Day trips near Denver

[Grantnr]

Hope everyone is having a good day. Me and the missus are going to be in Denver for the first week of May visiting her relatives, ars there any good backroad day trips coming out of there? Overnighting isnt an issue in the slightest as we are taking everythimg with us.

 

[Etoimos]

So are you wanting day trips or multiday trips? Also, what level of road/trails are you looking to do? Also, what is your comfort level in driving offroad in snow? Most of the mountain roads will probably still have some snow on them in early May and the high pass will still be closed for the most part.

 

[Grantnr]

Day trips are preferred but I may squeak in a 2 day. Roads and trails will be done on 33in tires but I'm quite comfortable using them and we both make a good spotter/driver combo. Snow isn't an issue, she is from Denver and I am from Kansas. Ice and snow are nothing new.

 

[park_andrew80]

Bunce School Road is great. It just up highway seven near Allens Park. I was up there a bit ago, no snow or mud. Johnny Park and Parachute Hill are also on highway seven, closer to Longs Peak. I don't know if they are fully open, but they should be good. Highway 36 closer to Estes has Pole Hill but it might be torn up a bit due to dirt bikers etc. All about 2 hours away from Denver and can be awesome day trips! Hope this helps!

 

[Etoimos]

A good day trip would be Switzerland Trail west of Boulder. For anyone looking for trails in CO, I'd highly recommend joining the Trail Damage site. It's $12 a year to access all the trail details. They currently have 419 trails documented in CO and another 175 in UT. They each include trip reports, videos, GPX files and ratings for the type of terrain and obstacles you will encounter on the trail. You can search by trail name, trail difficulty ratings, trails near a certain town and more. It's quite possibly the best trail resource online for CO and UT.

 

[Grantnr]

Appreciate the feedback everyone. I'll online scout those areas and let you guys know what I come up with.

 

[JDGreens]

Are you going to be in the northern or southern side of Denver. As said most of the higher elevation trails won't be accessible, and at this time of year. And many closer routes won't open until mid May and some mid June. But there are still some great day trips to be had. The Funtreks books are another great resource. There is a Northern book and a southern book. There are plenty of trails within a 11/2 hr drive from Denver that are open. One of my favorite areas is above Empire loop they are rated difficult but Red Elephant hill is the harder part. I was worried about that trail but managed it with my xj on 33"s open diffs.

 

[Grantnr]

How bad is the snow up there right now? Funtreks is an awesome resource but gives constant "wait til snow plows come in june"

 

[Etoimos]

WE got a decent amount of snow down here in the flats yesterday... even more up in the mountains. Pikes Pike is still covered in it.

 

[JDGreens]

How bad is the snow up there right now? Funtreks is an awesome resource but gives constant "wait til snow plows come in june"

These trails are open sooner then the high mountain passes not sure of there current status but I have been on them in February and might be available mid May. I will see if I can find out anyone from our 4x4 group knows.

 

[JDGreens]

WE got a decent amount of snow down here in the flats yesterday... even more up in the mountains. Pikes Pike is still covered in it.

Down south the lower elevation trails have been pretty bare, but many are going to be closed for spring run off. Like the one of the previous poster said Bunce schools house and Iron Clads is a fun time and there are a lot of other Northern trails that are good to run a lot of the guys from our club who live up north run something almost every weekend. Miller Rock / Yankee Hill (can be very busy) / Pickle Gulch Most of us who live more to the south run the Gulches / Schubarth Loop / Rainbow Falls (pretty busy)
But always try and verify whether they are open for travel with MVUM's Starting with this site http://staythetrail.org/
Many of our trails require a OHV permit on full sized licensed vehicles now. I have never had a ranger even check for it on my rig or anyone I have been with, But I buy one every year to basically donate to the state from that fund they give grants so that clubs can work on and keep trails open. If you are only going to be in Colorado for a week I'm mot sure I'd worry about it I would plea ignorance they are just starting to check these. They are defiantly required on any atv type though.

 

[Etoimos]

Brushducks is a good site to check to see if a trail is open when you want to run.

 

[Grantnr]

So apparently my Tx OHV sticker has reciprocity In Colorado. I hope that's the case but I have no issue getting an in-state sticker, hell it keeps our trails open. But if anyone is doing any wheeling next week I would be more than grateful to jump in. Would like to make the Meet up on the 28th but sadly we would be stopping in New Mexico, 14hrs is a long day for the missus

 

[JDGreens]

Might be going out on Sat. May 5 if work goes well during the week. Friend and I want to do a shake down run for his rig as he just put in a new t-case, Most of last year he basically was running the trails in 2 wheel drive limited slip. Not sure where we are headed but if you want to tag along I'm sure you will have a good time. My rig is on 33"s also so you won't have any issues where we go.
It would beat going out alone for sure!

 

[Etoimos]

Keep this thread update on if and where you guys go. If that week pans out, I might join you.

 

[Grantnr]

Will do. She will be visiting with family but dat trips are definitely on the books for me

 

[Grantnr]

Ready to head your way guys *the wood is for texas... not much to burn*

 

[JDGreens]

So I might of missed it, but what part of town are you two coming to visit? North or South part of the greater Denver area? That would help to see what area would be best? You really wouldn't want to have to drive any farther than you have to, to get your tires dirty. You will be driving enough pavement just getting here. And believe me after a day of wheeling driving in traffic is no fun down the I-70 or I-25 corridor even if it is a weekend.

 

[Grantnr]

South side

 

[JDGreens]

Nice! there is a lot more down that way that is worth exploring, But probably the best area to go have some fun is the Gulches. Those trails rarely have to much snow even in the winter months. And they are pretty much the same drive from those who live in the springs. There are three trails at this location (actually 4 but Predator is really only for atv's) and when I go down there, we usually catch two of them. Hatchet is the hardest of the three, but Metberry and Longwater are well within your Toy's capabilities with out worries of messing your rig up.