Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Lake City, Colorado

This is an out-and-back trail that offers a little bit of everything from dispersed camping, to amazing views, to a few technical spots. In just a short 5 miles you will gain almost 3,000 ft of elevation and once to the top you will have a great view of the famous Cinnamon Mountain and Engineer Moun...
Learn more about County Road 14 - Lake City

Enjoy this section of the famous Alpine Loop, which can be combined with Engineer Pass. Take Wager Gulch up to Carson Ghost Town, and follow Cinnamon Pass Road up to American Basin. Take a moment to enjoy the wildflowers this area is known for. Staging is available on the western side across from Eu...
Learn more about Cinnamon Pass

The trail begins at the split of CR 30 and CR 33. Take this detour to experience the east side of Lake San Cristobal and as a great option to avoid the busy first few miles of the Cinnamon Pass Trail. The trail is typically two vehicles wide with gentle grades and gravel. Great views of Lake San Cri...
Learn more about CR 33 - Lake San Cristobal East

North Henson Creek Road is one of the many spurs roads off Engineer Pass on the Alpine loop and offers numerous good dispersed camping sites including some larger sites. It is accessible for medium-sized RVs and trailers. This road is mild and semi-maintained and suitable for vehicles with the excep...
Learn more about North Henson Creek Road

The road leading up to this trail is seasonal, specifically once you reach the National Forest line - no motorized vehicles during the winter/spring months. It's an easy dirt road that climbs 1,000' in elevation, offering sweeping views of the mountains and forest. Various side-roads in the area off...
Learn more about Into the Forest We Go

Nestled at the base of Denver Hill, the Denver Lake Trail offers a delightful excursion for nature enthusiasts. The trail, though short, is packed scenic highlights that make it well worth the visit. The first notable sight is an old building that has remarkably withstood the test of time. This stru...
Learn more about Denver Lake

This in-and-out trail is a short, 3.5-mile round-trip trail with views and history. You will see a sign indicating the road is a dead end. At the very end of the trail are some ruins and old mining equipment. If you feel like hiking, there are some cool mines to see. Roads may still be snow cove...
Learn more about Mineral Point

California Gulch is an ideal high-alpine route for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles and high-clearance SUVs seeking spectacular scenery and historical mining ruins in Colorado's rugged San Juan Mountains. This roughly five-mile trail climbs from an elevation of 10,988 feet up to a breathtaking 12,928...
Learn more about California Gulch

Grouse Gulch is a charming and brief offshoot of County Road 2. Despite its short length, this trail boasts a stunning view of the Animas River, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. Grouse Gulch offers a delightful experience that captures the scenic beauty of the r...
Learn more about Grouse Gulch

This historic and scenic off-road route travels between two high alpine gulches just outside Silverton, climbing through wildflower-speckled meadows, past century-old mining ruins, and into panoramic high-country views. The trail begins with a steep, rocky ascent over the first two miles—expect care...
Learn more about Placer and Picayne Gulch

West Fork Cimarron Road is a scenic 3.4-mile out-and-back trail in the Uncompahgre National Forest, perfect for scenic tourers, SxSs, and high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles seeking majestic mountain views and access to wilderness trailheads. Starting at an elevation of 10,075 feet and climbing...
Learn more about West Fork Cimarron Road

The Old Owl Creek ATV trail is 4 miles long, riding below the Spruce Ridge and Owl Creek Pass through the Owl Creek drainage. The trail's east end starts at a pinch point between two boulders off of Owl Creek Pass and descends the mountainside on a loose, rocky two-track. It has loose rock filling i...
Learn more about Old Owl Creek ATV

Mill Creek Road is a scenic, beginner-friendly route that offers over 15 miles of stunning high-country vistas, making it perfect for novice offroaders, overland rigs, and even large trailers. Traversing Hinsdale and Gunnison counties, this easy dirt road climbs from an elevation of 8,887 feet up to...
Learn more about Mill Creek Road

West Fork is an easy and scenic ATV trail for vehicles 50" or less through the Uncompahgre National Forest near the Silver Jack Reservoir. The east side starts on Cimarron Forks Access Road, past a few nice dispersed campsites. It's a wide and smooth two-track as it heads into the trees. Most of the...
Learn more about West Fork ATV

The B Spur starts at the intersection with the Old Owl Creek ATV trail and goes south for 1.3 miles, curving through the pine forest on a shelfy and rocky trail. It has big wide sweeping corners as it zig zags up the mountain. The trail is covered in small embedded and loose rocks. The trail was cle...
Learn more about B Spur

This 3.7-mile long ATV trail starts on Owl Creek Pass and zig-zags south through the Uncompahgre National Forest. The south nd accesses the non-motorized Stealey Mountain North hiking trail. The trail's north end is wide and smooth, like an old road. Most of the rest of the trail is an easy two-trac...
Learn more about Stealey Mountain ATV

Middle Blue Creek is a short, scenic forested trail ideal for beginner offroaders and high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles seeking a quick escape into the high country. Spanning approximately 2.2 miles, this easy dirt route features an elevation climb of 885 feet, starting at 9,927 feet and topp...
Learn more about Middle Blue Creek

From the Stealey Mountain ATV trail, this spur branches off and heads east, making big wide switchbacks on an easy trail through fir trees and aspens. It comes to an intersection to either go northeast to the Old Owl Creek ATV trail, or continue southeast on the spur. From this intersection, it con...
Learn more about Stealey Mountain Spur ATV

The journey to the Sound Democrat Mill is indeed steeped in history, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. Nestled at the bottom of a picturesque valley, the mill stands as a testament to the industrious spirit of a bygone era. This historic mill, once a bustling hub of activity, played a cr...
Learn more about Sound Democrat Mill

This out-and-back trail may be brief, but it is rich with stories of ambition, perseverance, and the enduring human spirit. Situated off of Picayune/Placer Gulch, it leads you directly to the legendary Silver Queen and Sound Democrat Mines. Along the way, you'll encounter remnants of a bygone era, w...
Learn more about Silver Queen

Enjoy this section of the famous Alpine Loop, which can be combined with Engineer Pass. Take Wager Gulch up to Carson Ghost Town, and follow Cinnamon Pass Road up to American Basin. Take a moment to enjoy the wildflowers this area is known for. Staging is available on the western side across from Eu...
Learn more about Cinnamon Pass

The trail begins at the split of CR 30 and CR 33. Take this detour to experience the east side of Lake San Cristobal and as a great option to avoid the busy first few miles of the Cinnamon Pass Trail. The trail is typically two vehicles wide with gentle grades and gravel. Great views of Lake San Cri...
Learn more about CR 33 - Lake San Cristobal East

North Henson Creek Road is one of the many spurs roads off Engineer Pass on the Alpine loop and offers numerous good dispersed camping sites including some larger sites. It is accessible for medium-sized RVs and trailers. This road is mild and semi-maintained and suitable for vehicles with the excep...
Learn more about North Henson Creek Road

The road leading up to this trail is seasonal, specifically once you reach the National Forest line - no motorized vehicles during the winter/spring months. It's an easy dirt road that climbs 1,000' in elevation, offering sweeping views of the mountains and forest. Various side-roads in the area off...
Learn more about Into the Forest We Go

This is an out-and-back trail that offers a little bit of everything from dispersed camping, to amazing views, to a few technical spots. In just a short 5 miles you will gain almost 3,000 ft of elevation and once to the top you will have a great view of the famous Cinnamon Mountain and Engineer Moun...
Learn more about County Road 14 - Lake City

Enjoy this section of the famous Alpine Loop, which can be combined with Engineer Pass. Take Wager Gulch up to Carson Ghost Town, and follow Cinnamon Pass Road up to American Basin. Take a moment to enjoy the wildflowers this area is known for. Staging is available on the western side across from Eu...
Learn more about Cinnamon Pass

The trail begins at the split of CR 30 and CR 33. Take this detour to experience the east side of Lake San Cristobal and as a great option to avoid the busy first few miles of the Cinnamon Pass Trail. The trail is typically two vehicles wide with gentle grades and gravel. Great views of Lake San Cri...
Learn more about CR 33 - Lake San Cristobal East

North Henson Creek Road is one of the many spurs roads off Engineer Pass on the Alpine loop and offers numerous good dispersed camping sites including some larger sites. It is accessible for medium-sized RVs and trailers. This road is mild and semi-maintained and suitable for vehicles with the excep...
Learn more about North Henson Creek Road