Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Silver Plume, Colorado

Among the old mining trails stretching from Idaho Springs to Silver Plume, Bard Creek Road offers an enchanting journey through the region's history. As you traverse its bumpy climb, you'll uncover vestiges of Colorado's vibrant past, most notably, the Bard Creek Mine with its remarkably intact ore ...
Learn more about Bard Creek Road

Stevens Gulch is a scenic, high-elevation mountain route ideal for outdoor enthusiasts looking to access two of Colorado's most famous fourteeners, Grays Peak and Torreys Peak. Starting right off Interstate 70 at the Bakerville exit, this 4.3-mile journey climbs steadily from around 9,785 feet to a ...
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A short drive from the town of Empire and just down the road from the popular Bill Moore Lake Trail, Mad Creek is a great off-road trail that gets passed up by many off-roaders. Whether seeking quiet summer seclusion or deep tire-swallowing winter snow, don't let this trail fall off your radar. Alon...
Learn more about Mad Creek Road

The trail begins in a parking lot with signage regarding the road as well as wildlife in the area. This is a dirt road that is very well-maintained and used to access the Silver Dollar Lake Hiking Trail. Once you pass the informative signage, the road becomes single-track, continuously gaining eleva...
Learn more about Silver Dollar Road

Grizzly Gulch is a difficult trail that starts up Stevens Gulch. There is a dirt parking lot area on Stevens Gulch, and if you go all the way to the back, you will find that it continues on to become Grizzly Gulch. On a dry day, the trail is pretty mild. More difficult than Stevens Gulch, but no ...
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This trail eventually leads to a dead end near a hiking trail, with a scenic area at the end that offers great views overlooking the surrounding mountain range. The trail itself is fairly easy, and generally passable in a 2WD vehicle without any issues. There are a few rocky sections along the way, ...
Learn more about Barbour Fork Trail - FS 2461

Jones Pass is an ideal high-altitude route for intermediate offroaders seeking panoramic Rocky Mountain vistas and access to alpine tundra without requiring highly modified vehicles. This 6.9-mile scenic trail climbs over 2,200 feet from its starting point near the Henderson Mine, winding up to a sp...
Learn more about Jones Pass

Peru Creek is a wide, easy trail that follows alongside its namesake creek, offering a scenic and mellow drive without any true obstacles. The road is approachable for most high-clearance vehicles, making it a good choice for those looking for a relaxed backcountry route. Numerous dispersed campsite...
Learn more about Peru Creek

Bellevue Mountain Drive is an easy gravel route that climbs through pine and aspen forest to a communications tower near the top. The main attraction is the broad mountain and valley views from the upper section. The road begins wide and smooth but narrows in places as it climbs. Full-size trucks an...
Learn more about Bellevue Mountain Drive

Virginia Canyon Road - FS 279 is another portion of the lower Virginia Canyon Road, broken up by Two Brothers Road; it gets a little confusing. This is an easy scenic drive through a quiet rural area with cabins, forest, and mountain views. The route can be driven point-to-point or combined with nea...
Learn more about Virginia Canyon Road - FS 279

This trail is easily accessed off of Squaw Pass Road. As the name hints, the trail takes you takes you to Squaw Mountain fire lookout which is about a 1-mile hike from the end of this trail. The trail consists of a 1-mile dirt road that is relatively maintained. It is passable by most passenger vehi...
Learn more about Squaw Mountain Lookout

Virginia Canyon Road 279 is a wide, generally well-maintained gravel road climbing above Idaho Springs. The route offers expansive views across the surrounding mountains and down toward town while passing through a mix of pine forest, exposed hillsides, and historic mining areas. Remnants of old woo...
Learn more about Virginia Canyon Road 279

Pewabic Mine Road is a varied mountain route that moves through dense forest, open meadows, and historic mining areas. The road is mostly smooth gravel with a few rougher, rockier sections. The route is generally wide and easy to follow, with no major obstacles in dry conditions. Drivers will pass o...
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This route begins just north of Mary Jane Road off of Highway 40. It follows the Fraser River diversion canal with access to numerous hiking trails and dispersed campsites along the way. There are great views of Winter Park Ski Resort as well. The route terminates with the Rollins Pass West trail, w...
Learn more about Waterboard Rd - FS 128

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...
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Alps Hill Road is an easy gravel route winding through aspen groves, open meadows, and areas bordered by private property. The road is generally smooth and suitable for full-size vehicles, with only a few scattered rocky sections and no major obstacles in dry conditions. Stay on the established road...
Learn more about Alps Hill 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 can accessed from either the Squaw Mountain Lookout trail or the Old Squaw Pass East Trail. The trail is blocked in the middle by a gated section of private property which prevents you from accessing the full trail at one time. The trail consists of dirt and rock road that is easily acce...
Learn more about Old Squaw Pass Central

Church Placer Road is an easy gravel route through forest, aspen groves, open meadows, and mountain terrain. The road is generally smooth and wide enough for full-size vehicles, with only a few rocky sections, loose gravel, light washboarding, and a cattle guard along the way. There are no major obs...
Learn more about Church Placer Road

Among the old mining trails stretching from Idaho Springs to Silver Plume, Bard Creek Road offers an enchanting journey through the region's history. As you traverse its bumpy climb, you'll uncover vestiges of Colorado's vibrant past, most notably, the Bard Creek Mine with its remarkably intact ore ...
Learn more about Bard Creek Road

A short drive from the town of Empire and just down the road from the popular Bill Moore Lake Trail, Mad Creek is a great off-road trail that gets passed up by many off-roaders. Whether seeking quiet summer seclusion or deep tire-swallowing winter snow, don't let this trail fall off your radar. Alon...
Learn more about Mad Creek Road

Jones Pass is an ideal high-altitude route for intermediate offroaders seeking panoramic Rocky Mountain vistas and access to alpine tundra without requiring highly modified vehicles. This 6.9-mile scenic trail climbs over 2,200 feet from its starting point near the Henderson Mine, winding up to a sp...
Learn more about Jones Pass

Peru Creek is a wide, easy trail that follows alongside its namesake creek, offering a scenic and mellow drive without any true obstacles. The road is approachable for most high-clearance vehicles, making it a good choice for those looking for a relaxed backcountry route. Numerous dispersed campsite...
Learn more about Peru Creek

Among the old mining trails stretching from Idaho Springs to Silver Plume, Bard Creek Road offers an enchanting journey through the region's history. As you traverse its bumpy climb, you'll uncover vestiges of Colorado's vibrant past, most notably, the Bard Creek Mine with its remarkably intact ore ...
Learn more about Bard Creek Road

A short drive from the town of Empire and just down the road from the popular Bill Moore Lake Trail, Mad Creek is a great off-road trail that gets passed up by many off-roaders. Whether seeking quiet summer seclusion or deep tire-swallowing winter snow, don't let this trail fall off your radar. Alon...
Learn more about Mad Creek Road

Jones Pass is an ideal high-altitude route for intermediate offroaders seeking panoramic Rocky Mountain vistas and access to alpine tundra without requiring highly modified vehicles. This 6.9-mile scenic trail climbs over 2,200 feet from its starting point near the Henderson Mine, winding up to a sp...
Learn more about Jones Pass

Peru Creek is a wide, easy trail that follows alongside its namesake creek, offering a scenic and mellow drive without any true obstacles. The road is approachable for most high-clearance vehicles, making it a good choice for those looking for a relaxed backcountry route. Numerous dispersed campsite...
Learn more about Peru Creek