Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Johnson Village, Colorado
CR 304
This trail begins at the Collegiate Peaks Recreation site. This area has picnic pavilions and restrooms. Along the trail, there are several other trailheads for hiking and mountain biking trails. This is a maintained road… Learn more about CR 304
Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Fourmile Area
Very fun area for ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes. The northwest corner is a spider web of roads that are great for exploring. There are options for beautiful dispersed campsites with incredible views of the… Learn more about Fourmile Area
Total Miles
23.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
BLM 376
This trail is accessible off of BLM 375 "Four Mile Creek", BLM 311 and Lenhardy Cutoff. Approximately 2 miles in length, this trail starts out on the west end as easily accessible by most 4WD… Learn more about BLM 376
Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Arnold Gulch
This trail is nearly 2 miles in length and is comprised entirely of loose, sandy washes with very bumpy washboards. It connects the two Triad Ridge trails to the primary road. The west end of… Learn more about Arnold Gulch
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Rock N' Roll 1 (1434 A)
Closed to vehicles over 50" wide. This 2-mile track has a fun variety of just about everything - from dirt to sand to rock. There are one or two pretty technical spots that could be… Learn more about Rock N' Roll 1 (1434 A)
Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su
Triad Ridge East (ATV)
This trail is only open to vehicles 50" or less. This mild and quick mile and a half-mile route offers beautiful views of the surrounding area and neighboring mountain range. Nothing is challenging to note… Learn more about Triad Ridge East (ATV)
Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su
Bald Mountain Gulch 2
Section 2 of the Bald Mountain Gulch trail in the Four Mile OHV recreation area. This 3 mile section leads you past Little Cottonwood Creek and Arnold Gulch where ATV/dirt bike only trails are. Predominantly… Learn more about Bald Mountain Gulch 2
Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Bald Mountain Gulch 3
This 1.8 mile section either ends or begins at a smaller parking lot (staging area). Dirt and sandy washes predominantly with a couple of short, steep grades to get up/down. There are sections where water… Learn more about Bald Mountain Gulch 3
Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su
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… Learn more about Countryside Tour
Total Miles
111.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp
Hecla Junction - Arkansas River Headwaters
Co Rd 194 is a graded road maintained May - September that ends at the Arkansas River with a beautiful campground and river takeout spot. Fee required for camping. Makes for a wonderful daytime swim… Learn more about Hecla Junction - Arkansas River Headwaters
Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Old Chalk Rd (Co Rd 292)
This is an easy side road that connects Alpine, CO and St. Elmo, CO. It is drivable by most vehicles except cars with minimal ground clearance. As with most trails in this area, it is… Learn more about Old Chalk Rd (Co Rd 292)
Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / 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… Learn more about Black Dumps
Total Miles
11.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Pony Park Road - 433
This trail takes you through mostly aspen groves, open areas, and some of the burn scars of a wildfire in 2018. The trail can be tricky in wintertime due to some semi-steep sections, and drifting… Learn more about Pony Park Road - 433
Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Buffalo Peaks Road #2 - 431
This is an easy road for all types of vehicles, mostly through open meadows. It can get muddy after a rain storm which can be an issue for passenger cars. This is the main road… Learn more about Buffalo Peaks Road #2 - 431
Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Mt. Shavano
The first half of this route follows CR 250 through BLM Land with great views of the Arkansas River Valley to the south. The road forks midway through as it enters Forest Service Land; stay… Learn more about Mt. Shavano
Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Buffalo Peaks Road - 431
This is an easy road for all vehicles, from open meadows to aspen groves, to burn scar areas. Use caution in burn areas during high winds as trees can blow down. In the wintertime, you'll… Learn more about Buffalo Peaks Road - 431
Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Pride of the West Tunnel
This has to be the best mine portal ever! Fantastic granite stonework with a capstone inscribed "Pride of the West 1880". A two-story hotel was beside the tunnel when it was in operation.Follow the North… Learn more about Pride of the West Tunnel
Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Billings Lake
This is a very bumpy and rocky road, so those with stock vehicles should be cautioned. You will stay mostly in the trees until the North Fork Reservoir. The final stretch of road is only… Learn more about Billings Lake
Total Miles
7.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Weston Pass
A nice, scenic drive, especially if you like seasonal colors. There is a campground available as well as some great camping spots along the South Fork of South Platte River and Big Union Creek. Learn more about Weston Pass
Total Miles
18.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Clear Creek
Sitting just to the north of the Collegiate Wilderness, this trail offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy great views and see well preserved mining camps. There are plenty of dispersed camping along Clear Creek. There… Learn more about Clear Creek
Total Miles
10.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Browns & Breakneck
Most people start on the southern leg, about 5 miles south of Fairplay. Doing the loop, plus Lamb Mountain is 20 miles.The main loop of Browns and Breakneck Passes is mostly in the trees. There… Learn more about Browns & Breakneck
Total Miles
16.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Alpine Tunnel
The Alpine Tunnel was once the highest railroad tunnel in the world. At an altitude of 11,523 feet, it was the first tunnel to be built through the Continental Divide. The Denver, South Park and… Learn more about Alpine Tunnel
Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Peerless Mine
A fairly easy Jeep trail but well worth doing, especially if combined with Browns-Breakneck. A connector between the two trails is included in this track. Fourmile Creek Road is a wide-graded County road right to… Learn more about Peerless Mine
Total Miles
25.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Red Buck Mine
This is a short, easy trail to see the ruins of the Red Buck Mine. It was part of the Columbine Mining Complex. There is a descriptive placard of the complex on the first cabin.… Learn more about Red Buck Mine
Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su
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… Learn more about Badger Creek
Total Miles
23.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Old Monarch Pass
Not all trails need to be difficult Jeep trails! This is a pleasant drive over a historic pass, through a large park and a bunch of forests, and into the town of Pitkin.Old Monarch Pass… Learn more about Old Monarch Pass
Total Miles
50.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp
Tin Cup Lily Pond
This is a very, short trail to a small, picturesque, serene lily pond. It has beautiful white and yellow lilies. The Tin Cup Lily Pond has a gorgeous backdrop of mountains including Cumberland Pass. It… Learn more about Tin Cup Lily Pond
Total Miles
0.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
Tin Cup Lily Pond Loop
The Tin Cup Lily Pond Loop Trail continues past the picturesque Tin Cup Lily Pond and winds through the forest until it reaches the edge of Willow Creek. It leaves Willow Creek and circles back… Learn more about Tin Cup Lily Pond Loop
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su
Slaughter House Gulch
This is a fun trail along the edge of Union Park before climbing through the trees. It passes an old mining cabin that is known as the Christmas Cabin. It is decorated with Christmas decorations… Learn more about Slaughter House Gulch
Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su
Slaughterhouse Gulch
This is a fun trail along the edge of Union Park before climbing through the trees. It passes an old mining cabin that is known as the Christmas Cabin. It is decorated with Christmas decorations… Learn more about Slaughterhouse Gulch