Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Valdez, Colorado

Trinchera Pass is a scenic, point-to-point offroad route ideal for beginners and scenic tourers looking for an off-the-beaten-path journey between Folsom, New Mexico, and Trinidad, Colorado. Stretching approximately 44.3 miles, this easy dirt and gravel road winds through the historic Raton Mesas, o...
Learn more about Trinchera Pass

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 evident where I'm talking about) In dry conditions, any vehicle with at least 5-6 inches of ground ...
Learn more about NE Passage via Cimarron Canyon

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, and varies in width from two to one vehicle wide. The pass can be travelled in either direction, and does not ...
Learn more about Cucharas Pass

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 will find some dispersed campsites along the trail. There is a wonderful view from the top.
Learn more about Fan Dike

Steep Mountain is an easy, beginner-friendly route perfect for campers and those looking for a quick getaway in the scenic Cuchara area of the San Isabel National Forest. Branching off the popular Blue Lakes Road, this short spur provides access to several quiet, dispersed camping sites nestled amon...
Learn more about Steep Mountain

This is an easy route that takes you to Cimarron Campground in the Carson National Forest. A portion of this route travels through Vermejo Park Ranch via FS 1950. This is not public land; be aware of where you are. Vermejo Park Ranch is Private land; do not trespass. This is an excellent route for v...
Learn more about Cimarron Run

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 you follow the Costilla Creek up the canyon. For the first few miles, you'll pass t...
Learn more about Valle Vidal - FR 1950

This is the old unmaintained highway, the surface is broken pavement and gravel mix. This route can be easily traversed with any roadworthy car, precipitation may make the route impassable for passenger cars. It is a great quick detour from the main highway, perfect for a picnic or just to get off t...
Learn more about Old Highway

This is a well-maintained graded dirt road. It will be passable for any road-worthy vehicle in good weather conditions. If poor weather does occur, it could be trouble for road cars. A 4x4 with clearance will be able to travel this road year-round, so long as it's been plowed in the winter.
Learn more about Medano's Back Door

This trail is an old train route that connected the east and west sides of the Sangre de Cristo mountains until the 1960s when the highway was put in. It is now an unmaintained road with no obstacles. There are several spots where you will traverse over the old paved road that has become little more...
Learn more about Old La Veta Pass

Forest Service Road 54 and 54D is a gradual ascent from Cabresto Canyon to Greenie Peak in Carson National Forest. The windy road up the peak is rocky, steep in some areas, and very narrow. The trail is a popular route for adventure SxS riders in the area. 4WD vehicles with short wheelbases are high...
Learn more about Greenie Peak via Cabresto Canyon - FS 54

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 back up and around to follow the crest of the ridge. It rejoins the direct route just before ...
Learn more about Greenie East

This is a rough and rocky mountain road that climbs high into the mountains of Carson National Forest. The route is generally easy with no technical obstacles and can be traveled in either direction. It offers excellent scenery and connects with several other notable off-road trails in the Red River...
Learn more about Sawmill

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 creek. Although the map shows the trail goes further, it has been closed where the track ends, and a l...
Learn more about Pioneer Creek

This road is fairly easy as it is a county/Forest Service road that gives you access to several jeep trails, hiking, dispersed camping, and mountain biking trails. The road travels through open pasture lands with great views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range to the west. Be advised, during summ...
Learn more about Forest Road 630/Williams Creek

Forest Service Road 134A is a steep, rocky road that leads to Cabresto Lake; it's a beautiful mountain lake surrounded by the high peaks of Carson National Forest. The trail is narrow and consists of sharp rocks no larger than 12 inches in height. High-clearance 4x4 is recommended but high-clearance...
Learn more about Cabresto Lake - FS 134A

Forest Service Road 134 is a rocky, relatively flat road that traverses down the Cabresto Canyon in Carson National Forest. This mostly gravel and dirt trail doesn't have any difficult obstacles and can be driven by any AWD vehicle. The 15-mile valley road is full of wildflowers, water-flowing creek...
Learn more about Cabresto Canyon - FS 134

This is an easy winding road that has a few rocky spots that are easy to get around. The road takes you through open meadows and then through forest areas. It has nice views across the Wet Mountain Valley and of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. During the summer months, there are a lot of cows g...
Learn more about Turkey Creek Forest Road 637

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 and has many dispersed camping sites along the length of it. Use caution for wetlands near the creek,...
Learn more about La Jara Canyon

This trail is a short, easy out-and-back route that winds through the small elevation changes of the Wet Mountain foothills and offers a good chance of isolation. It contains no major obstacles or water crossings, making it approachable for most users. Ongoing timber work in 2025 has cleared underbr...
Learn more about San Carlos Road

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 you follow the Costilla Creek up the canyon. For the first few miles, you'll pass t...
Learn more about Valle Vidal - FR 1950

This trail is an old train route that connected the east and west sides of the Sangre de Cristo mountains until the 1960s when the highway was put in. It is now an unmaintained road with no obstacles. There are several spots where you will traverse over the old paved road that has become little more...
Learn more about Old La Veta Pass

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 back up and around to follow the crest of the ridge. It rejoins the direct route just before ...
Learn more about Greenie East

This is a rough and rocky mountain road that climbs high into the mountains of Carson National Forest. The route is generally easy with no technical obstacles and can be traveled in either direction. It offers excellent scenery and connects with several other notable off-road trails in the Red River...
Learn more about Sawmill

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 you follow the Costilla Creek up the canyon. For the first few miles, you'll pass t...
Learn more about Valle Vidal - FR 1950

This trail is an old train route that connected the east and west sides of the Sangre de Cristo mountains until the 1960s when the highway was put in. It is now an unmaintained road with no obstacles. There are several spots where you will traverse over the old paved road that has become little more...
Learn more about Old La Veta Pass

Forest Service Road 54 and 54D is a gradual ascent from Cabresto Canyon to Greenie Peak in Carson National Forest. The windy road up the peak is rocky, steep in some areas, and very narrow. The trail is a popular route for adventure SxS riders in the area. 4WD vehicles with short wheelbases are high...
Learn more about Greenie Peak via Cabresto Canyon - FS 54

This is a rough and rocky mountain road that climbs high into the mountains of Carson National Forest. The route is generally easy with no technical obstacles and can be traveled in either direction. It offers excellent scenery and connects with several other notable off-road trails in the Red River...
Learn more about Sawmill