow going. One campsite was found on the hill; it's small, with only room for one vehicle and a tent. Four-wheel drive, durable tires, and high ground clearance are required for this route.

Dry Canyon, Forest Road 510, is a 7.9-mile maintained gravel road that ends at the scenic north shore of McPhee Reservoir. Sandstone coves line the canyon found at the end of 11 easy switchbacks (Vehicles/trailers longer than 25 feet are not allowed on the switchbacks, but there are several pull-offs to allow oncoming traffic to pass)

The first 5 miles of Dry Canyon are relatively flat and offer a wide range of dispersed camping within the San Juan National Forest. Camping is not allowed at the Dry Canyon Day Use area.

Dry Canyon Day Use Area

The Dry Canyon Day Use Area provides visitors with a peaceful spot to relax, picnic, or explore nearby trails. Open seasonally from mid-April to October, this area offers stunning views of the reservoir and surrounding landscape, making it an ideal stop for families, hikers, and nature enthusiasts alike. Swimming, fishing, and cliff jumping are popular activities along the shoreline. Bring a paddleboard or kayak for a relaxing day on the water.

There is a seasonal bathroom in the day-use area.

Just north of Burns Park Road in the Badger Flats Trail Network, Handy Road has beautiful views throughout the run. The road surface isn't difficult and makes for a nice Sunday afternoon drive.

Ivy Creek is an easy spur off Red Mountain Creek. Spanning four and a half miles, the trail deadends at a locked gate. Although there is no end destination, the trail is rather attractive, driving through a forest of new-growth pines. There are no obstacles, so any vehicle with high clearance can drive this trail. Camping was limited to one site right off the trail with room for 2 to 3 rigs.