Colorado's Best 4x4 Trails

From the beaten path to the path that'll beat you ...

The state of Colorado is one of the best places in the world to take the roof off your wrangler and hit the trail. Within a few hours of Denver, you'll find miles upon miles of retired mining roads that have been converted to U.S. Forest OHV trails, along with old mining equipment, ghost towns, lakes, and staggering views. But we warn you -- driving these trails is not for the inexperienced driver. In fact, we suggest you do as much research as you can beforehand; make sure your 4x4 is in tip-top shape, watch the weather, learn a few survival/mechanical skills, go with a fellow wheeler, and always start off with the easy stuff.

With that said, here are a few of Colorado's best 4x4 trails:

Bunce School Road

[gallery ids="18896,18895"] Difficulty: Easy Length: 5.3 miles Nearest Town: Nederland, CO Bunce School Road is a popular trail that's surrounded by dense forest. The majority of it is pretty mellow, yet its scattered rocky sections and dirt playgrounds make for the perfect place to get to know your 4x4. You can also access the old T-33A plane crash site where pieces of aircraft remain untouched.

Red Cone Pass

[gallery ids="18897,19625,18898"] Difficulty: Expert (experienced drivers only) Length: 12.2 miles Nearest Town: Montezuma, CO (pop. 65) A lightly used trail that doesn't require sitting in I-70 traffic, Red Cone Pass is not for the faint of heart. It starts at 11,000 feet and rises well above tree line at 12,801 feet. The ride up has some moderate rocky sections which most stock or lightly modified 4x4s can handle, but it's all worth it once you get above the trees. That's where 4x4 experience comes in -- getting down the loose rocky section of the peak is where people get into trouble. 4-Low and slow-as-possible speeds are advised; the rear of the vehicle could start to slide and you'll need a little throttle to help straighten you out. There's actually some twisted metal at the base of the pass from less-fortunate attempts.

Alpine Loop

[gallery ids="19628,19629,19634"] Difficulty: Moderate (narrow and steep in areas) Length: 20.5 miles Nearest Town: Ouray, CO Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass combine to make the famous Alpine Loop Trail network. Located outside the town of Ouray, these trails boast old mining structures and staggering views of the San Juans, and you can visit the ghost town of Capitol City! Beginners, be careful -- some sections of the trail can be narrow and have steep ledges. Again, be sure your 4x4 is up to the task; some sections will push the limits of a stock vehicle.

Yankee Hill

[gallery ids="19633,19635"] Difficulty: Easy-moderate Length: 9.75 miles Nearest Town: Central City, CO If you're planning on gambling, take the long way to Central City! Yankee Hill is part of an old mining network, which means you never know what you might find! Most of the trail is easy-going with a few rocky areas, but it should be clearable by most stock 4x4 vehicles.

Crescent Lake

[gallery ids="18923,18925"] Difficulty: Moderate-expert Length: 11 miles Nearest Town: McCoy, CO With a lake at the top, this trail is for those looking for some water and mud. We warn you, though: water crossings may exceed hub depth and have strong currents. Other challenges include some serious rocky sections, grades up to 20 degrees, and a sidehill approach of 30 degrees. Stock vehicles may have issues -- a high clearance 4x4 is necessary.

Devil's Canyon

[gallery ids="18926,18928"] Difficulty: Easy Length: 5.9 miles Nearest Town: Idaho Springs, CO Devil's Canyon is an easy-going trail that's close to Denver, making it a great place to get a taste of what mountain terrain is like. Here you'll be taken through dense forest and grassy areas alike. And with campsites littered throughout, you're welcome to stay overnight! These are just to name a few! There are hundreds of fantastic trails in Colorado, and we know we've missed some. So if you have any that you'd love to add, photos, tips, or updates, let us know in the comments below! Don't forget to do your research! Directions, GPS coordinates, and current conditions can be found here.