Leave No Trace Principles for Jeeping, Off-roading, and OHV Adventures

When the open road beckons, it’s easy to feel the thrill of potential off-roading adventures in unspoiled landscapes. However, it’s crucial to resist the temptation of illegal or unsafe off-roading that can damage both your vehicle and the environment. Instead, explore legal off-roading areas where you can experience the thrill responsibly. Southwest Colorado, especially around Durango, offers numerous trails that provide the perfect balance of adventure and stewardship.

With a properly permitted Jeep, ATV, Rock Crawler, or other OHV, you can embark on thrilling adventures across the rugged terrain of Colorado’s mountains. These trails are intentionally left rough to enhance your off-roading experience without causing undue harm to your vehicle or the environment. When venturing into these areas, it's essential to adhere to Leave No Trace principles to preserve the beauty and integrity of these natural landscapes.

The Cream of the Crop: Mindful Off-Roading Locations

Missionary Ridge Area

The 19-mile gravel and dirt road maintained by the Forest Service is ideal for off-roading. The road has several forks, split offs, and sharp turns that make it nearly ideal for off-roading. Stick to designated trails to prevent environmental damage and erosion. Most OHVs are great for these sorts of roads.

Carry out all trash and belongings, ensuring the area remains pristine for future visitors.

La Plata Canyon

La Plata County and the Durango Area is an area with over 100 years of settlers and their history scattered throughout. When you head out on the local off-road trails there is a chance that you get to see some of that history out and about. The La Plata Canyon and the roads hidden in it give off-roaders a chance to witness some of that history for themselves while enjoying the mountains in ways only they can. Along the canyon route there's a chance to see the remnants of an old mine, a mill, and more while riding the over 10 miles of roads.

As you explore over 10 miles of roads, respect historical sites, such as old mines and mills. Do not disturb or remove any artifacts.

Use street-legal vehicles on main roads, especially County Road 124. Only use OHVs on designated side roads and don’t leave established trails to minimize impact on the environment.

Old Lime Creek Road

Once the original highway between Durango and Silverton, Old Lime Creek Road, is one of the most beautiful and potentially dangerous roads around for off-roading.While fairly well maintained, the road is right on the edge of a mountain giving a fantastic view, particularly in the fall, but its mountainside location makes it a bit precarious. There is almost always a chance of rockfall blocking the road or weather creating problems. But, if the road is clear and the weather ideal, Old Lime Creek Road is an amazing sight with the mountain terrain and a fantastic view.

This scenic route between Durango and Silverton offers stunning views but can be dangerous. Always check for rockfall and weather conditions.

Stay on the road to avoid damaging the fragile mountainside ecosystem.

Hermosa Park and Bolam Pass Area

Just North of Purgatory Ski Resort is one of the protected wilderness areas of the San Juan National Forest known as the Hermosa Wilderness Area. Hidden in this wilderness area are several roads that are open to the use of permitted OHV, jeeps, and other off road ready vehicles. There is the roughly 9-mile gravel Hermosa Park Road that was built and maintained by the forest service.

Respect Wilderness Areas: The Hermosa Wilderness Area features roads open to OHVs. Stick to these roads to protect the surrounding wilderness.

Leave What You Find: Do not disturb natural or historical features along the 20 miles of Bolam Pass roads.

Key Guidelines for Sustainable Off-Roading

• Prepare and Plan: Always check the weather and trail conditions before setting out. Muddy or snowy roads can dramatically change the difficulty and safety of trails.

• Protective Gear: Wear helmets and protective gear, especially for more open OHVs like dirt bikes and ATVs. Safety should always come first.

• Be Self-Sufficient: Bring all necessary supplies, including food, water, and spare equipment. Once on the trail, it can be challenging to retrieve forgotten items. If you your vehicle needs towed out from either a mechanical failure or accident expect a large fee to haul out your OHV

• Respect Legal Boundaries: Use tools like COTREX (Colorado Trail Explorer) to find legal off-roading trails. Respect all signs and barriers, and never venture off designated paths.

• Leave No Trace: Adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace by packing out all trash, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. Remember other users are using the same trails for solitude and to escape the sound of vehicles

By sticking to these guidelines, you can fully relish your off-roading adventures while actively safeguarding Colorado’s natural landscapes for the enjoyment of future generations. Remember, mindful off-roading serves to protect the environment and ensure the longevity of trail use for many more years of exhilarating exploration.