Beginner Off-Road Trails Near San Luis, Colorado

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Fan Dike

This is a steep, narrow, out-and-back trail with many switchbacks and areas of loose rock. Some areas have steep drops, and the trail ends abruptly, but there is plenty of room to turn around. You…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Steep Mountain

This is a short, easy trail with a few dispersed campsites. It is really more of a road than a trail, and could be driven in most cars.
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Valle Vidal - FR 1950

This route is a beautiful forest road that takes you into the Carson National Forest/Sangre De Christo Mountains. The beginning of the trail immediately kicks off with stunning, towering rock cliffs on either side as…
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Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cucharas Pass

This is a fun, scenic drive through San Isabel National Forest. The road west of the pass is well maintained, with plenty of room for two-way traffic. East of the pass is rougher in spots,…
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Total Miles
20.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Greenie East

This trail starts up Marlette Canyon before splitting off from Sawmill Trail. It then splits again from the most direct and well marked route to the peak, dropping back down into a drainage, before climbing…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Old La Veta Pass

This trail is an old train route that connected the East and West sides of the Sangre de Cristo mountains up until the 1960s, when the highway was put in. It is now an unmaintained…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Taos Valley Road 5030 North

If quiet and solitude are what you're looking for, you've found the right trail. This is one of the most remote section of trail in the San Luis Valley. Stunning scenery of the vast Rio…
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Total Miles
49.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Pioneer Creek

Pioneer Creek Trail leaves from Red River behind the ski resort and then follows the canyon up. There are some large loose rocks towards the end and four water crossings where the trail crosses the…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cebolla Mesa

When the sign at the trail entrance states, "Not suitable for passenger cars", they aren't joking. This is a heavily unmaintained trail and is not recommended for anything with low clearance. Deep mud ruts are…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Dunn Bridge and Rio Grande Del Norte Loop

The Southern portion of the trail is easy for even for passenger cars. It features the stunning Dunn iron bridge with pit toilets available. Take a short side trip down either side of the bridge…
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Total Miles
10
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa

San Antonio Mountain Loop

This is an easy route around the base of the San Antonio Mountain. The ride was pretty with grand vistas, an easy trail, and some wildlife. Not recommended for passenger cars, no winter maintenance. That…
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Total Miles
24.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

La Jara Canyon

This trail is a well-maintained forest road that leads from US 64 to some logging trails along the border of the Taos Pueblo. The road is closed near the logging trails as its condition deteriorates…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

La Junta Canyon

A well-maintained forest road that is gated as it approaches the Taos Pueblo. It provides access to a woodcutting area as well as logging operations in the national forest. There are appx 4-5 dispersed camping…
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Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Apache Trail

This trail is an offshoot of Forest Road 70/Osha Pass trail. It leaves the main trail and tracks along the boundary of public and private land for a short while before climbing the mountainside and…
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Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Osha Pass/70b

This route is the main forest road that provides access to the 70 Moto Trail, which is a width-restricted motorized trail that climbs to Osha Pass. This trail also provides access to the Elliot Barker…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Alamosa Conjeos-Fr Rd 250

This section of Alamosa Conjeos road goes to Platoro, Colorado along the Conjeos River and to the Platoro Reservoir. It starts 28 miles north of Chama and 22 miles south of Alamosa off of Hwy…
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Total Miles
27.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Trinchera Pass

Trinchera Pass is an easy gravel and dirt road that can be traversed in any 4x4 and most 2WD vehicles. It offers scenic views of the north side of the Johnson Mesa/Raton volcanic field and…
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Total Miles
42.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Trujillo Meadows

This is a short route out to a man-made alpine lake. You will want to spend some time hiking or fishing around the picturesque lake. The west end of the trail is very well graded…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

NE Passage via Cimarron Canyon

This is a very long dirt road route connecting Clayton Lake State Park NM and Trinidad, Colorado. There is a shortcut that will eliminate approximately 20 miles (if you look at the route closely, it's…
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Total Miles
113.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su / Wi

Old Dry Drainage

This road can be muddy when wet with water puddles. It has beautiful views of the big open desert, and there are some pretty cool rocks. There seems to be no camping. Dirt or rocky…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Barrel Springs

This road can be muddy when wet with water puddles. It has beautiful views of the big open valley desert, and really cool rocks. There seems to be no camping. Dirt or rocky road, typically…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Forest Road 722

This is an in-and-back leading through Carson National Forest. Winding through and cresting at nearly 10,000 feet this is an easy cruise with some awesome scenery. Minimal traffic in the area but there is woodcutting…
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Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

East Butte

Beautiful road with amazing views. This road can be muddy when wet and has some water puddles. There is no camping, but it is a quick, simple, enjoyable road to take a drive on. Dirt…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Natural Arch

This road is a connecting road to many other roads, it will get you to hikes, camping spots, and fun areas. There is no camping along this road; it does go through private property as…
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Total Miles
5.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Indiana Head

This road can be muddy when wet, with water puddles. It has beautiful views of the open valley desert and some really cool rocks. There seems to be no camping. The road ends abruptly, and…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Kerr Lake Road #257

The Kerr Lake Road (#257) will lead you first to a lily pond, then farther to an alpine lake with fishing and disturbed, primitive campsites. The road branches off of the Alamosa Conjeos road (#250)…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

La Ventana

Beautiful road with amazing views. It can be muddy when wet, with water puddles. There isn't much for camping, maybe a spot or two, but it is a quick, simple, enjoyable road to take a…
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Canada Ancha

This road can be muddy when wet with water puddles. It has beautiful views, but there seems to be no camping. This is a very busy area for dirt bikes and SxSs. Dirt or rocky…
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Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Kerr Road #257-1A

Kerr Road branches off to the right as you reach the Lily Pond on Kerr Lake road (#257). The road leading up to this point has been a maintained gravel road, whereas this road is…
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Total Miles
0.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

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