Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Denver, Colorado

Forest Road 507

Forest Road 507 rests in the Pike National Forest just outside of Sedalia, CO, and serves as a connector for the northern section of the Rampart Range Recreation Area. This trail runs in a 2-way…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su

Rampart Crossover

This is a fun drive for licensed and unlicensed vehicles. You can take it in either direction. You'll either start or finish at Rainbow Falls OHV Area. Camping is available, but restricted to designated sites.…
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Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Jackson Creek South/ Watson Park

Jackson Creek South, and to some extent Watson Park are smooth, very easy wide roads that are worth exploring for the scenery and access to dispersed camping, but they also serve as access points for…
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Total Miles
5.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Gross Reservoir

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…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Magnolia Road East

This is a smooth, dirt road any vehicle can access. The road accesses the Aspen Meadows residential area, but will allow you to avoid the heavy traffic of Boulder Canyon and has beautiful scenery. This…
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Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Trout Creek (FS 649)

Trout Creek is easy dirt and crushed granite. The trail is easy, except for the large number of berms and waves across the trail. For the most part, turns are shallow and level and there…
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Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Long Hollow 60 inch Trail (FS 650)

This summary is for the southern part of Long Hollow Trail that is about 4.5 miles of fun, twisting, turning trail through the forest on fairly smooth well-maintained crushed granite trails. The Forest service rates…
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fern 2- Rampart Range

This is a scenic and fun 2-mile long trail on mostly crushed granite and dirt. Except for a short, steeper grade at the northern end of the trail, the trail has a gentle grade throughout…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Old Squaw Pass East

This trail begins off of Squaw Pass Road. At the trailhead, you will see a sign for "Historic Arapaho Springs". This is an easier trail in dry conditions, accessible by stock 4WD vehicles and higher…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Switzerland Trail

It is amazing to consider what it must have been like to be on a train winding down the steep terrain on this trail. The scenery is fantastic, especially in the fall. If you want…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Peewink

Enjoy this simple trail that leads to some pretty camp spots. If you're lucky, you might even be able to see a moose! Most vehicles can do this road, although it does have some spots…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Santa Fe Trail

This is an easy, one-way trail with a few places to pass and some rocky and washed out sections. You'll find a handful of dispersed campsites and some great views of Idaho Springs. The end…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Squaw Mountain Lookout

This trail is easily accessed off of Squaw Pass Road. As the name hints, the trail takes you takes you to Squaw Mountain fire lookout which is about a 1-mile hike from the end of…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Stony Pass Road

Stony Pass Road begins off of Wigwam Creek Road, near Cheesman Reservoir in the Pike National Forest. The road heads north towards Wellington Lake. This is a dirt road that can be accessed by most…
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Total Miles
12.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Old Squaw Pass Central

This trail can accessed from either the Squaw Mountain Lookout trail or the Old Squaw Pass East Trail. The trail is blocked in the middle by a gated section of private property which prevents you…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Missouri Gulch - FR 347

Starting from County Road 79 (Spruce Dr), the trail meanders through the forest. There are many spur trails and interconnected trail systems that could make it easy to become disoriented, especially once you get into…
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Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Nevadaville Loop

Journey through mines, old structures, buildings and cemeteries along this route to the town of Nevadaville. There are still a few people living there, so please be considerate. There is a fun kids' playground in…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Wigwam Creek Road

Wigwam Creek Road is a dirt road located on the southwest side of CO Road 126 in the Pike National Forest. It is easily accessible by passenger vehicles in dry conditions. The road is mostly…
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Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

West Rainbow Falls

The Rainbow falls riding area is on the north side of Hwy 67, about 17 miles southwest of Deckers, CO, or 17 miles north of Woodland Park, CO, with easy access to the parking lot…
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Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Gordon Gulch

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…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Apex Road

There is a lot of history along this easy, backcountry drive. You'll be able to see four old cemeteries, and several historic structures in Apex, an old mining camp and ghost town. The route offers…
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Total Miles
10.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Gold Lake Trail

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…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Winding Stairs-Ice Cave Loop

This loop consists of Forest Service roads 323 and 324 which meet on the east side of the loop; the loop is continuous, and the numbers can be confusing. The trail surface is decomposed granite…
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Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

West Magnolia

Kids will love this small area with intersecting forest roads and camping. To camp, enter at the north end. No dirt bikes allowed on this trail. Open May 15 to November 30.
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Michigan Hill

The Michigan Hill trail starts from the pickle gulch campground. This trail is a relatively easy trail for most off-road vehicles, although there are some narrow points on the trail. This trail winds through mining…
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Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Buckeye Mountain Road 512.1

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…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Mt. Herman & Rampart Range Roads

This section of Rampart Range Road is nicely maintained and provides amazing scenery as you drop into the Garden of the Gods Park. Unlicensed vehicles aren't allowed on the main roads. There are a few…
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Total Miles
33.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Rampart Range - FR 300

This route is from between FR 346 (Hotel Gulch) and FR 320 (Mt Herman Road). It can be entered from multiple connecting trails on the western side. Either from pavement via Woodland Park, from Garden…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hotel Gulch - FR 346

A fairly easy trail and could be made difficult after a snowstorm. Hotel Gulch starts at the Manitou Experimental Forest steadily climbing to Rampart Range Road. If it is open the Manitou Experimental Forest is…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Chipmunk Gulch

Starting on Country Road 100, you'll head East onto the dirt path. You will then turn onto USFS Road 376. Once you are on the trail, it is pretty calm but you are still going…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa