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 6102C is a short connector between 6102 and both sides of 6101A. It begins as a smooth dirt road through open meadows, followed by a short rocky patch and shallow ruts. This trail is suitable for any AWD SUV.

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.

Forest Service Road 372.1B is an easy, short connector segment between Forest Service Road 372.1 and Gold Lake Road. It has a few spots for dispersed camping along the way, one of which is fairly large, and the others are small and suitable for only a single vehicle. Otherwise, this road is relatively uneventful. The nearby Gold Lake is privately owned, and there is no public access. Please respect the private property in the area.

Making for a great basecamp for anyone exploring the Lizard Head Wilderness, Woods Lake is a serene mountain camping experience accessible by all motor vehicle types. Entering from the north end of Fall Creek, the entire route to the camping area is graded gravel. Three camping loops offer up to 41 wooded campsites with campfire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. The camping is within walking distance of Woods Lake, a peaceful place to hike, fish, or paddle. The sites have a nightly fee, are first-come, first-served, and available for up to 14 days.

Schumm Drive Road, running west off Rule Ridge Road, offers a mix of dirt and loose rock, typical of the region. The route presents no significant obstacles, making it suitable for beginners or a relaxing drive for seasoned adventurers. Dispersed camping is permitted, providing a convenient spot for overlanders to set up camp.

Running between Ivy Creek and Palo Alto, Ivy Creek A passes through new and old-growth pine and aspens. Ivy Creek A is not a difficult trail, but unless you have high clearance and 4WD to complete Palo Alto, you will run this as an out and back. There are no obstacles, but the trail is bumpy and rutted. Camping is not an option along this spur, but Ivy Creek has limited camping.

Moonshine Road, part of the trail network branching off Crazy Gulch Road south of Rule Ridge Road, offers a smooth journey for all skill levels. The primary challenge emerges during rain when low-lying areas tend to get muddy and saturated. Dispersed camping is permitted along the trail, but no established sites exist. For overlanders seeking splendid scenery and isolation, this might be an ideal choice.

St. Joe Road is a very short spur that connects Lookout Hill Road to US 24, offering a scenic stretch due to its prime location. It’s important to note that camping is not allowed on St. Joe Road and is mostly for access to the trail network but also serves as a good place to air up or down. This road with Lookout Hill Road is a great way in and out of the area of trails.

Prohibition is a short out-and-back trail worth checking out if you are looking for nice, secluded camping while you're out exploring the Roosevelt National Forest. The trail itself is relatively easy, and it's not uncommon to see larger camping rigs, such as fifth-wheels, occupying the campsite at the very end, which has great views of South Bald Mountain. It is worth noting that this is moose country so plan accordingly.

Bennett Peak has a similar story to many of the short off-shoots in the area. Like them, it is a lesser-used, dead-end spur to a campsite. The trail has no obstacles and is suitable for almost any high clearance vehicle. The campsite at the end was large and level, but if anyone drives this trail while you are camped here, they will have to turn around in your camp. The broken view through the trees might make it worth it, though.

Leavenworth Creek Spur Road is a compact connector between Leavenworth Creek Road and Historic Waldorf Wagon Road. This short stretch is characterized by its steep incline, offering a brief but exhilarating challenge for those traversing the area. While it doesn't support camping, the spur is a great way to connect the trails and change up how you explore this area.

Hidden at the base of the Divide Range, San Miguel Ledges is a camping and fishing paradise. The short out-and-back trail travels along the always-flowing San Miguel River. The gravel and dirt road easily travels to a pair of organized campgrounds, with numerous sites along the river. The dense vegetation along the river opens up in a few spots where you can fish or wade in the chilly mountain runoff. Ledges Rockhouse Campground is the largest campground along the drive and the turn-around point for the trail. There is a nightly fee to use the campground, and it includes a restroom, 12 RV and 12 tent camping sites, cabanas, picnic tables, grills, and a boat ramp. The site is open all year. If you prefer free, primitive-type camping, numerous short side trails lead to campsites near the river. In dry conditions, the trail can be driven in 2WD.

Round Hill is an easy connector road within the Pike National Forest, southwest of Fairplay. It begins in the Sheep Creek valley below Brown's Pass and climbs south-southeast through Ponderosa and Aspen forest. The trail surface is primarily packed dirt, with sporadic small rocks and occasional steep grades. Near the road's midpoint, it crosses Breakneck Pass and proceeds south across the land management boundary (Bureau of Land Management) and then forms a loop on the topographic feature for which it is named, Round Hill. A grassy landscape with fewer trees characterizes the southern end, offering panoramic views to the west.

The trail offers very limited camping options; however, a couple of small pullouts have been previously used for overnight stays.

Fourmile Spur Road, off Fourmile Creek near Buena Vista, is a short camping spur known for its excellent camp spots that are particularly suited for RV's. This tranquil stretch offers a serene setting complemented by beautiful scenery, making it an ideal choice for those looking to enjoy a peaceful nature retreat. Whether you're setting up a tent or parking an RV, the spots along Fourmile Spur Road provide both convenience and picturesque views that enhance any camping experience.

Located near Pine, Colorado, this short and simple out-and-back spur trail off Redskin Road leads to the Gashouse Gulch hiking trailhead. Gashouse Road is a mild trail with with only small rocks and sand to contend with. Along the drive, you will notice several rock formations and wildflowers along the trail. The Gashouse Gulch hiking trail is part of the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, which covers nearly 25 square miles of multi-use trails and camping. Most of these trails directly connect to the famous Colorado Trail (FS 1776) and, locally, 50 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Lookout Road is a gentle trail dotted with plenty of campsites that boast beautiful views. With just a few mild ruts along the way, it’s an easy drive for anyone looking to enjoy a relaxed camping trip surrounded by nature. This trail is perfect for those who want to soak in the scenery without rough riding.

This is an extremely short dead-end spur off of the main Taylor Mountain artery that travels past a couple of campsites and ends abruptly at a tiny turnaround. The road starts as hard-packed dirt with some exposed rocks, but quickly gets rockier, steeper, and narrower, making for an extremely rough drive. The campsites along the trail are small and best suited for a single vehicle. Due to the rocky terrain, a vehicle-mounted tent or hammock would be the best camping setup. This trail is suitable for any high clearance 4x4 vehicle.

Ready to be "All Shook Up"? Elvis Road is a rough, rutted offshoot of Rule Ridge Road with terrain that's bound to get your wheels trembling. Yet, far from a "Heartbreak Hotel," it's an off-roader's paradise, offering ample dispersed camping for those daring enough to take on the challenge. So, with "A Little Less Conversation" and a little more action, gear up your vehicle and hit this trail!

FR 369.C is a short loop into a logging area just off of Greenhorn Mountain Road. Due to the constant vehicle traffic along this trail, FR 369.C is a compacted dirt trail with no obstacles. This trail does not offer any views, but there is a solo campsite with an established fire ring along that trail. This trail can be completed by a low-clearance 2WD vehicle.

Quickly climbing above the red sandstone cliffs along Highway 90 in western Colorado, P12 is a twisting scenic drive ending near an old log cabin from boom days of uranium mining. The western trailhead is almost blind, and the steep 300' loose gravel climb is just the beginning of the colorful drive around Lone Tree Mesa and along East Mesa Creek. The trail is semi-maintained gravel and dirt with sections that can be damaged after rainstorms. The entire route can be completed in 2WD with durable tires and high ground clearance. The trail is wide enough for all full-size overland vehicles and trailers. Camping along this route is limited to one large and scenic campsite found shortly after climbing up the hill from Highway 90. There is room for 4-5 vehicles with tents and a large rock fire ring. The two-story, multi-room log cabin is near the east end of the trail, immediately along the edge of the road. It appears to have been a homestead with other small structures and a chicken coup nearby. Please respect the site and leave it as you found it.

Saylor Park Cutoff Road is a straightforward connector in the area, offering a quiet drive through the woods without notable scenery. This simple trail provides a peaceful journey, primarily focused on linking Saylor Park Road to Chimney Peak Road within the region rather than scenic highlights. While no camping sites are directly along the road, dispersed camping is allowed in the area, making it a suitable option for those exploring the forested terrain. Saylor Park Cutoff Road is ideal for travelers seeking a tranquil woodland drive and a base for broader exploration.

Trekking through the northern end of the Boggy Draw trail system, Bald Hill Reservoir is a 6.5-mile straight-through trail that travels between 8,000 and 8,700 feet along a high-elevation plateau above the West Dolores River. This is the most difficult full-size trail in the Boggy Draw trail system, with continuous trenches, mud holes 12 to 24 inches deep, bowling ball-sized rocks, and steep hills that keep the pace slow from start to finish. The southern end begins at Boggy Draw Reservoir, where you can find a lone, spacious campsite before getting into the difficult terrain. As the trail climbs through mixed ponderosa pine and aspen forest, it crosses extremely soft soils that retain water for long periods of time. Higher up, the pines begin to thin, giving way to open meadows and young aspen groves, but the soft soil and deep mud holes continue across the highest sections of the route. Several rocky hills add to the challenge, even where the trail surface becomes firmer. Be extremely cautious if venturing here alone, as mature trees strong enough for winching are limited in many areas. This trail can become nearly impossible during wet weather due to the soil type.

Bald Hill Reservoir is best suited for modified vehicles with larger tires and a lift. Frame-mounted recovery points are necessary, and lockers and a winch are highly recommended.

Rib Cage Road, connecting to Rule Ridge Road, is a trail of modest difficulty featuring a slightly rutted terrain of dirt and loose rock. The journey is fairly manageable by a 2WD vehicle with clearance. Along the route, dispersed camping is allowed for those seeking an overnight adventure.

If you find yourself along Slate River Road and need to set up camp for the night, make sure you pop your head down Slate River Spur. This trail has a few of the Slate River designated campsites and provides a bit of privacy from the campsites off the main trail. It's not a life-changing side quest, but getting a bit more peace and quiet off the main trail might be worth it.