Will be staying around Greeley and Skiing in Nederland CO for a few days.. Looking for some good sight seeing/light wheeling sites around there for all of us. Bone stock sahara so please send me to some place ill have to get airlifted out :0) . Someone mentioned Estes Park? logging trails dirt roads through the hills.. Not picky, just want some good photo ops and mabe see some wildlife in action..

Thanks in advance..

 

Estes Park is always a great place. I've been there several times and seen elk, coyotes and countless birds. And the landscape pics are always good there. If you get down to Denver area Red Rocks is pretty cool too. I've not been out there this early in the year before, so the weather and snow may play a part in what places you can get too.

 

Thanks for the input, be cool to see a herd of elk or mulies.

 

Came across a herd of about 200 in the park in july. But the park will still be closed in the winter. But most of the elk are on the golf course this time of year anyways.

 

Estes Park is nice and rmnp will be open, just not all the way through. Walk around the town of Estes Park and go to the Big Thompson flood area in rmnp, great family area.

Have fun.

 

Switzerland trail starts not far from the "ghost town" (in quotes because there are people there) of Gold Hill. Gold hill is a cool place, not too far from Boulder. The Switzerland trail is a former narrow gauge railroad bed. The trail isn't too long but you will get a flavor for ledge roads, without having too big a consequence.

I agree Estes is a cool place. Driving the peak to peak highway from there to nederland will give a good flavor for mountains. Another cool trail nearby is upper Caribou. Check the Forest Service Website to see if it is open or not. We've been getting lots of snow lately so maybe not open. Caribou is another ghost town a couple miles from Nederland.

Another close in trail that you could do in your rig is Lefthand Canyon. Stay off of Mother Hill, and use bypasses if needed, and it should be no trouble. You get good views of the front range from there.

Miller Rock is also fun. It is pretty short. It starts right by Raymond, which itself is just off of peak to peak. The trail has some rocks. There is one short stretch of ledge road that is a pain in the butt with snow this time of year, but it is in the same general area of Estes and doesn't take long. At the top of the trail is Miller Rock itself. A giant rock that sticks out way above the trees. Easy to climb up.

Bunce School road and the Ironclads are nearby as well. Again easier trails, open all year round.

All of these traisl can be found at traildamage.com