Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Lyons, Colorado

The route begins in the middle of Cave Creek and is both USFS 217C and 217D. If you head up the left side of the trail there is a nice hill that offers some good rock climbing for the more mild vehicles. Once you reach the end of the left side, it opens up to a nice little fire ring accompanied by a...
Learn more about Rifle Road

Chipmunk Gulch is a short, scenic route near Ward, Colorado, perfect for beginner offroaders and those looking for a quick mountain getaway with great camping. Stretching approximately 0.7 miles through the Arapaho National Forest, this dirt trail sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet and offers...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

This trail continues from the famous Switzerland Trail on the north side of Gold Hill Road and exits on Sawmill Road. It offers varied rocky terrain similar to the southern Switzerland Trail, with the addition of deep mud holes, scenic views, and an early option to explore the in-and-out Knob Hill t...
Learn more about Switzerland Trail - North

Calm out and back trail ending at a hut on private land. Be sure to not trespass on the private land. Some small ruts and rocks, along with some off-camber berms. A technical rock patch that requires concentration and good tire placement. Lots of campsites throughout the trail that are secluded from...
Learn more about Gold Lake Trail

Left Hand Reservoir is a scenic, moderately challenging out-and-back trail near Ward, Colorado, perfect for off-roaders with high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles looking to reach an alpine lake with excellent fishing. Spanning approximately 1.8 miles one-way, the route begins near Red Rock Lake...
Learn more about Left Hand Reservoir

Magnolia Road East is a scenic, well-graded 7-mile dirt road connecting Nederland to the Aspen Meadows area in the Colorado foothills. Ranging from 8,040 to 8,690 feet in elevation, this route offers views of Tungsten Mountain and Forsythe Rock, serving as a peaceful alternative to Boulder Canyon. ...
Learn more about Magnolia Road East

Peewink is a scenic, beginner-friendly trail ideal for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, SxSs, and dirt bikes looking for easy access to beautiful dispersed camping in the Roosevelt National Forest. Spanning approximately 1.9 miles near Nederland, Colorado, this route winds through dense pine forests...
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You're likely to see hikers on this trail, and it is a popular camping destination on the weekends. Check for postings on what camping is dispersed and what is designated. Be bear aware and plan accordingly. Trail is open all year.
Learn more about Gordon Gulch

This is a super fun, single lane road to amazing camping. You'll camp above the reservoir and fish, canoe, kayak and relax. No swimming. Open to licensed and unlicensed vehicles. Trail is open from May 15 to November 30.
Learn more about Gross Reservoir

West Magnolia is a scenic, beginner-friendly offroad route winding through the Roosevelt National Forest near Rollinsville, offering a network of intersecting forest roads, dispersed camping, and access to historic mining ruins. Spanning approximately 4.2 miles, this trail starts at an elevation of ...
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Bring your camera and visit Chasm Falls. Drive above the timberline on winding switchbacks, then visit Estes Park where you can get up close to elk (not too close), shop and have a great meal. A fee is required to enter the park. This road is open July 4 and closes with the first heavy snowfall. No ...
Learn more about Old Fall River Road

A fun, out and back trail with a great campsite a few hundred feet up the trail, and an abandoned mining site just past that. The trail is fairly narrow. 4WD wasn't required, but definitely helpful on the loose rock and dirt. The trail culminates at the border with private property and a closed gate...
Learn more about Buckeye Mountain Road 512.1

Buckhorn Road (Larimer County Road 44H) is a highly scenic dirt route that serves as a major connector between the Stove Prairie area and Pingree Park Road. Heading east to west, the trail gently climbs through Buckhorn Canyon, following a creek through thick pine and aspen forests up to the 9,163-f...
Learn more about Buckhorn Road - 44H

Michigan Hill is an excellent route for scenic cruisers and intermediate offroaders looking for a historic drive through Colorado's mining country with panoramic views. Starting near the Pickle Gulch Campground, this 5.7-mile trail winds through dense pine forests and open valleys, offering spectacu...
Learn more about Michigan Hill

Rollins Pass East is a scenic, historic trek ideal for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs looking to explore the rugged beauty of the Continental Divide along an abandoned railway grade. Starting near Tolland at approximately 9,189 feet, this 12.1-mile route climbs steadily to a maximum elevat...
Learn more about Rollins Pass East

This is a short and easy out-and-back trail. The trail passes through a private area leading back to a group camp and some private houses. The local landowners have built a gate and marked it as private property, so the accessible trail terminates before the map shows. However, this road gives you a...
Learn more about FS 145

This trail begins off Highway 119 and just south of the start of the Pickle Gulch trail. The majority of this trail consists of a dirt road, with some single-lane sections winding through private property. Pay attention to and respect private property signage. You'll see many ruins of old mining act...
Learn more about Missouri Gulch Road - CR 15S/15N

Forest Service Road 147 is a quick, one-mile out-and-back spur off FS 145 that serves a single primary purpose: accessing the Emmaline Lake primitive trailhead. Because of its short length, it is not a standalone off-roading destination, but rather a bumpy access route for hikers and backpackers. Th...
Learn more about FS 147

This trail is an offshoot from Apex Road. If you want something slightly more technically challenging than Apex, this is a fun alternative to explore. The trail is fairly tight. 4WD is required in a couple of steep sections with loose rock. Some of the trail runs through private property, but there ...
Learn more about N Clear Creek Road

This scenic 12.6-mile point-to-point route offers four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, SxSs, and high-clearance vehicles an adventurous alternative climb to the pristine waters of Meadow Creek Reservoir. Starting along the heavily eroded Hurd Creek Road, the climb demands careful tire placement over bumpy ...
Learn more about Meadow Creek Reservoir CR 848

The route begins in the middle of Cave Creek and is both USFS 217C and 217D. If you head up the left side of the trail there is a nice hill that offers some good rock climbing for the more mild vehicles. Once you reach the end of the left side, it opens up to a nice little fire ring accompanied by a...
Learn more about Rifle Road

Chipmunk Gulch is a short, scenic route near Ward, Colorado, perfect for beginner offroaders and those looking for a quick mountain getaway with great camping. Stretching approximately 0.7 miles through the Arapaho National Forest, this dirt trail sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet and offers...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

This trail continues from the famous Switzerland Trail on the north side of Gold Hill Road and exits on Sawmill Road. It offers varied rocky terrain similar to the southern Switzerland Trail, with the addition of deep mud holes, scenic views, and an early option to explore the in-and-out Knob Hill t...
Learn more about Switzerland Trail - North

Calm out and back trail ending at a hut on private land. Be sure to not trespass on the private land. Some small ruts and rocks, along with some off-camber berms. A technical rock patch that requires concentration and good tire placement. Lots of campsites throughout the trail that are secluded from...
Learn more about Gold Lake Trail

The route begins in the middle of Cave Creek and is both USFS 217C and 217D. If you head up the left side of the trail there is a nice hill that offers some good rock climbing for the more mild vehicles. Once you reach the end of the left side, it opens up to a nice little fire ring accompanied by a...
Learn more about Rifle Road

Chipmunk Gulch is a short, scenic route near Ward, Colorado, perfect for beginner offroaders and those looking for a quick mountain getaway with great camping. Stretching approximately 0.7 miles through the Arapaho National Forest, this dirt trail sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet and offers...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

This trail continues from the famous Switzerland Trail on the north side of Gold Hill Road and exits on Sawmill Road. It offers varied rocky terrain similar to the southern Switzerland Trail, with the addition of deep mud holes, scenic views, and an early option to explore the in-and-out Knob Hill t...
Learn more about Switzerland Trail - North

Calm out and back trail ending at a hut on private land. Be sure to not trespass on the private land. Some small ruts and rocks, along with some off-camber berms. A technical rock patch that requires concentration and good tire placement. Lots of campsites throughout the trail that are secluded from...
Learn more about Gold Lake Trail