Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Pine Brook Hill, Colorado

Magnolia Road East accesses the Aspen Meadows residential area but allows you to avoid the heavy traffic of Boulder Canyon. This is a smooth dirt road any vehicle can navigate, and it has beautiful scenery. It is a double-track road with many driveways, so watch your speed.
Learn more about Magnolia Road East

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

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

Starting on Country Road 100, you'll head east onto the dirt path. You will then turn onto USFS Road 376. Once you are on the trail, it is pretty calm but you'll still need an SUV with decent clearance to cross some deep ruts and off-camber sections. It's a fairly calm trail, but there are still sno...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

Enjoy this simple trail that leads to some pretty camp spots. If you're lucky, you might even be able to see a moose! Most vehicles can do this road, although it does have some spots that might rub a lower clearance vehicle. This is a common area for people living the van life to stay, so it can be ...
Learn more about Peewink

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

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

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

The trail to Left Hand Reservoir is a nice out and back trail that leads to a good reservoir for fishing. A great trail to be surrounded by trees, mountains, and some good friends. It contains a lot of big ruts that were washed out by water to flex out your rig. The trail has lots of tree stumps, ro...
Learn more about Left Hand Reservoir

Kids will love this small area with intersecting forest roads and camping. To camp, enter at the north end. No dirt bikes allowed on this trail. Open May 15 to November 30.
Learn more about West Magnolia

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

The Michigan Hill trail starts from the Pickle Gulch Campground. This trail is a relatively easy trail for most off-road vehicles, although there are some narrow points on the trail. This trail winds through mining country. There are lots of mines in this area, and the usual holes and tailings piles...
Learn more about Michigan Hill

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

Rollins Pass East is a rugged, historic trail that follows a former railroad route over the Continental Divide, offering a challenging drive with significant elevation gain. The road is characterized by its rocky surface, potholes, and a steady, bumpy climb, making it suitable for high-clearance veh...
Learn more about Rollins Pass East

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

Apex Road is a scenic, graded gravel road that runs from south to north through Colorado's historic mining country. The southern portion is smoother and well-maintained, suitable for most vehicles in dry conditions. As you continue north, particularly after turning onto Elk Park Road, the trail beco...
Learn more about Apex Road

Nevadaville Loop is a graded, wide gravel road that offers a flowy and easy drive through Colorado's historic mining country. The route is washboarded in places but remains free of obstacles, making it suitable for most vehicles in dry conditions. Along the way, you'll pass through the residential a...
Learn more about Nevadaville Loop

Virginia Canyon Road is a simple dirt road with scenic views and lots of leftover mining equipment. While the road is generally plenty wide, there are occasionally times when you will share the road with mining company trucks hauling large vehicles and taking up space. This may require some maneuver...
Learn more about Virginia Canyon Road

Two Brothers Road is a simple dirt road with scenic views, lots of leftover mining equipment as well as sealed mine shafts littering the road, and, depending on the time of year, wash-boarding so bad your fillings will rattle out. At the north end of the road, concrete briefly interrupts the dirt be...
Learn more about Two Brothers Road

This is an easy, one-way trail with a few places to pass and some rocky and washed-out sections. You'll find a handful of dispersed campsites and great views of Idaho Springs. The end of the trail is a gate leading to private property, and there is plenty of room to turn around.
Learn more about Santa Fe Trail

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

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

Starting on Country Road 100, you'll head east onto the dirt path. You will then turn onto USFS Road 376. Once you are on the trail, it is pretty calm but you'll still need an SUV with decent clearance to cross some deep ruts and off-camber sections. It's a fairly calm trail, but there are still sno...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

Enjoy this simple trail that leads to some pretty camp spots. If you're lucky, you might even be able to see a moose! Most vehicles can do this road, although it does have some spots that might rub a lower clearance vehicle. This is a common area for people living the van life to stay, so it can be ...
Learn more about Peewink

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

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

Starting on Country Road 100, you'll head east onto the dirt path. You will then turn onto USFS Road 376. Once you are on the trail, it is pretty calm but you'll still need an SUV with decent clearance to cross some deep ruts and off-camber sections. It's a fairly calm trail, but there are still sno...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

Enjoy this simple trail that leads to some pretty camp spots. If you're lucky, you might even be able to see a moose! Most vehicles can do this road, although it does have some spots that might rub a lower clearance vehicle. This is a common area for people living the van life to stay, so it can be ...
Learn more about Peewink