Colorado Trip Ideas??

[Blake Loggins]

Looking for trip locations in Colorado other than Ouray/Telluride & Breckenridge. 2 years ago we went to Ouray then last summer went to Breckenridge. Loved both! Just wondering if there are any other areas just as good for trail riding? I'm not opposed to going back to Breck or Ouray just wondering if there is another great place out there? Ideally looking for a place with great central access to trails each day. We really enjoy the high country and alpine lakes.

I would love to make the annual 200 series events but my wife is a school teacher and here in Ga schools go back the last week of July so that's out. We usually travel early July. Thanks in advance!

 

[NateMob]

Salida/Buena Vista has some the best trails and scenary in the state. Just as pretty and more challenging trails than the Ouray area.

 

[weaselox]

I’m actually going to be in Colorado running trails from July 12-18th. We’re picking up our new Turtleback Expedition trailer on the 11th, then heading through Colorado on our journey back to VA.

 

[Blake Loggins]

Salida/Buena Vista has some the best trails and scenary in the state. Just as pretty and more challenging trails than the Ouray area.

Perfect! Thanks!

 

[linuxgod]

Get this and use that to start your planning

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/1934838047

 

[Blake Loggins]

Get this and use that to start your planning

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/1934838047

That's a great book. I had it last year out in Breckenridge but left it at the place we rented. Guess it's time to order another!

 

[BVCOTaco]

That book is good, I use when traveling around Colorado all the time. I live in Buena Vista and there is a ton of trails to run locally around here from mild to wild. Tons of dirt roads and also more challenging trails. Lots of roads to access old mines and alpine lakes within in an hour of here. If you make this your choice, let me know if you would like suggestions on places to check out.

 

[Blake Loggins]

That book is good, I use when traveling around Colorado all the time. I live in Buena Vista and there is a ton of trails to run locally around here from mild to wild. Tons of dirt roads and also more challenging trails. Lots of roads to access old mines and alpine lakes within in an hour of here. If you make this your choice, let me know if you would like suggestions on places to check out.

Will do! Thanks so much! I will stay in touch.

 

[LALC]

Anything around Bonanza? Heading there in a couple months.

 

[FinallyGotOne!]

When I lived in CO we would actually go from one place to another using the backroads book. In other words, when friends and family came to visit, instead of staying at Ouray or Crested Butte and venturing out on the trails around the area, we would travel there from C-Springs with the intent to maximize our use of the county trails (roads) rather than highways.

It's a great way to use an LC/LX: some highways and some trails, all loaded up with family or friends and exploring. It was so much more fun to navigate ourselves somewhere we wanted to get to, rather than four wheeling and coming back to where we started.

 

[Dan Higgins]

+1 for Buena Vista. It is one of our favorite areas. Its central location makes it a good place to access a lot of areas. Crested Butte area is good as well and if they complete the work on Cottonwood Pass you'll have a nice way to drive from one to the other. We're not hard core so we like the Aspen Ridge trail and the Fourmile area. But there are many more. Many like Mosquito Pass (if late enough that the snow has cleared) but I hear it is more of a shake, rattle and roll rock crawl. Weston Pass is also pretty tame. Then there is the drive over to Tin Cup. Also Hagerman Pass from Leadville over to Aspen (actually Basalt).

 

[GoISU]

I’m actually going to be in Colorado running trails from July 12-18th. We’re picking up our new Turtleback Expedition trailer on the 11th, then heading through Colorado on our journey back to VA.

Are you hitting the Ouray area? A group of us from Chicago will be doing the BDR and winding up at Summit ( mostly FJ’s in our group). I will most likely be pulling my buddies white Turtleback with my black 200. Say hello if you spot us.

In the area July 13-21

 

[GoISU]

Double post... my bad.

I’m actually going to be in Colorado running trails from July 12-18th. We’re picking up our new Turtleback Expedition trailer on the 11th, then heading through Colorado on our journey back to VA.

Are you hitting the Ouray area? A group of us from Chicago will be doing the BDR and winding up at Summit ( mostly FJ’s in our group). I will most likely be pulling my buddies white Turtleback with my black 200. Say hello if you spot us.

In the area July 13-21

 

[linuxgod]

Are you hitting the Ouray area? A group of us from Chicago will be doing the BDR and winding up at Summit ( mostly FJ’s in our group). I will most likely be pulling my buddies white Turtleback with my black 200. Say hello if you spot us.

In the area July 13-21

We're starting out for Ouray 7/25. If you stick around another week for the 200 LCDC I'll see you there

 

[NateMob]

Ill be running the Ouray trails from July 21, 22, and 23rd with a long travel FJC if anyone wants to run some trails around that time.

 

[BVCOTaco]

+1 for Buena Vista. It is one of our favorite areas. Its central location makes it a good place to access a lot of areas. Crested Butte area is good as well and if they complete the work on Cottonwood Pass you'll have a nice way to drive from one to the other. We're not hard core so we like the Aspen Ridge trail and the Fourmile area. But there are many more. Many like Mosquito Pass (if late enough that the snow has cleared) but I hear it is more of a shake, rattle and roll rock crawl. Weston Pass is also pretty tame. Then there is the drive over to Tin Cup. Also Hagerman Pass from Leadville over to Aspen (actually Basalt).

Cottonwood Pass is going to be closed again this year. I think they still need to finish the west side paving work they started last year and they are also closing the BV side for maintenance work this year. You will only be able to make it up to around the Rainbow Lake lodge this year. Makes for a long drive over to Taylor Park or Crested Butte! But there is a fun route taking some old passes from the top of Monarch over to Taylor Park area, did it on my motorcycle last year and it was a blast. Did 4 passes from BV to Taylor Park that day!

 

[Dan Higgins]

Cottonwood Pass is going to be closed again this year. I think they still need to finish the west side paving work they started last year and they are also closing the BV side for maintenance work this year. You will only be able to make it up to around the Rainbow Lake lodge this year. Makes for a long drive over to Taylor Park or Crested Butte! But there is a fun route taking some old passes from the top of Monarch over to Taylor Park area, did it on my motorcycle last year and it was a blast. Did 4 passes from BV to Taylor Park that day!

Thanks for the heads up. Guess its good that BV is not on our list this year due to us needing to be in the PNW for much of the summer. Hopefully all will be good in 2019! The Taylor River area is awesome as I am sure you know.

Thanks for the tip on the trails over from the top of Monarch. I've driven the dirt road to Monarch and also the lower trail from the Funtreks book but to be honest, that lower one was mostly just bouncing around on rocks. Won't get over to Monarch either this year but I'll put it on the list for a later date.

 

[JeffH]

Crested Butte area is nice. Also take a look at Steamboat/Walden and if you like the Alpine loop try staying in Silverton or Lake City for a different experience. Not sure what you are looking for "Trail riding" - to me that means Motorcycles because that's what I do.
Be forewarned that if you go in early July that many high dirt passes may still be snowed in (Mosquito Pass, Weston pass). This year that may not prove true though as we have had a dry winter. I was in Fairplay last Saturday and we have no snow at all at our house located at 10,300 ft.

 

[weaselox]

Are you hitting the Ouray area? A group of us from Chicago will be doing the BDR and winding up at Summit ( mostly FJ’s in our group). I will most likely be pulling my buddies white Turtleback with my black 200. Say hello if you spot us.

In the area July 13-21

Yes, we’re going to be leaving Friday morning (7/12) from Phoenix with the hope that we’re in the Mesa Verde area that evening. From there, we’ll be hitting trails on Saturday afternoon, Sunday, and Monday in the Ouray/Telluride area. Still putting together planning for trail systems. On Monday, we’re going to head east to the Great Sand Dunes NP and head north towards Denver until Wednesday around 12pm. We’ll then cut out and start heading back home to Virginia as I have to be in VA Beach by Saturday afternoon.

 

[JohnJB]

Crested Butte area is nice. Also take a look at Steamboat/Walden and if you like the Alpine loop try staying in Silverton or Lake City for a different experience. Not sure what you are looking for "Trail riding" - to me that means Motorcycles because that's what I do.
Be forewarned that if you go in early July that many high dirt passes may still be snowed in (Mosquito Pass, Weston pass). This year that may not prove true though as we have had a dry winter. I was in Fairplay last Saturday and we have no snow at all at our house located at 10,300 ft.

Progress on opening roads this year is weeks ahead of schedule. Ouray County is easily 3, if not 4, weeks ahead of normal. They were able to start plowing areas 2 weeks ago that typically don't start being plowed until mid May.

Dry winter to say the least. Hope it doesn't bring about a record fire season.