Trail Overview

Paradise Divide is an iconic route in the Crested Butte area that is a dirt road connecting three of the main drainages of the area. This road offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains and takes you to some incredible campsites in Colorado. The terrain along this road varies quite a bit, with steep sections, shelf roads, small water crossings, and forest drives. It's a really fun trail that isn't very difficult to traverse, and the views are absolutely worth it.

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Difficulty

Paradise Divide checks a lot of the boxes for different types of terrain. Steep one-lane roads and switchbacks. Along with forestry and water crossings. There isn't really one main difficult obstacle, and more so, the entire road stays about the same difficulty along the entire way.

History

Located near Crested Butte, Colorado, the Paradise Divide trail traces back to an ambitious 1892 railroad survey. Originally planned to connect Crested Butte to Yule Creek marble quarries, the route is now an iconic backcountry destination famous for mountain biking, off-roading, and its pivotal role in early mountain bike racing history

Technical Rating

Josh Spear

Jul 25, 2026

2023 Subaru Forester

Open

NormalRough/Deteriorated

We traveled from Schofield Pass, southbound over Yule Pass towards Crested Butte: First section from the summit of Schofield was easy (2/10 rating) with some ruts and minor water crossings but otherwise just about any vehicle with decent clearance can make it to Yule Pass from this direction. Only two obstacles to note, a steep incline into Paradise Basin (12-14% grade on loose rocks) and a water crossing in the basin. After Yule Pass the trail becomes a shelf road that will test your fear of heights, nothing technical in nature but loose rocks and steep drop offs would make me think twice without the proper tires and experience. Climbing northbound to Yule Pass probably would need 4x4, descending can be done in most vehicles carefully. There are no places to pass and backing up would be difficult from Yule Pass to the intersection with Washington Gulch Rd. Would rate this section 4/10. Great camp sites exist on top of Yule Pass and some pull offs in the basin allow camping (White River NF only)