Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near St. Mary's, Colorado

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Byers Peak Trail is a wide, mostly easy forest route that steadily climbs from start to finish. The trail offers no obstacles for vehicles, making it accessible to a wide range of drivers. The route features some washboard sections and occasional blind corners, with the final stretch becoming bumpy ...
Learn more about Byers Peak

This is a very short single track that connects WTB down to Byers Peak Road. At the northern entrance, there is a nonmotorized segment of D4 as well, so you want to make sure to stay on the motorized section. It's a straight and flat trail through pine trees and meadows and is wide between the trees...
Learn more about D4

Jones Pass is a gravel and rocky mountain road that climbs steeply out of the Clear Creek drainage near Empire, Colorado. The route is generally wide with no major obstacles, though its steady grade and exposed shelf road sections require attentive driving. Along the way, travelers will find dispers...
Learn more about Jones Pass

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

The Elk Creek Loop makes a 4-mile loop off of the Upper Elk Creek ATV Trail. The east entrance starts as a wide ATV trail between the pine trees, with small pieces of rock in the trail. It has sudden dips and rollers to watch out for, and branches sticking over the trail. The trail splits for the no...
Learn more about Elk Creek ATV Loop

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

This is one of a few single tracks within the Elk Meadows Trail System near Fraser, Colorado. It starts off as a tight and winding trail through the pines and aspens, with very quick and sharp corners through the trees. The trail itself is very smooth and flowy, with not many rocks. It crosses a sma...
Learn more about Double Bit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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