Colorado Off-Road Trails

Located just east of Delta, Smith Mountain River Overlook is a short, 2-mile dead-end trail that begins at the Smith Mountain Staging Area, heads northeast, and ends atop Smith's Mountain, offering a high vantage point overlooking the Gunnison River, Orchard City, and the Adobe Badlands. The road takes about 15 minutes to drive, and traverses a primarily hard-packed dirt surface with small protruding rocks less than 5 inches tall. The trail climbs a few sharp grades that can be slick when wet, but under dry conditions, this road is suitable for any vehicle with moderate ground clearance. 360-degree views at the endpoint make for a stunning and peaceful sunset or evening drive.

No campsites exist along this road.

Boggy Draw C (527.C) serves as a connector linking Boggy Draw Road with Powerline Road and Bean Canyon. Most drivers use this route to move between trail segments, access hunting areas, or reach the broader network of forest roads that crisscross this section of the San Juan National Forest. The trail winds through dense stands of Ponderosa pine and mixed forest.

85% of this road is very easy, while 15% is rocky and moderate. The eastern portion of the route is wide, smooth, and easy to navigate, consisting primarily of hard-packed dirt and shallow rutting suitable for any high-clearance vehicles. Conditions change noticeably on the western end between Powerline and Bean Canyon, where the trail narrows to a single-lane track and becomes more technical. Here, protruding rocks, small ledges approaching 10 inches in height, and occasional erosion create a moderate challenge that requires slower speeds and careful tire placement. While the obstacles are not difficult, drivers unfamiliar with rocky terrain may need to pay closer attention through this section. Vegetation crowds the trail in places, creating a high potential for pinstriping along the western segment.

Camping opportunities are limited directly along Boggy Draw C, with only a few dispersed sites located near either end of the trail. Most visitors use the route as a connector rather than a destination, continuing on to the larger camping areas found elsewhere within the Boggy Draw system. Open seasonally from May through November, Boggy Draw C is best viewed as a practical link between roads that also offers a taste of the more rugged terrain hidden within this remote corner of Colorado's pine-covered backcountry.

Upper House Creek is a straight-through connector between Dolores-Norwood Road and Boggy Draw Road, with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. The western end begins as an easy, wide, graded dirt road with several large, level campsites suitable for any vehicle. Past the power lines, the trail changes quickly. Between FS 405 and FS 528B, drivers encounter sticky mud holes roughly 10 to 14 inches deep, deep tire trenches, and conditions that can become challenging after rain. Beyond FS 528B, the soil firms up again, but the route transitions into a rougher, rockier track with exposed sandstone slabs that create a slower, bumpier ride. Camping becomes sparse east of the power lines, and this portion of the trail is not suitable for trailers or RVs. In dry conditions, the route is generally manageable with 2WD in any high-clearance vehicle, but wet conditions will likely require 4WD.

House Creek B is a straight-through road that travels north and south, connecting Bean Canyon to Upper House Creek. It travels through a thick Ponderosa pine forest past a small scenic pond known as Pell Reservoir. The road makes one steep climb and is rough and rocky, with sections of tombstone-sized chunky exposed sandstone. Users should expect significant rutting in the softer soil parts of the trail and deep mud holes during periods of wet weather. Several great dispersed campsites are located along the northern end of the trail, offering open meadow views, spacious sites, and level, soft ground. The campsites are easy to access from the north end, but the entire length of the trail is best suited for a high clearance vehicle with a low-end transfer case.

Trekking through a dense forest of Scrub Oak, Boggy Draw A is a nearly 3-mile-long dead-end trail with limited views, rough, rocky terrain, and a slowly constricting corridor that guarantees heavy pinstriping in your paint. Branching off the main Boggy Draw Road, the trail travels directly south following the boundary of a private property parcel. You'll encounter 10'' exposed rocks and ruts up to a foot deep in places along the drive. You pass one grassy meadow that shows good signs of wildlife, and a few openings in the trees that stare out at nearby mountain tops. The trail eventually becomes so narrow that it is only passable by ATV for the last quarter mile, before finally dead-ending at a dried-up cattle pond.

The first mile of trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle that does not mind paint scratching. The remaining 2 miles is best for OHVs.

FS 530, Powerline, is one of the more interesting connector routes in the Boggy Draw trail system, following a utility corridor along the southern edge of the forest while linking several roads and trail segments. Although many drivers use it simply to travel between destinations, the trail offers a surprisingly varied driving experience as it transitions between open powerline clearings and dense stands of Ponderosa pine. The route's changing terrain and wide range of surface conditions make it one of the more engaging roads in the area.

The trail alternates between easy stretches of gravel and hard-packed dirt and more challenging sections of narrow two-track featuring exposed sandstone, erosion rutting, and occasional muddy spots. The most demanding obstacles are found on several rocky hills where embedded rock shelves, uneven surfaces, and loose stone require careful tire placement and low-speed driving. While experienced off-roaders will find the obstacles straightforward, a high-clearance 4x4 with low range is required. Drivers with only basic off-road experience should have little trouble if they take their time through the rougher sections.

The scenery is moderate throughout the route, with frequent views down the powerline corridor contrasting with the surrounding forest. Unlike many nearby roads, Powerline offers no established camping opportunities and is best viewed as a travel route rather than a destination. Open from May through November, it provides an effective and enjoyable connection across the southern portion of the Boggy Draw network while delivering a greater variety of terrain than most of the area's easier forest roads.

Norwood Cutoff (FS 259) is an easy out-and-back route that winds through a quiet forest of mature ponderosa pines before ending at a private property boundary. While it does not lead to a major destination, the trail serves as a useful access route for dispersed camping, hunting, and connecting roads in the surrounding forest. The surface is primarily hard-packed dirt with occasional protruding rocks and shallow erosion ruts that can reach 6 to 10 inches deep. In dry conditions, any high-clearance vehicle can travel the route comfortably, making it suitable for drivers of any experience level. Conditions change dramatically when wet, however, as the soil can become slick and difficult to traverse, making 4WD strongly recommended and potentially rendering the trail impassable.

The greatest appeal of Norwood Cutoff is its abundance of dispersed camping opportunities. Half a dozen or more campsites are scattered throughout the forest, offering easy access to quiet camps beneath the pines and making the route a popular choice for hunters and travelers seeking a peaceful overnight stay. Scenic views are limited, as the trail remains largely enclosed by forest, but the secluded setting and lack of pinstriping hazards make it an enjoyable and low-stress destination for those looking to escape the crowds. The trail is typically accessible from May through November, depending on weather and seasonal road conditions.

Boggy Draw D is a straight-through, lightly used, two-track spur off the main Boggy Draw Road that makes its way past the small scenic ponds known as Tom Number One, Tom Number Four, and Tom Number Five Reservoir. It is one vehicle wide the entire length, with occasional passing opportunities, and is relatively smooth, except for one minor rock protrusion on the south end near Tom Number One Reservoir. Vehicles will need to trek over a 12" sloping sandstone ledge that requires a vehicle with decent ground clearance. 2WD is sufficient for the entire length, but vehicles towing trailers should avoid this spur. The trail has sharp turns and is tightly lined by trees, making pinstripping your vehicle's paint nearly guaranteed. Camping is best found on the north end between Tom Number Four Reservoir and Boggy Draw Road, where you can find 3-4 grassy campsites.

This is an excellent early-summer or fall trail for scenery, with large patches of wildflowers and Aspen Trees.

Dolores - Norwood G is a short and easy straight-through camping road off the main Delores Norwood Road, with one additional dead-end side spur. There are 6-12 campsites along the road. The sites are large and spacious, and can be utilized by multiple campers, depending on how close to your neighbors you are comfortable with. The primary road conditions are hard-packed dirt with plenty of width for RVs and travel trailers. The dead-end side spur on the southern end is slightly rougher with significant rutting through a tighter tree-lined corridor. RVs and travel trailers are recommended to avoid the dead-end spur.

Lower Boggy is an easy, popular camping spur that connects Delores Norwood to Bean Canyon. The road surface is hard-packed, graded dirt, and marble-sized gravel, making it suitable for any vehicle. The road is 1-1.5 vehicles wide the entire way, but there are ample passing spaces for oncoming traffic. Along the road, you will find nearly a dozen campsites, ranging from small single-use sites to large, open sites suitable for groups or large trailers.

West Fourmile is a super short, lightly used, rocky two-track spur road near the end of Browns Creek Road. It leads to four dispersed campsites in the pine trees and offers limited views of Jones Peak and Mount White. Stretches of football-sized rocks require a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Staring out at monster peaks within the Lizard Head Wilderness, East Naturita is a scenic, short, dead-end camping spur off Delores Norwood Road in an isolated parcel of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison National Forest. There are 9 large designated camp areas along the road. Areas 5 and 6 offer multiple campsites where several camping parties could find space. It is an easy, graded road suitable for any vehicle, including RVs and travel trailers.

Paradox Road is a nearly 4-mile dead-end trail that follows a utility corridor past a few campsites. The road surface is primarily hard-packed dirt with exposed chunky sandstone, which makes the road rough and bumpy. Rocks and general smaller than a baseball, with a few sporadic grapefruit-sized rocks that can easily be avoided. The trail ends at a private property gate and boundary. The best camping is located within the first 1.5 miles, where there are 3-4 spacious and fairly flat sites good for ground tents, rooftop tents, and offroad trailers. The trail is easily handled in 2WD by any high clearance vehicle. Vehicles with low clearance should avoid this road after the first half mile.

Red Creek Road is a one-lane gravel road, but has frequent turnouts for passing oncoming vehicles. Four Wheel Drive is not required, although a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. This 15-mile trail follows Red Creek and is accessed directly from Hwy 50 across from the Blue Mesa Reservoir. It runs through multiple land agencies, beginning in the Curecanti National Recreation Area, BLM land, the Sapinero State Wildlife Area, and finally entering the Gunnison National Forest. As it climbs into the forest, dense groves of Spruce and Aspen trees line the trail. Red Creek Road is a good pick for someone who wants a non-technical drive but with beautiful views.

You will find several primitive campsites along the drive, mostly at lower elevations, though a few sit higher up. Well-marked side spurs also lead deeper into the forest for more secluded camping and exploring.

North Threemile Spur is an easy camping road off Browns Creek Road, which can be combined with Browns Creek Spur to create the only loop in this trail system. It is primarily a hard-packed dirt road with sporadic loose golfball and baseball-sized rocks, and several tall waterbars. It provides access to abundant dispersed campsites throughout that are extremely large. The campsites at the beginning of the road are great for big groups and large trailers. The deeper into the road you travel, the sites are still large and suitable for nearly any camp setup, but long trailers and RVs will need to be cautious of the weaterbars. The road dead-ends at a private property gate, where incredible views back to the west are obtained. A short back track will take you to the connection with Browns Creek Spur.

The road is suitable for any vehicle, and cellular service is strong along the entire route.

FS 405 shares the Powerline Road name with another road in the area and offers a similar experience as you make your way up and down several hills, following the electrical towers. The road is a bit easier than its sister trail, with a rutty, muddy surface at times and sporadic small rocks ranging from baseball to grapefruit size. It is a single-vehicle-wide road with plenty of space and opportunities to pass oncoming traffic. The road is primarily used as a quick link between Upper House Creek and Bean Canyon, and is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle. Unlike many of the roads in the area, there are no campsites along Powerline 405.

East Fourmile is a scenic, dead-end camping spur road off Browns Creek Road, offering 6-8 fantastic campsites. The road is primarily a hard-packed dirt two-track, with a raised centerline of growing vegetation and peppered with loose golfball to baseball-sized rocks. Low clearance vehicles may find the road challenging due to the raised centerline and several tall waterbars. Any high clearance vehicle will travel the road with ease and will not need 4WD.

There are many flat, open areas suitable for camping, but there are also 6 spacious, already established campsites with rock fire rings along the route. The trees are thin here, so wind protection is not great. The road dead ends at a private property gate with a large and extremely scenic, 180-degree view campsite looking back towards Mount Shavano and the mountain range east of Salida. The drive back to the start of the trail is especially scenic as you stare at Mount White and Mount Antero.