Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Idaho Springs, Colorado

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

N Clear Creek Road

This trail is an offshoot from Apex Road. If you want something slightly more technically challenging than Apex, this is a fun alternative to explore. The trail is fairly tight. 4WD is required in a…
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Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Su

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

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

Rollins Pass East

You'll find two lakes, breathtaking views and a fun hike on this old railroad route. Needle's Eye Tunnel is just a short hike from the trail. Park and camp south of the trailhead. There are…
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Total Miles
12.1
Tech Rating
3 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

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

Rollins Pass West

A beautiful, easy drive through thick trees. You'll eventually rise above the timberline and get an amazing view of Winter Park Ski Area as well as some gorgeous mountain lakes. If you want to continue…
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Total Miles
14.6
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

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

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

Stevens Gulch

This trail is mainly used to get to Torrey's Peak and Gray's Peak trailheads. Most of it is dirt with small rocks, and could be done in a small car, but as you get further…
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Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Grizzly Gulch

Grizzly Gulch is a difficult trail that starts up Stevens Gulch. There is a dirt parking lot area on Stevens Gulch, and if you go all the way to the back, you will find that…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Left Hand Reservoir

The trail to Left Hand Reservoir is a nice out and back trail that leads to a good reservoir for fishing. A great trail to be surrounded by trees, mountains, and some good friends. It…
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Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Peru Creek

A super easy road to camping, hiking and more. There are some difficult trails in the area if you want more of a challenge. Cinnamon Gulch takes you to an amazing viewpoint at an old…
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Total Miles
4.5
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

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

Byers Peak

Take this drive from Winter Park to the popular Byers Peak Hiking Trail. There are a lot of different things to enjoy there from hiking and biking, to camping and offroading. Unlicensed vehicles are not…
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Total Miles
13.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Jones Pass

You can access some really good hiking from this trail at Butler Gulch and along the Continental Divide. The views at the top of the pass are unbelievable. It's fun to get there, but there…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Au

Meadow Creek Reservoir CR 848

The primary access to Meadow Creek Reservoir starts on County Road 84. This route takes a more off-road and scenic drive to start, meeting up with CR 84 about 2/3 of the way up to…
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Total Miles
12.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Radical Hill

This is part of the network of trails out on Montezuma, Colorado. Note that leaving town, you follow the signs for Deer Creek. This section would be a TR3 to the top of Radical hill…
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Total Miles
18.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Strawberry BLM Road #2751

Traveling on this BLM road provides easy access to secluded dispersed camping all along its length and at the ends, as well as access to great mountain biking and stunning views of Fraser Valley and…
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Total Miles
10.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Rifle Road

The route begins in the middle of Cave Creek and is both USFS 217C and 217D. If you head up the left side of the trail there is a nice hill that offers some good…
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Total Miles
0.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Lost Park Road

Lost Park Road begins on the east side off of HWY 285. This is a dirt road in good condition and is accessible by 2WD vehicles in dry conditions. Stretches of the road are washboard…
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Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp