Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Florence, Colorado

Shelf Road, Phantom Canyon

This is a popular, heavily used network of trails that starts just south of Cripple Creek and takes you on a ride through history. See old mines and historic towns. A number of 4X4 roads…
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Total Miles
57.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Countryside Tour

A very easy tour taking you through the non-alpine area southeast of Buena Vista. This is a good chance to see what the backcountry looks like east of the Collegiate Range. You will pass through…
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Total Miles
111.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Gold Camp Rd to Cripple Creek

Gold Camp originally connected the Cheyenne Mountain area to Cripple Creek, but in 1988, Tunnel #3 collapsed and a large section of Gold Camp was closed to vehicles, but left open to hikers and bikers.…
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Total Miles
19.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mount Baldy

As you start the trail, you'll pass through Frosty Park where you'll find some great camping spots. The trail ends just below Mt. Baldy and south of Almagre Mountain. You'll have to hike the rest…
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Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Old Stage Rd

Easy trail with beautiful views. 4WD is recommended especially after snowfall. This trail leads to Gold Camp Road. Take switchbacks with caution, as they can become narrow and on-coming traffic can be difficult to see.…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp

Lower Gold Camp Road

Dirt roads with some rocks scattered throughout. Good road that is easily accessible from Colorado Springs that virtually any car can handle. Multiple tunnels going through the mountains. Majority is two lane with multiple spots…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

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

Eleven Mile Canyon Cutoff

This trail is pretty easy. It is rocky in few places, a lot of wash out ruts and erosion control humps. The trail is suitable for SUV's. If it is wet and muddy this would…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

31 Mile Creek

An easy ride from Countryside Tour GP to Highway 9 in the lower country east of Buena Vista. The central part of the trail follows 31 Mile Creek through part of the Pike National Forest,…
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Total Miles
16
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

39 Mile Mountain Part 2

Segment 2 trail is pretty easy. It is rocky in places, with good scenery. I drove most of trail in 2 wheel drive, however high clearance was needed as well as 4 wheel drive a…
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Total Miles
8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Phantom Creek, Signal Butte

A great way to check out views of Pikes Peak and Signal Butte. You'll pass through the Hayman Burn Area. It is interesting to observe the damage and recovery occurring there. If you want to…
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Total Miles
12.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Badger Creek

An easy and fairly scenic Jeep trail.Badger Creek has nothing above timberline, but is a nice drive along Sand Gulch, with lots of open views along the north segment that follows the powerline. You cross…
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Total Miles
23.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

39 Mile Mountain Road

Trail pretty easy, rocky in places, good scenery. Drove most of the trail in 2 wheel drive, however high clearance was needed as well as 4 wheel drive in few places. The road changes names…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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

Signal Butte Trail

The Signal Butte trail is on the north end of the 717 area in Pike National Forest with easy access from any of the multi-use trails that connect to this loop. You can access this…
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Total Miles
15.5
Tech Rating
3 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

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

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

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

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

Old La Veta Pass

This trail is an old train route that connected the East and West sides of the Sangre de Cristo mountains up until the 1960s, when the highway was put in. It is now an unmaintained…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
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

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

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

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

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

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

Black Dumps

This is a scenic and varied Jeep trail close to Buena Vista. Coal was once mined in the area, and that is what gives the trail its strange name.The track winds its way through open…
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Total Miles
11.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Wigwam Trail

This shorter trail begins a few miles in on the Stony Pass Road Trail, near Cheesman Reservoir in the Pike National Forest. The road heads west toward the Wigwam Creek Trailhead, providing access to the…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Schoolmarm Mountain

Great trail for day rides, exploring many side routes, and camping in the Tarryall Reservoir trail network. One possibly difficult section near the junction of Schoolmarm Mountain, Skinny, and Packer Gulch requiring 4wd and high…
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Total Miles
5.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi