Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Salida, Colorado

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Badger Creek

An easy and fairly scenic Jeep trail.Badger Creek has nothing above timberline, but is a nice drive along Sand Gulch, with lots of open views along the north segment that follows the powerline. You cross…
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Total Miles
23.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Mt. Shavano

The first half of this route follows CR 250 through BLM Land with great views of the Arkansas River Valley to the south. The road forks midway through as it enters Forest Service Land; stay…
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Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hecla Junction - Arkansas River Headwaters

Co Rd 194 is a graded road maintained May - September that ends at the Arkansas River with a beautiful campground and river takeout spot. Fee required for camping. Makes for a wonderful daytime swim…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Black Dumps

This is a scenic and varied Jeep trail close to Buena Vista. Coal was once mined in the area, and that is what gives the trail its strange name.The track winds its way through open…
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Total Miles
11.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Pride of the West Tunnel

This has to be the best mine portal ever! Fantastic granite stonework with a capstone inscribed "Pride of the West 1880". A two-story hotel was beside the tunnel when it was in operation.Follow the North…
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Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Countryside Tour

A very easy tour taking you through the non-alpine area southeast of Buena Vista. This is a good chance to see what the backcountry looks like east of the Collegiate Range. You will pass through…
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Total Miles
111.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Billings Lake

This is a very bumpy and rocky road, so those with stock vehicles should be cautioned. You will stay mostly in the trees until the North Fork Reservoir. The final stretch of road is only…
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Total Miles
7.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Rock N' Roll 1 (1434 A)

Closed to vehicles over 50" wide. This 2-mile track has a fun variety of just about everything - from dirt to sand to rock. There are one or two pretty technical spots that could be…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Bald Mountain Gulch 2

Section 2 of the Bald Mountain Gulch trail in the Four Mile OHV recreation area. This 3 mile section leads you past Little Cottonwood Creek and Arnold Gulch where ATV/dirt bike only trails are. Predominantly…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Arnold Gulch

This trail is nearly 2 miles in length and is comprised entirely of loose, sandy washes with very bumpy washboards. It connects the two Triad Ridge trails to the primary road. The west end of…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Triad Ridge East (ATV)

This trail is only open to vehicles 50" or less. This mild and quick mile and a half-mile route offers beautiful views of the surrounding area and neighboring mountain range. Nothing is challenging to note…
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Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Bald Mountain Gulch 3

This 1.8 mile section either ends or begins at a smaller parking lot (staging area). Dirt and sandy washes predominantly with a couple of short, steep grades to get up/down. There are sections where water…
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Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

CR 304

This trail begins at the Collegiate Peaks Recreation site. This area has picnic pavilions and restrooms. Along the trail, there are several other trailheads for hiking and mountain biking trails. This is a maintained road…
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Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fourmile Area

Very fun area for ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes. The northwest corner is a spider web of roads that are great for exploring. There are options for beautiful dispersed campsites with incredible views of the…
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Total Miles
23.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Old Chalk Rd (Co Rd 292)

This is an easy side road that connects Alpine, CO and St. Elmo, CO. It is drivable by most vehicles except cars with minimal ground clearance. As with most trails in this area, it is…
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Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Old Monarch Pass

Not all trails need to be difficult Jeep trails! This is a pleasant drive over a historic pass, through a large park and a bunch of forests, and into the town of Pitkin.Old Monarch Pass…
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Total Miles
50.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

BLM 376

This trail is accessible off of BLM 375 "Four Mile Creek", BLM 311 and Lenhardy Cutoff. Approximately 2 miles in length, this trail starts out on the west end as easily accessible by most 4WD…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

31 Mile Creek

An easy ride from Countryside Tour GP to Highway 9 in the lower country east of Buena Vista. The central part of the trail follows 31 Mile Creek through part of the Pike National Forest,…
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Total Miles
16
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Alpine Tunnel

The Alpine Tunnel was once the highest railroad tunnel in the world. At an altitude of 11,523 feet, it was the first tunnel to be built through the Continental Divide. The Denver, South Park and…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Pony Park Road - 433

This trail takes you through mostly aspen groves, open areas, and some of the burn scars of a wildfire in 2018. The trail can be tricky in wintertime due to some semi-steep sections, and drifting…
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Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

39 Mile Mountain Road

Trail pretty easy, rocky in places, good scenery. Drove most of the trail in 2 wheel drive, however high clearance was needed as well as 4 wheel drive in few places. The road changes names…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Buffalo Peaks Road #2 - 431

This is an easy road for all types of vehicles, mostly through open meadows. It can get muddy after a rain storm which can be an issue for passenger cars. This is the main road…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Buffalo Peaks Road - 431

This is an easy road for all vehicles, from open meadows to aspen groves, to burn scar areas. Use caution in burn areas during high winds as trees can blow down. In the wintertime, you'll…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

39 Mile Mountain Part 2

Segment 2 trail is pretty easy. It is rocky in places, with good scenery. I drove most of trail in 2 wheel drive, however high clearance was needed as well as 4 wheel drive a…
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Total Miles
8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Slaughter House Gulch

This is a fun trail along the edge of Union Park before climbing through the trees. It passes an old mining cabin that is known as the Christmas Cabin. It is decorated with Christmas decorations…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Slaughterhouse Gulch

This is a fun trail along the edge of Union Park before climbing through the trees. It passes an old mining cabin that is known as the Christmas Cabin. It is decorated with Christmas decorations…
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Total Miles
10.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Tin Cup Lily Pond

This is a very, short trail to a small, picturesque, serene lily pond. It has beautiful white and yellow lilies. The Tin Cup Lily Pond has a gorgeous backdrop of mountains including Cumberland Pass. It…
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Total Miles
0.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Red Buck Mine

This is a short, easy trail to see the ruins of the Red Buck Mine. It was part of the Columbine Mining Complex. There is a descriptive placard of the complex on the first cabin.…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Tin Cup Lily Pond Loop

The Tin Cup Lily Pond Loop Trail continues past the picturesque Tin Cup Lily Pond and winds through the forest until it reaches the edge of Willow Creek. It leaves Willow Creek and circles back…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Weston Pass

A nice, scenic drive, especially if you like seasonal colors. There is a campground available as well as some great camping spots along the South Fork of South Platte River and Big Union Creek.
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Total Miles
18.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa