Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Ophir, Colorado

South Fork Ilium Rd, Cty Rd 63L connects to US 145 opposite the Ophir Pass trail. If you have just come down off Ophir, this road allows for some day use spots for respite and…
Learn more about South Fork Ilium Road

This is an easy trail outside Silverton, CO. This trail takes you through Copper Gulch on the North end and ascends as you go south into the Rolling Mountain Valley. The trail is a dirt…
Learn more about South Mineral Road

This short offshoot from Ophir Pass leads to a very small campsite next to a river. There are two rock fire rings in the area. If you cross the river, the trail splits left or…
Learn more about Middle Fork Mineral Creek

This road will lead to the trailhead for the Columbine Lake hike. Vehicles are often parked on the shoulder, so use caution. The beginning of the Northern part of the trail will have you crossing…
Learn more about Chattanooga Trail

Short trail off of Governors Basin trail in Ouray. It leads to some open meadows, some nice views and an old abandoned mine. Be aware there is another trail to the east on the map…
Learn more about Sidney Basin

This out-and-back trail is almost 11 miles one-way. It starts off fairly smooth and easy. It gets progressively more challenging each mile down the trail. The trail offers many stunning views of peaks and colorful…
Learn more about Cascade Divide Road

This is a short fun trail connected to the end of Yankee Boy Basin Trail. If you've come to the end of Yankee Boy, you owe it to yourself to do this trail as well.…
Learn more about Wrights Lake Trail

County Road 110 is a graded gravel road open most of the year with snow plowing in winter months. It starts in Silverton and heads north ending at the site of the Sunnyside Mine ruins…
Learn more about County Road 110

Just in-between Rico & Ames off of Colorado's Highway 145 scenic San Juan Skyway lies Forest Service Road 578 which leads you up to Bolam Pass with breathtaking views of Sheep Mountain, San Miguel Peak…
Learn more about West Bolam Pass

Lime Creek Road follows the beautiful Lime Creek steep with history going back to a hunting trail used by the Ute Indians, to prospectors/pioneers converting the trail to a road in the late 1880s to…
Learn more about Lime Creek Road

This is a short little drive on the north side of Silverton. It starts on 15th street at the county courthouse. This easy drive takes you by the Christ of the Mines Shrine with wonderful…
Learn more about Cty Rd 6 - Christ of the Mines Shrine

Wind between two peaks of the Red Mountains and enjoy some really beautiful country. Logging trucks are common on the lower portion of the trail. Parking and camping are available at the bottom of the…
Learn more about Corkscrew Gulch, Hurricane Pass

Just south of Lizard Pass on Highway 145, this trail combines sections of Forest Service Roads 535 and 611 to take you to the Fish Creek area. It starts with a modest climb, but overall,…
Learn more about Fish Creek Approach

Easy wide dirt trail mostly through private property with access to National Forest land and dispersed camping at the end. The first third of the trail is a smooth dirt road that can get muddy…
Learn more about East Dallas Trail

County Road 10 is a short narrow trail from the end of City Road 110 and the Sunnyside Mine ruins to Hurricane Pass/Corkscrew Gulch. It is an alternate way to get to the Alpine Loop…
Learn more about County Road 10 to Hurricane Pass

This trail begins at the entrance to Double RL ranch, which is owned by Ralph Lauren. It is a great option if many of the passes are closed in the area, since the road stays…
Learn more about Box Factory Park

This heavily used road is well-graded. It winds through aspen forests and can be stunning in the fall season. It also gets very busy during the fall hunting season. There are a few dispersed camping…
Learn more about Relay Creek Road

This trail starts paved, then turns to gravel. Heavily trafficked on weekends, visibility can be very poor due to blowing dust. There is no cell service once you get a few miles from Silverton. This…
Learn more about Alpine Loop Silverton to Animas Forks

Just beyond the outskirts of Silverton, this road climbs up through a bunch of old mine sites to a mountain lake. Compared to the scenery of the Million Dollar Highway, this little nook is rougher,…
Learn more about Arrastra Gulch to Little Giant Basin

Leaving Purgatory Resort, Forest Service Road 578 quickly climbs to Hermosa Park utilizing well maintained narrow dusty switchbacks. Once peaking Forest Service Road 578, it drops you into a beautiful valley with jaw dropping views…
Learn more about Hermosa Park

This trail starts at the Animus Forks Ghost Town, and the start of the famous Alpine Loops. This is a remote and beautiful drive that passes by many old mining buildings. Make time to stop…
Learn more about California Gulch

This trail leads up to the Purgatory Ski Area. The trail is well-maintained and consists of many winding roads surrounded by tall pine trees. The trail consists of both up and downhill descending. There are…
Learn more about Elbert Creek Road

This historic and scenic off-road route travels between two high alpine gulches just outside Silverton, climbing through wildflower-speckled meadows, past century-old mining ruins, and into panoramic high-country views. The trail begins with a steep, rocky…
Learn more about Placer and Picayne Gulch

If you're looking to escape some of the heavier traffic on County Road 2 between Silverton and Lake City, East Animas Road is a fantastic alternative. At just 2 miles long, this trail offers a…
Learn more about East Animas Road

This trail takes you up along the Rio Grande past its reservoir to the headwaters. There is beautiful scenery, campsites along the river and some of the best trout fishing to be had. It runs…
Learn more about NF 520 - Rio Grande Reservoir & Headwaters

The journey to the Sound Democrat Mill is indeed steeped in history, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. Nestled at the bottom of a picturesque valley, the mill stands as a testament to the…
Learn more about Sound Democrat Mill

This out-and-back trail may be brief, but it is rich with stories of ambition, perseverance, and the enduring human spirit. Situated off of Picayune/Placer Gulch, it leads you directly to the legendary Silver Queen and…
Learn more about Silver Queen

This is a short spur through a private area down to the South Fork Animas River. The road ends at a gate, short of what the Motor Vehicle Use Map shows, to keep traffic out…
Learn more about South Fork Animas Trailhead

Culver Creek, County Road 14A, branches off Dexter Creek, County Road 14. The first part of the road is graded gravel to a parking area where you can park and hike. From there, the road…
Learn more about Culver Creek - County Road 14A