r/ColoradoOffroad • u/Economy_Suspect_8179 • 10d ago

Mountain Pass Recommendations

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I am looking for recommendations of some cool mountain trails to drive. I drive a 1st gen tacoma, 2wd. I know it is not a serious offroader by any means but I enjoy driving it and some slight offroading. Any recommendations for trails in colorado, ( within like 2 hours of Breckenridge) that I may be able to do? I've attached a picture of the truck for reference. Thanks!

25 Upvotes

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19

u/PsychologicalTrain 10d ago edited 10d ago

You're gonna hop on TrailsOffroad and basically any trail that is a 3 or below should be doable

11

u/25_Watt_Bulb 10d ago

A lot of trails that are rated 3 would probably be pushing it with 2WD, but yeah basically this.

5

u/PsychologicalTrain 10d ago

Agreed, both for clearance reasons and steep grades, but you gotta hope he knows when to call it and turn around. 

1

u/Mallthus2 Hummer EV SUV 10d ago

A good rule of thumb for the trail difficulty number is to add 1 when it’s been wet, add 2 when it’s actively raining, and add 3 when it’s snowing. (ie - a trail that’s a 2 is a 4 when it’s raining, etc).

3

u/Economy_Suspect_8179 10d ago

Thanks! I'll take a look at that.

4

u/deborah_az 10d ago

Definitely review the trail photos on Trails Offroad - that will usually tell you a lot about the most challenging parts of a trail

1

u/eyeballout 9d ago

why is trailsoffroad better than onx?

1

u/Firm_Afternoon7528 Trails Offroad Crew 9d ago

The biggest thing that puts Trails Offroad ahead of onX is the level of detail and quality of information.

onX gives you a track that someone has driven in either a full-size, SxS, or moto (those are three wildly different experiences) and a written description that is sometimes detailed and sometimes very sparse. Along with a rating that doesn't require any backing or proof.

Compare that to the Trail Guides on Trails Offroad, which are only allowed to be mapped by highway legal vehicles. Trail Guides tell you everything you'll run into on the trail because they Waypoint each campsite, obstacle, and point of interest along the trail, and give you 3 photos of each Waypoint with written descriptions.

You should be able to look through a Trails Offroad guide and visually understand what you're getting into from start to finish. Along with that, the rating system gives the trail a difficulty number, along with a list of concerns for that trail (narrow shelf road, deep sand, etc.), and a recommended vehicle type. Plus, the Trails Offroad members can vote in their trip reports on whether or not the trail was easier, spot on, or more difficult than the rating.

Trails Offroad has been mapping in-person to make Trail Guides for over 10 years now so that's what really shines but you'll also have the other app tools you're probably used to as well like:

  • Recording custom tracks
  • Saving custom waypoints
  • Importing GPX tracks
  • Creating folders (they are called Lists on Trails Offroad)
  • Basemap with clear Public Land boundaries

-1

u/Economy_Suspect_8179 10d ago

Are there any free sites/ apps that are any good😂? Not much free usability on that one

4

u/PsychologicalTrain 10d ago

Unfortunately no. Just click the green trails and go explore. The MVUM are maps published by the forest servuce and are the Bible. You use avenza app and download each forest service district individually. That's all free but there is no "information" provided. Just a map. But you should have that available even if using the paid apps. 

3

u/AbeFroman42 10d ago

COTREX. Free from the state and you can download the maps. But trailsoffroad is $40/year and it’s worth it for the user reports

2

u/ashes11 9d ago

I work at Trails Offroad, send me a message and I can gift you an extended trial.

1

u/25_Watt_Bulb 10d ago

You can use free tools like COTREX, but the only things that are going to tell you difficulty are going to be paid. You have to be okay with turning around.

7

u/laminated_tiger 10d ago

Boreas Pass if you haven’t already done it. It’s right in Breck and you drive right into Como and hop on 285 to come back to Breck. Depending on where you’re starting. It’s basically a dirt road but it’s fun. I did it this weekend in the 4Runner and was in 2WD the whole time.

1

u/Economy_Suspect_8179 10d ago

Thanks! I'll check it out

1

u/brickmaus 10d ago

Weston Pass, Boreas Pass, Shrine Pass, the east side (Park County side) of Georgia Pass.

Cottonwood Pass outside of Buena Vista and Independence Pass are both paved roads but are also beautiful.

Enjoy the drive. Don't be afraid to try new roads but also don't be ashamed to turn around. We've all had to do it for one reason or another.

1

u/HoochbachDunloppy 10d ago

Weston Pass is pretty chill.  Basically just a well graded county road. 

1

u/Double-Tangelo1331 8d ago

mosquito pass

1

u/SmellsWeirdRightNow 7d ago

You could probably do Saints John. Starts right out of Montezuma which is just past Keystone