Colorado Road Trip Questions

[FordPerf Addict]

Hello everyone,

Me and a few friend of mine are considering planning a road trip from michigan to colorado with our raptors the day after christmas. We enjoy the winter runs and offroading during the cold months of the year. We are looking to go to the Veil area or Telluride area to stay, but we want to make sure there are plenty of offroad trails around there that time of year.

My main concern is that all of the trails would be snowed in and impossible to pass or get to. But i am thinking its possible that there are trails at lower elevations that would be fine? i have no clue about offroading in colorado. i ski there every year but thats about it. any insight would be a great help

 

[Gdog]

A bit of insight the areas you mentioned Vail and Telluride are not close to any lower elevations. There may be several feet of snow there or it may be workable depending on the weather. For us locals the time you mentioned is well into snowmobile and ski season and off-roading is not a consideration for most of us.. july and august in the high country are the best times for off-roading here in Colorado. IMO

 

[Dane]

Hello everyone,

Me and a few friend of mine are considering planning a road trip from michigan to colorado with our raptors the day after christmas. We enjoy the winter runs and offroading during the cold months of the year. We are looking to go to the Veil area or Telluride area to stay, but we want to make sure there are plenty of offroad trails around there that time of year.

My main concern is that all of the trails would be snowed in and impossible to pass or get to. But i am thinking its possible that there are trails at lower elevations that would be fine? i have no clue about offroading in colorado. i ski there every year but thats about it. any insight would be a great help

The areas you list are not going to have open trails that time of year. Way too much snow. I'll grant you there's a chance - maybe a snowball's chance in hell, but I wouldn't count on it. Definitely not Telluride. Maybe, just maaaaaybe the Vale area. There are definitely some trails in Idaho Springs that stay open year round - but snow is a huge factor and typically you just go as far as you can get away with and then come back. Also these are typically more jeep type trails, and I don't take my raptor on them. Make sure you both have winches and gear. Never wheel any of these areas alone, and make sure to air down first.

 

[goblues38]

I went last March from STL to Steamboat. Could not find a single trail open between Denver and Steamboat via Silverthorn.

 

[TheTeej]

Yeah not going to find anything open and as mentioned most are Jeep trails. You could drive further to Junction or Utah. Anyone know if there is anything in the wastelands of eastern Colorado? As a denver resident I wouldn’t mind having places to stretch the legs. The mountain rock crawling narrow crap isn’t for me (with the raptor at least)

 

[Dane]

Yeah not going to find anything open and as mentioned most are Jeep trails. You could drive further to Junction or Utah. Anyone know if there is anything in the wastelands of eastern Colorado? As a denver resident I wouldn’t mind having places to stretch the legs. The mountain rock crawling narrow crap isn’t for me (with the raptor at least)

Yeah, there's nothing out east.
There's a reason I own a Jeep too.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

its supposed to snow here today. even the lower elevations will have snow. there wont be anything you will be able to do here at that time of year. even wyoming where we run flat out is buried under snow

 

[911 Crazy]

Use to live in Greeley and some nice roads north of town. I remember a state park area (I think) that had some nice buttes and scenery. Little to no snow at that time too. Good luck.

 

[Proflyer]

Not happening now. Most forest service gates close 10/31 if not sooner due to snow. They don't want to have to go rescue you and your buddies, plus it really tears up the trails. Come back in July, as we do have an unbelievable trail network.

 

[Crosby]

Hello everyone,

Me and a few friend of mine are considering planning a road trip from michigan to colorado with our raptors the day after christmas. We enjoy the winter runs and offroading during the cold months of the year. We are looking to go to the Veil area or Telluride area to stay, but we want to make sure there are plenty of offroad trails around there that time of year.

My main concern is that all of the trails would be snowed in and impossible to pass or get to. But i am thinking its possible that there are trails at lower elevations that would be fine? i have no clue about offroading in colorado. i ski there every year but thats about it. any insight would be a great help

Your best bet is Western Colorado in December. I live in Grand Junction and there are plenty of trails and BLM land in the GJ area. We usually don't get heavy snows that stick around and trails are open year round. Moab is only 1-1/2 away and winter might be the best time to run trails in Moab with no crowds. Have a good trip!