Dotsero Crater

Total Miles
12.9

Elevation

2,376.50 ft

Duration

2.5 Hours

Technical Rating

4

Moderate

Best Time

Summer, Fall

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Dotsero Crater 6

Trail Overview

Popular with OHVs and dirt bikes, this trail takes you to the Dotsero Crater and through the BLM Gypsum Hills Area, also a popular off-roading area. If you have time, stay and watch the extreme riders attempt Tie Rod Bender trail.

Photos of Dotsero Crater

Dotsero Crater
Dotsero Crater

Difficulty

Moderate. Most roads are wide and easy, except one steep section. The first half of the trail is clay-surface and is impassable when wet.

History

Dotsero is an important railroad junction, once designated Dot Zero, from which the location got its name. The Dotsero Crater is a volcano that erupted about 4,000 years ago, making it Colorado's most recent eruption. For many years, the main industry for the area was the production of cinder blocks. Source: Wikipedia

Technical Rating

4

Status Reports

Vern Thompson
Jul 19, 2024
2024 GMC Sierra
Open
Wouldn't recommend when wet. portion of the trail closest to Gypsum is posted impassable when wet. Rated this a little higher as there are some pretty technical spots. Pretty amazing to off road by what is considered an active volcano still. Use Google Maps for the location of the crater. Wish there was a way to pin points of interest foe this trail....some pretty amazing views if you go off on 8463.
Eric Dose
Jun 29, 2024
Dirt Bike
Open
Normal
Great trail and fun sandy surface for 98% The hill climb from Dotsero to crater 2%- its steep and loose, like you can see in my boot sinking into the rock, its deep marble like stuff thats hard to get traction in and feels like your riding on flat tires. This gets a lot better the further you get from Dotsero crater
Jordy Guidry
Jun 25, 2024
2023 Jeep Wrangler
Open
Normal
Rough/Deteriorated
Justin Davidson
Jun 11, 2024
4x4
Open
Normal
Dusty

Access Description

Take I-70 to Gypsum,Exit 140. From north side of exit, head north uphill on County Road 51. First part of road accesses the Eagle Gypsum Mine, so watch for fast-moving trucks.

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