Ensign Gulch

Just outside of Monument, Colorado, Ensign Gulch Road is a rolling ride through Pike National Forest. While there aren’t any major obstacles on this trail, the rutted and washed areas provide a test of your vehicle’s articulation and a driver’s tire placement. In the winter, snow turns these ruts and off-camber sections from a nice drive through evergreens and aspens, to a slippery and challenging trail where a winch is a requirement. Since it’s open year-round, it’s part of a network of trails that are popular along the Front Range during the off-season. Summer or winter, add this to Beaver Creek Road or Schubarth Road and it’s spurs for a full day of wheeling. The trails in this portion of the Pike National Forest are also packed full of other recreation destinations and nearby is the Rampart Reservoir. Built in the 1960s, the 13 billion gallon water source is a destination for fishermen, non-motorized watercraft, and those just looking to catch a little sun and sand in Colorado. Near that is The Farish Recreation Area, a mountain resort reserved for military members and their families.