Colorado Off-Road Trails

Hermit Pass is one of the few trails allowing you to drive a vehicle above 13,000' in elevation.  Originally built as a mining exploration route and a connection between the Westcliffe Valley and the San Louis Valley, the road now primarily serves the recreation community.  The route takes you through lower-elevation forests and aspen groves, past high-alpine lakes, and culminates with panoramic views both east and west framing the vast valleys below.  The road does not offer much in the form of a technical challenge, but the scenery is well worth the trip!  Hermit Pass should be part of your trail plans if you are in the Westcliffe area.

Carnage Canyon, or Carnage BV as it is sometimes referred to, is an extreme rock crawling trail. Though it is less than a mile long, this trail will take most of the day to complete, depending on the group size and the needed trail repairs. It is impossible to get through without a winch and a minimum of 37'' tires. Lockers are required, and vehicle damage is almost inevitable. This route features huge boulders, daunting waterfall climbs, and a V-notch obstacle that pushes most vehicles onto their side.

This trail should not be attempted if you do not meet the posted requirements at the trailhead.

Italian Creek is a challenging trail that connects Cement Creek, just south of Crested Butte, to the Taylor Park area. Originally built in the 1880s, this trail was originally created as a connector trail between Taylor Park and Crested Butte, two prevalent mining towns at the time. This trail has quite a bit of diversity, with the western half of it being mostly in the forest with tight trees and the eastern half being above the treeline, which showcases the high mountain peaks and vistas for which this area is famous. While this is an all-day adventure traversing quintessential Colorado high-country, this route is not for the faint of heart and will test a stock rig.

Hall Valley is a quick, relatively easy, scenic 4x4 trail that is close to Denver, Colorado. It leads you through aspen, pine, and finally into an open basin where you can explore the old structures of the Missouri Mine by foot. There are other four-wheel drive trails nearby such as Red Cone, Webster, and Beaver Lakes along with the Gibson Lake and Whale Peak hiking trails. Hall Valley is named after Colonel William Jairus Hall, a local mine owner.

Dakota Hill offers spectacular mountain vistas, interesting mining relics, and connections to many more trails to explore. On the way to the trailhead, Apex has a few present-day residents but is a well-preserved ghost town. This offroad 4x4 route is one of the main spines of the extensive network of trails around Dakota Hill and Oregon Hill southwest of Rollinsville. This whole network is a remnant of a bygone era where a few made fortunes and others died with shattered dreams.

Located just west of De Beque, in the desert mountains of western Colorado, Monument Rocks is a trail that will surprise you with beauty, interesting rock formations, open camp views, jaw-dropping cliffs, and even the sights and sounds of wild horses. Close to Grand Junction, this off-road trail is easy enough to be completed by just about any SUV, and offers endless recreational opportunities as it snakes its way through the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Area; One of only three such ranges in the United States. Bring the family, bring a lunch, and bring the binoculars as you scout the horizon for the plethora of diverse colored horses roaming the area.

Hayden Pass is one of the few remaining routes that cross the Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range. Once used by the Utes to go from the Arkansas River to the San Louis Valley, the road now connects the town of Villa Grove on the west with the town of Coaldale on the east. Climbing the west side of the pass is slightly more difficult and rocky compared to the east side, but both sides of the pass offer magnificent views of the valleys below.

Saran Wrap delivers a short but satisfying dose of Front Range wheeling southwest of Colorado Springs, making it a great trail to test out a new build without committing to a full day. The trail wastes little time putting your suspension to work, with rocky climbs, embedded boulders, erosion ruts, and uneven ledges that flex, twist, and articulate your vehicle through tight forest terrain. For drivers looking to shake down new tires, suspension, armor, lockers, or gearing, Saran Wrap offers enough technical challenge to expose strengths and weaknesses while still keeping the experience compact, focused, and fun.

Illinois Gulch is a slightly rough picturesque trail in the Rainbow Falls area of Colorado. Easy to access yet less crowded than the nearby Flake Road, it's perfect for those looking for a peaceful weekend getaway, complete with numerous well-developed campsites. Illinois Gulch is a gateway to Long Hollow Road and the 15-square-mile Rainbow Falls Trail Network. However, this mild trail becomes significantly more challenging with fresh or ice-packed snow during winter, requiring extra caution. Despite its roughness, Illinois Gulch remains an alluring destination for newbies and seasoned drivers seeking memorable off-roading adventures while camping amidst nature's beauty.

Offering amazing campsites with spectacular views of the Gore Range of mountains, Muddy Pass traverses from Vail to Wolcott, Colorado. This easy trail also accesses innumerable hiking trails and more challenging 4WD routes along its 30-mile stretch.

Located on the western slope of Colorado near Grand Junction, Billings Canyon Jeep Trail is an extreme trail for purpose-built vehicles. This hardcore offroad trail will test the limits of both man and machine as you work through a narrow one-way canyon within the Bang Canyon Management Areas. The Grand Mesa Jeep Club built the trail in the early 2000s in partnership with the BLM and other 4x4 enthusiasts. Big tires and big suspension are a must to traverse through the relentless onslaught of massive boulders, tall ledges, and deep holes.

Located near the base of Button Rock Mountain, this forest service road offers a comfortable offroad venue appropriate for an afternoon getaway or a weekend camping excursion. With stunning views of the Front Range Valley and Coulson Gulch, Button Rock Road has a pleasant mixture of forested and open terrain. This route is popular with mountain bikers, hikers, and off-roaders alike.

Located within the Gunnison Nation Forest and passing through one of the most scenic and accessible valleys in Colorado, Gothic Road is a popular paradise for sightseers, photographers, and recreationalists of all varieties. Traveling this road is an unforgettable experience as you meander through the valley with panoramic views sandwiched between towering peaks such as Mount Baldy, Mount Bellview, Gothic Mountain, Avery Peak, and White Rock Mountain. Often flanked by wildflowers during the summer, this already picturesque trail becomes even more vibrant in the fall when vast groves of aspen trees ignite into a blaze of golden hues, contrasting with the deep greens of surrounding evergreens. Gothic Road offers an intimate glimpse into the untamed beauty of the Rocky Mountains and leaves you awestruck and speechless.