Los Pinos Mtn. Loop

Los Pinos Mountain Loop offers a scenic and moderately challenging driving experience for high-clearance stock 4x4 vehicles, delivering sweeping vistas of the Cleveland National Forest and a historic mountaintop fire lookout. Spanning approximately 19 miles with nearly 2,900 feet of elevation change, this loop reaches a maximum elevation of 4,666 feet near the summit of Los Pinos Mountain. The journey begins at the Four Corners trailhead area, initially climbing along a paved access road where ATVs are prohibited. As the route transitions to dirt and heads south around the Corral Canyon OHV Area, drivers will navigate a mix of easy fire roads and narrower, rutted sections that demand careful tire placement but remain accessible to stock SUVs with decent clearance. While much of the loop is straightforward, the western and southern stretches feature steep, brushy descents and ruts that warrant its moderate technical rating of 4. Drivers can expect stunning, panoramic views overlooking Barrett Lake, Bronco Peak, and the Morena Reservoir as the trail snakes through chaparral-covered hillsides. The route is accessible year-round, though summer temperatures can be extreme, and winter rains may occasionally wash out sections of the dirt track. Dispersed camping and established campgrounds in the surrounding Cleveland National Forest require an Adventure Pass, making it easy to turn this scenic loop into a multi-day offroad adventure.