Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Sunshine, Colorado

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

Magnolia Road East is a scenic, well-graded 7-mile dirt road connecting Nederland to the Aspen Meadows area in the Colorado foothills. Ranging from 8,040 to 8,690 feet in elevation, this route offers views of Tungsten Mountain and Forsythe Rock, serving as a peaceful alternative to Boulder Canyon. ...
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Chipmunk Gulch is a short, scenic route near Ward, Colorado, perfect for beginner offroaders and those looking for a quick mountain getaway with great camping. Stretching approximately 0.7 miles through the Arapaho National Forest, this dirt trail sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet and offers...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

Peewink is a scenic, beginner-friendly trail ideal for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, SxSs, and dirt bikes looking for easy access to beautiful dispersed camping in the Roosevelt National Forest. Spanning approximately 1.9 miles near Nederland, Colorado, this route winds through dense pine forests...
Learn more about Peewink

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

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

Left Hand Reservoir is a scenic, moderately challenging out-and-back trail near Ward, Colorado, perfect for off-roaders with high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles looking to reach an alpine lake with excellent fishing. Spanning approximately 1.8 miles one-way, the route begins near Red Rock Lake...
Learn more about Left Hand Reservoir

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

West Magnolia is a scenic, beginner-friendly offroad route winding through the Roosevelt National Forest near Rollinsville, offering a network of intersecting forest roads, dispersed camping, and access to historic mining ruins. Spanning approximately 4.2 miles, this trail starts at an elevation of ...
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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

Michigan Hill is an excellent route for scenic cruisers and intermediate offroaders looking for a historic drive through Colorado's mining country with panoramic views. Starting near the Pickle Gulch Campground, this 5.7-mile trail winds through dense pine forests and open valleys, offering spectacu...
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 scenic, historic trek ideal for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs looking to explore the rugged beauty of the Continental Divide along an abandoned railway grade. Starting near Tolland at approximately 9,189 feet, this 12.1-mile route climbs steadily to a maximum elevat...
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

Barrett Street begins as a paved road before quickly transitioning to gravel as it climbs above Central City. The route is generally smooth and easy to travel, with broad views of town, several scenic pullouts, and a few short offshoot trails worth exploring. Watch for loose gravel, local traffic, a...
Learn more about Barrett Street

Apex Road is a scenic, historic route perfect for beginners and intermediate offroaders looking to explore Colorado's rich mining heritage while enjoying beautiful mountain vistas. Starting from Central City and heading north to Tolland, this trail transitions from a smooth, graded gravel road in th...
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Columbine Road is an easy gravel route through open meadows, aspen groves, and forested mountain terrain. The road provides access to Columbine Campground and a large OHV staging area. Regular cars were on the road; nothing challenging here. The road is generally wide, smooth, and suitable for most ...
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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...
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Upper Russell Gulch Road is an easy gravel route through a historic mountain community. The road is wide, smooth, and suitable for most vehicles in dry conditions. The route passes forested hillsides, old utility structures, and several historic buildings. There are no major obstacles, though driver...
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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

Chipmunk Gulch is a short, scenic route near Ward, Colorado, perfect for beginner offroaders and those looking for a quick mountain getaway with great camping. Stretching approximately 0.7 miles through the Arapaho National Forest, this dirt trail sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet and offers...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

Peewink is a scenic, beginner-friendly trail ideal for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, SxSs, and dirt bikes looking for easy access to beautiful dispersed camping in the Roosevelt National Forest. Spanning approximately 1.9 miles near Nederland, Colorado, this route winds through dense pine forests...
Learn more about Peewink

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

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

Chipmunk Gulch is a short, scenic route near Ward, Colorado, perfect for beginner offroaders and those looking for a quick mountain getaway with great camping. Stretching approximately 0.7 miles through the Arapaho National Forest, this dirt trail sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet and offers...
Learn more about Chipmunk Gulch

Peewink is a scenic, beginner-friendly trail ideal for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, SxSs, and dirt bikes looking for easy access to beautiful dispersed camping in the Roosevelt National Forest. Spanning approximately 1.9 miles near Nederland, Colorado, this route winds through dense pine forests...
Learn more about Peewink

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