{"id":3462,"date":"2026-08-05T20:03:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=3462"},"modified":"2026-08-05T20:03:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:03:39","slug":"5-overlanding-destinations-in-colorado-for-those-seeking-the-road-less-traveled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=3462","title":{"rendered":"5 overlanding destinations in Colorado for those seeking the road less traveled"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Of the myriad ways to explore Colorado\u2019s high country and wilderness, one that\u2019s becoming increasingly popular is overlanding.<\/p>\n

Read more State of New Mexico sues Justice Department and Todd Blanche, saying they blocked its Epstein probe<\/a><\/p>\n

Overlanding is broadly defined as a form of self-reliant travel that allows people to experience scenic remote areas. Many times that means driving unpaved roads and camping for several days to make the most out of the adventure.<\/p>\n

Though having an adequate vehicle to navigate backcountry roads is important, overlanding is distinct from off-roading, which focuses explicitly on technical driving over challenging terrain. Overlanding, meanwhile, \u201cblends travel, exploration, navigation, camping, and self-sufficiency into one experience,\u201d according to the Overland Expo Foundation.<\/p>\n

The foundation hosts gear shows across the country \u2014 including the local Overland Expo Mountain West (Aug. 21-23) at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland \u2014 and produces an industry report seeking to understand the overlanding community.<\/p>\n

Both off-roading and overlanding exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as people turned to the outdoors as an alternative to other types of recreation. The latter has continued to draw recreationists with 8 million people taking an overlanding trip in the U.S. in 2024, according to the latest industry report released last year.<\/p>\n

With that many people on backcountry roads, you might be wondering how to find a bit of solitude. After all, if you wanted to sit in traffic, you could just take I-70.<\/p>\n

We spoke with Tracy Barker, president of Colorado 4WD Association, who had insight about where to find the 4\u00d74 roads less traveled. Most of the suggested routes below involve a low-level of difficulty \u2014 3 out of 10, according to TrailsOffRoad\u2019s technical rating scale \u2014 so they are generally more accessible than notorious ones like Black Bear Pass or Imogene Pass, near Telluride. Exceptions include Lake Creek (rated 4), Mosquito Pass (rated 4), and Schofield Pass (rated 5), Barker said.<\/p>\n

Just because they are relatively easier doesn\u2019t mean there won\u2019t be big payoffs. Barker chose these overlanding routes because they offer access to high alpine and rugged mountain vistas, camping options, and trailheads. Some can even be driven as \u201cloops,\u201d offering opportunities for multi-day excursions, he said. Though some are in well-known overlanding areas, Barker promised you\u2019ll find serenity.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s just a fact of life that many places become congested on summer weekends,\u201d he said by email. \u201cBut fortunately, even for the more popular areas (Silverton, Ouray, Crested Butte, Buena Vista, Salida, etc.) there remain side roads\/spur roads sufficient to \u2018get away.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are five overlanding destinations to seek out. Please remember to recreate responsibly \u2014 or don\u2019t be an \u201cass clown\u201d in the words of one Western Slope sheriff \u2014 by choosing a path that suits your driving abilities, adequately preparing, and following Leave No Trace principles.<\/p>\n

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Near Westcliffe<\/h4>\n

Suggested routes:<\/strong> Lake Creek a.k.a. Cloverdale Mine; Hermit Pass; and Medano Pass to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.<\/p>\n

Attractions include high elevation, mining relics, dense forests, mountain lakes, access to plentiful dispersed\/primitive camping and the USFS Lake Creek Campground.<\/p>\n

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Near Alma<\/h4>\n

Suggested routes:<\/strong> Mount Bross; Buckskin Joe; and Mosquito Pass<\/p>\n

Attractions include high elevation, mining relics, forest and tundra, creeks and lakes, access to dispersed\/primitive camping and the USFS Kite Lake Campground (near Alma).<\/p>\n

Near Red Cliff<\/h4>\n

Suggested route:<\/strong> McAllister Gulch-Resolution Road-Wearyman Road loop<\/p>\n

Attractions include high elevation, opportunity for a history lesson at Camp Hale, forest and tundra, creeks, access to dispersed\/primitive camping and USFS Camp Hale Campground.<\/p>\n

Near Dotsero and Glenwood Springs<\/h4>\n

Suggested routes:<\/strong> Transfer Trail, Coffee Pot Road; and Blair Mtn Road<\/p>\n

Attractions include mid-elevation (10, 000 feet), forest and multiple lakes, access to dispersed\/primitive camping and multiple USFS campgrounds, such as Deep Lake and White Owl campgrounds.<\/p>\n

Near Crested Butte<\/h4>\n

Suggested routes:<\/strong> Gothic Road-Paradise Divide-Slate River loop; Lead King Basin; Schofield Pass (more advanced\/difficult)<\/p>\n

Attractions include high elevation, forest, rivers, mining towns (Gothic and Crystal), access to dispersed\/primitive camping and USFS\u2019 Lost Lake, Lake Irwin, Williams Creek campgrounds.<\/p>\n

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Read more Trump administration offers $25M for US citizen said to lead Mexico\u2019s most powerful cartel<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Westcliffe and Red Cliff to Alma and Glenwood Springs\/Dotsero and even Crested Butte, you can find side roads and spurs less traveled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,19,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-outdoors","category-things-to-do"],"yoast_head":"\n5 overlanding destinations in Colorado for those seeking the road less traveled - Colorado Springs Moverss<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=3462\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 overlanding destinations in Colorado for those seeking the road less traveled - 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