Easy Off Roading Near Denver?

[MiniGene]

Now that the weather is getting warm I want to get outside with my 4Runner. It is an 2004 4WD SR5 that I bought back in February. Can anybody tell me of some easy trails/roads in the Denver area that would to good to make a day trip out of with the family?

My runner is stock right now with some Michellin Cross Terrains so I'm looking to get my feet wet with. Nothing too crazy.

Thanks!

Eugene

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Slaughterhouse is a nice easy trail friendly to stock trucks and is only about 45 minutes outside Denver.

TrailDamage.com - Slaughterhouse Gulch

 

[MiniGene]

Cool! I'm going to put that link into favorites and give it a try soon.

Thanks.

 

[cencyc]

It will likely be a few months before the back country opens up, so expect snow and closures.

Taking Argentine Pass road to Waldorf is pretty easy, the worst section is the first 1/2 mile. TrailDamage.com - Argentine Pass

The North Empire Road (Bill Moore Lake) is one of my favorites. As a highlight, you can stop at the first Hard Rock Cafe for breakfast/lunch. http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=12

The Colorado Trail Head map at Trail Damage is a great place to start. In looking at the reports/descriptions of the trails I have been on, they are pretty accurate. TrailDamage.com - Map of Colorado Trailheads

Now all I need to do is find a new 4Runner....

 

[MiniGene]

Cencyc, thanks for the recomendations. I will check those out.

I figured I probably would have to wait a while to make sure the good weather was here to stay. The wife is anxious to get out I told her I'm not anxious to get stuck!

Gene

 

[Duhockey]

Little later in the season, try out

Loch Lomond and Chinns Lake, both easy for stock vehicles and both rewarding with a great lake at the end for fishing, hanging out..

and both are just outside Idaho Springs

 

[Paynetrain]

Little later in the season, try out

Loch Lomond and Chinns Lake, both easy for stock vehicles and both rewarding with a great lake at the end for fishing, hanging out..

and both are just outside Idaho Springs

Hell ya, count me in... Gotta strap in the porta bote and I'm there :driving:

 

[jac100]

Trails

I'm coming into this conversation way late but I'm trying to plan a light off road trip for some family members coming in Memorial Day weekend.

I called the Forest service and talked to them about Loch Lomond - the lower gate opens on June 2nd and the upper gate opens July 15th.

I started looking at Trail damage and think I might try these 3 for the weekend:

Bill Moore Lake: TrailDamage.com - Bill Moore Lake

Red Elephant Hill: TrailDamage.com - Red Elephant Hill

Mill Creek: TrailDamage.com - Mill Creek

My concern right now is the snow level up there. These are pretty high so I am concerned there might be a pile of white stuff up there.

 

[Duhockey]

I'm coming into this conversation way late but I'm trying to plan a light off road trip for some family members coming in Memorial Day weekend.

I called the Forest service and talked to them about Loch Lomond - the lower gate opens on June 2nd and the upper gate opens July 15th.

I started looking at Trail damage and think I might try these 3 for the weekend:

Bill Moore Lake: TrailDamage.com - Bill Moore Lake

Red Elephant Hill: TrailDamage.com - Red Elephant Hill

Mill Creek: TrailDamage.com - Mill Creek

My concern right now is the snow level up there. These are pretty high so I am concerned there might be a pile of white stuff up there.

yeah, try lower stuff like Cascade Creek, Slaughterhouse gulch, Illinois and missouri gulch, Left hand Canyon

all of those have been run recently by guys at Rm4wd.org

thats our local site for planning trail runs etc.

Bill moore is prob waay too high. Chinns and Loch Lomond are both lower and closed.. well, chinns isnt closed, just too much snow to make it thru

 

[03_4x4Runner]

All of the trails in this area are easy and very senic. TrailDamage.com - Phantom Canyon

 

[Ron Helmuth]

64th avenue near DIA

Heading east across E470 bridge is a seldom used back road into DIA.You pass a Denver Water facility building....

Not sure that it goes west all the way to Tower Road-you may have to go to 56th avenue and work your way north from there on the last road before E470 ( I want to say Picadilly but not 100% sure-I just kind of wander around) heading east on 56th.

It's fun for me to explore the area without using the pay road... I don't do toll roads....

If it is muddy do not attempt it alone...bring the pull strap just in case. Don't cross any culverts without scouting them out first.

just throwing it out there.... it's as close to Denver as you can get...never tried it at night...