Favorite 5th gen trails you've taken in Colorado/Rockies?

[Trixx]

My wife and I are into Day 11 of our planned 16 Day, 2600 mile road trip with our 4runner and Off Road trailer. We started in SC, went to VA, Michigan through the upper peninsula, down to Wisconsin for 3 days, then to Iowa for a friends wedding.

After Iowa we hoped to do Black Hills>Glacier>Yellowstone>on down.

After some research, Glacier and Yellowstone are very non-dog friendly, so I don't think we'll waste our time unfortunately. We have a 13 week old German Shepherd with us.

Another though could be continental divide north to south, however early September is pushing it weather wise. We were going to do it last year but our date got moved back so we ended up doing 3000 miles of Baja instead.

So - I'm looking for suggestions. I don't know a lot about the Rockies region or from Montana to Mexico other than the continental divide which I did a ton of research on last year.

We strongly considered Banff - however we have guns with us and have tried tirelessly looking for places to leave them to cross the border with no luck.

We have a 3" lift, Toyo RT's and a lifted M416 trailer with RTT, however we are traveling solo and don't have a winch, so we're more into scenic views and sweet places to camp as opposed to super aggressive trails where we could get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks for the help! Here's a few pics of the trip this far:

 

[4Running303]

I would suggest the trails around Ouray and Telluride, CO. Black Bear Pass, Imogene, Engineer, Poughkeepsie, and the Alpine Loop. I would suggest setting up your trailer at one of the camp sites near Ouray and do day trips out and back. They aren't gnarly trails at all...only a couple spots...but definitely not trailer friendly.

There's also great trails around Idaho Springs and Georgetown...which are more on the Denver side of the high rockies.

If you want to keep the trailer attached, check out Lifestyle Overland's report and videos on the Enchanted Rockies Trail. http://www.lifestyleoverland.com/enchanted-rockies-trail/

 

[S54MCoupe]

We strongly considered Banff - however we have guns with us and have tried tirelessly looking for places to leave them to cross the border with no luck.

I buried mine in the desert, set a GPS marker and came back for them. I plan to do it again on my next trip.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I like this trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/ophir-pass

 

[MeefZah]

I would suggest the trails around Ouray and Telluride, CO. Black Bear Pass, Imogene, Engineer, Poughkeepsie, and the Alpine Loop. I would suggest setting up your trailer at one of the camp sites near Ouray and do day trips out and back. They aren't gnarly trails at all...only a couple spots...but definitely not trailer friendly.

There's also great trails around Idaho Springs and Georgetown...which are more on the Denver side of the high rockies.

If you want to keep the trailer attached, check out Lifestyle Overland's report and videos on the Enchanted Rockies Trail. Enchanted Rockies Trail - Lifestyle Overland

I think he could do Imogene and Engineer / Cinnamon with the trailer... but I wouldn't try it on Black Bear or Poughkeepsie Gulch.

OP, what "guns" do you have? You can cross into CA with long guns, just fill out the declaration form and pay $25 CAN at the border. Handguns just go to a bus station and put them in a locker or something. Shame you are going to miss Bannff because of that. That and Icefields Pkwy / Jasper would make your ****ing trip, right there.

Not sure why Glacier isn't "dog friendly"? That's a great destination and it would be a shame to miss it, too. Yellowstone I can do without, too many people. Still beautiful, but it ain't Glacier.

Too bad to be taking a epic trip and be limited.

 

[Trixx]

I would suggest the trails around Ouray and Telluride, CO. Black Bear Pass, Imogene, Engineer, Poughkeepsie, and the Alpine Loop. I would suggest setting up your trailer at one of the camp sites near Ouray and do day trips out and back. They aren't gnarly trails at all...only a couple spots...but definitely not trailer friendly.

There's also great trails around Idaho Springs and Georgetown...which are more on the Denver side of the high rockies.

If you want to keep the trailer attached, check out Lifestyle Overland's report and videos on the Enchanted Rockies Trail. Enchanted Rockies Trail - Lifestyle Overland

Thanks for the info! That gives us a lot of good direction.

I buried mine in the desert, set a GPS marker and came back for them. I plan to do it again on my next trip.

I am considering that route.

I think he could do Imogene and Engineer / Cinnamon with the trailer... but I wouldn't try it on Black Bear or Poughkeepsie Gulch.

OP, what "guns" do you have? You can cross into CA with long guns, just fill out the declaration form and pay $25 CAN at the border. Handguns just go to a bus station and put them in a locker or something. Shame you are going to miss Bannff because of that. That and Icefields Pkwy / Jasper would make your ****ing trip, right there.

Not sure why Glacier isn't "dog friendly"? That's a great destination and it would be a shame to miss it, too. Yellowstone I can do without, too many people. Still beautiful, but it ain't Glacier.

Too bad to be taking a epic trip and be limited.

I have a 9mm handgun, which I could potentially go your route.

For a long gun I have a .308 AR-10. I found something that was like, "AR-15's and its variants are not permitted." Not sure if an AR-10 would be considered a variant or not.

I've been trying to find a gun shop near the border that does "cleanings" and I could just drop them off to be cleaned and picked up on my return. So far no luck but I'll keep trying.

Like you mentioned - it would make my trip. From what I've seen Banff looks to be one of the coolest parks in North America. I'll keep working that route. Had I of known what I do now, I would've just left the guns at home, just didn't consider it as strongly as we left at a spur of the moment when our schedule opened up, and planning a trip like this (what to bring, not knowing when we'd be back) was a major feat within itself.

 

[MeefZah]

I am considering that route.



I have a 9mm handgun, which I could potentially go your route.

For a long gun I have a .308 AR-10. I found something that was like, "AR-15's and its variants are not permitted." Not sure if an AR-10 would be considered a variant or not.

I've been trying to find a gun shop near the border that does "cleanings" and I could just drop them off to be cleaned and picked up on my return. So far no luck but I'll keep trying.

Like you mentioned - it would make my trip. From what I've seen Banff looks to be one of the coolest parks in North America. I'll keep working that route. Had I of known what I do now, I would've just left the guns at home, just didn't consider it as strongly as we left at a spur of the moment when our schedule opened up, and planning a trip like this (what to bring, not knowing when we'd be back) was a major feat within itself.

AR-10 should be okay but the magazine would get ya (5 rd only in Can). I got that from another thread here on T4R.

Maybe post in the regional area for Montana and see if there is a forum member near the border that will hold your shit for you for a few days?

 

[Trixx]

AR-10 should be okay but the magazine would get ya (5 rd only in Can). I got that from another thread here on T4R.

Maybe post in the regional area for Montana and see if there is a forum member near the border that will hold your shit for you for a few days?

I'm gonna hit up some more gun shops and see what I can work or I'll see what I can do in the regional section. Thanks for the harder push to make Banff work. Needed to here it. We'll see what happens.

 

[Presa Canario]

I will second what's already been said about Ouray, CO. I've been up there twice in the last two months and I plan to go back mid-sept. Everyone will have a different opinion, but I would not try to drag that trailer up Engineer Pass. The first 1-2 miles of the trail going up off of Hwy 550 is a rough biscuit. Plus, once you actually get up on the pass, the road is so narrow and there is a lot of traffic coming both directions. I'm pretty ballsy and I wouldn't do it. Imogene is the most beautiful trail/Pass I've ever been on. Views that you can't possibly begin to capture with a camera. Black Bear is rated as a pretty rough trail, but of the three we have just discussed, it was by far the easiest. It's damn near a 2wd road going up from Hwy 550. Now once you break over the pass on the other side, it's a little more serious, but nothing that can't be done is a stock Runner or Jeep. Black Bear was the least technical and the least rough of all 3. I would not take the trailer down the back side of black Bear. Going up would be a piece of cake and you can turn around and go back. Once you break over the pass, it's one way traffic only.....down.

You can go to silverton and go north out of town and get up on the Alpine Loop. This is all 2wd capable road and trailer dragging friendly. You can drive up to the old mining town of Animas Forks.

I didn't run Poughkeepsie Gulch last time because I was alone and didn't have a winch. They say it's pretty rough once you get up to the wall. I doubt it's as bad as everyone makes it out to be though.

 

[Dimhof]

Mosquito pass (Alma to leadville). I loved exploring the 10th mountain division trails just south of minturn. And Pearl pass Aspen to Crested butte. Although going crested to aspen would be easier

 

[Dimhof]

And as far as friendly resources you might try the overlandbound community

 

[JSparky]

I can't help but I'm curious to see what others recommend. Nice setup

 

[hpf1422]

Chiming in from Canada

Just chiming in from Canada - I live right by Banff in Calgary.

90% sure an AR-10 is restricted (the same classification as your 9mm), although people bring restricted guns from the US to Canada all the time. I think you need a "Canadian-legal" reason for it though - like going to a shooting competition. And then you have to bring them directly to the range and keep them there. Maybe you could say the range has a special gunsmith that you have to use to do XYZ to your AR10.

But yes, lots to see in Banff & Jasper. Was a little hazy from smoke, as there are forest fires going on, but it's gotten a lot better in the last day or 2. I think off-road trails are closed to vehicles because of the fire warnings, however.

 

[Trixx]

Just chiming in from Canada - I live right by Banff in Calgary.

90% sure an AR-10 is restricted (the same classification as your 9mm), although people bring restricted guns from the US to Canada all the time. I think you need a "Canadian-legal" reason for it though - like going to a shooting competition. And then you have to bring them directly to the range and keep them there. Maybe you could say the range has a special gunsmith that you have to use to do XYZ to your AR10.

But yes, lots to see in Banff & Jasper. Was a little hazy from smoke, as there are forest fires going on, but it's gotten a lot better in the last day or 2. I think off-road trails are closed to vehicles because of the fire warnings, however.

Thanks for the info! I found a gun shop in Missoula, MT that will take my guns for "cleaning" for pretty cheap while I head north. Still playing everything by ear but while we have the free time it seems to make the most sense to do the trip now. We'll see!

Any suggestions on specific campgrounds up there? Is everything close enough that we can stick at one Campground and venture out on day trips, or would you suggest moving to multiple campgrounds spread out a bit further?

 

[hpf1422]

Thanks for the info! I found a gun shop in Missoula, MT that will take my guns for "cleaning" for pretty cheap while I head north. Still playing everything by ear but while we have the free time it seems to make the most sense to do the trip now. We'll see!

Any suggestions on specific campgrounds up there? Is everything close enough that we can stick at one Campground and venture out on day trips, or would you suggest moving to multiple campgrounds spread out a bit further?

Once you're in Banff and find a campground, there will be plenty to do on day trips...Explore the actual town, check out the hot springs, visit Banff Springs hotel, and hike around there. Also, Lake Louise (45-60mins away) is a pretty popular spot with good hikes around there.

Again, keep in mind fire ban, so no camp fires, although if you have a propane fire pit you can use that! (If you want to borrow one and want to swing by Calgary, PM me)

Links to campsites:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/camping?gccf=true

Some links to things to do:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/brochures#summer

My fave site for finding hiking spots:
Day Hikes, Hiking, Trails, Local Adventures in Banff, AB

 

[Trixx]

Once you're in Banff and find a campground, there will be plenty to do on day trips...Explore the actual town, check out the hot springs, visit Banff Springs hotel, and hike around there. Also, Lake Louise (45-60mins away) is a pretty popular spot with good hikes around there.

Again, keep in mind fire ban, so no camp fires, although if you have a propane fire pit you can use that! (If you want to borrow one and want to swing by Calgary, PM me)

Links to campsites:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/camping?gccf=true

Some links to things to do:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/brochures#summer

My fave site for finding hiking spots:
Day Hikes, Hiking, Trails, Local Adventures in Banff, AB

You rock - thanks for all the info. We'll be piecing things together over the rest of the week. Looking like some camp sites still have reservations available. I'll definitely be hitting you up as we have more questions beings we can make it work.

 

[MeefZah]

I also believe all Canadian parks are free this year to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary.

 

[MeefZah]

Canada

 

[rhlanham]

Mosquito Pass out of Leadville, CO. Great road!!

Reid

 

[pmostaghim]

good luck on the trip, op!

about to do the same in a few weeks; excited to see more of your photos.