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…
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…
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…
Learn more about CR 33 - Lake San Cristobal East

Mill Creek Road follows Mill Creek through Upper Mill Creek Pond, Lower Mill Creek Pond, and into Powderhorn and La Garita Wilderness areas. There is a lot of fishing along Mill Creek and the ponds…
Learn more about Mill Creek Road

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…
Learn more about North Henson Creek Road

Lost Trail is a 50" trail more suited for dirt bikes than 50" vehicles. It is a connector between Cinnamon Pass (part of the Alpine Loop) and Stoney Pass via the interesting ghost town of…
Learn more about Lost Trail 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,…
Learn more about Into the Forest We Go

This is an easy drive along a washboard logging road that winds through the National Forest following the Little Cimarron Creek and ends near tree line. Beautiful meadows and aspen groves line the trail. You…
Learn more about Little Cimarron Creek

Turning off from the main highway, there are about 8 miles of private land you have to get through before reaching BLM. At about mile 7 is a seasonal closure gate: "From December 1 to…
Learn more about Alpine Plateau Road

This trail starts just off Highway 149 and north of South Clear Creek Falls. Take a quick detour at the beginning of the trail to view North Clear Creek Falls, one of the most photographed…
Learn more about CR 16/FR 510 - North Clear Creek Falls

This short, quick little trail is only 2 miles long and leads to a dead-end overlook up on the hillside. The overlook views are not the most spectacular by any means, but it's a nice…
Learn more about Middle Blue Creek

This trail takes you up along the Rio Grande past its reservoir to the headwaters. There is beautiful scenery, campsites along the river and some of the best trout fishing to be had. It runs…
Learn more about NF 520 - Rio Grande Reservoir & Headwaters

This beautifully scenic route takes you past Chimney Rock and up into the Uncompahgre Wilderness/National Forest. There are scattered primitive campgrounds all along the way. The first mile and a half (or so) of this…
Learn more about West Fork Cimarron Road

This trail is most easily accessed from the north end near the Bristol Head CG. While it can be done from south to north, the southern terminus of the trail is difficult to find as…
Learn more about FR 556 - Clear Creek Ridge

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…
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…
Learn more about Placer and Picayne Gulch

This trail starts at the Animus Forks Ghost Town, and the start of the famous Alpine Loops. This is a remote and beautiful drive that passes by many old mining buildings. Make time to stop…
Learn more about California Gulch

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…
Learn more about Denver Lake

This is an enjoyable and easy 45-mile trip over Owl Creek Pass between the Uncompahgre and Cimarron Rivers. There can be a few water-filled potholes, but nothing that would stop a passenger car with reasonable…
Learn more about Owl Creek Pass

This is a very scenic, pastoral drive down Cimarron Road into the Uncompaghre National Forest. There are many side roads leading to various forks of the Cimarron River, with plentiful dispersed camping sites along the…
Learn more about Cimarron Owl Creek Pass

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…
Learn more about Mineral Point

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…
Learn more about West Fork ATV

An easy trail turning off CR2, and ending in the alpine tundra at a hiking trailhead. The trail passes several abandoned mining camps in various states of disrepair, and a decent size waterfall with a…
Learn more about Minnie Gulch

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…
Learn more about Old Owl Creek 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…
Learn more about B Spur

This trail takes you to Crystal Lake. It is a small mountain-top lake with a quiet little spot where you can camp. This is probably the wildlife watering hole in the evening and early mornings.…
Learn more about Crystal Lake - NF 532-2A

Short, easy trail that turns off from CR2 and ends at the remains of the Intersection Mill, built in the 1890s during the CO gold rush. It also connects to a network of hiking trails…
Learn more about Maggie Gulch

The Cowboy Lakes ATV trail starts from the south end at the intersection with the West Fork ATV trail and heads north. It's a smooth flowy two-track between spruce trees and aspen trees. It has…
Learn more about Cowboy Lakes ATV

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…
Learn more about Stealey Mountain Spur ATV

This is a short spur through a private area down to the South Fork Animas River. The road ends at a gate, short of what the Motor Vehicle Use Map shows, to keep traffic out…
Learn more about South Fork Animas Trailhead