ATV TRAILS IN ESTES PARK
The ATV Rentals can be taken anywhere you choose. All locations listed here are only suggestions. Here are just a few possibilities.
Open Year-Round
Bunce School Road
Bunce is a very popular trail. Most of the trails are easy. The Ironclad loop is a favorite, but it's challenging. The full trail can be competed in 2 hours or less, depending on your pace. However, it's a fun area where you'll want to go back and hit some of your favorite spots. Take time as well to stop and check out some of the views.
Skill Level - Moderate/difficult
Open - Year Round
Time to complete - 2 hours
Drive Time From Estes Park - 35 min
Wildlife and Views - Moose love this area. Especially in the winter/spring months. Nice views from multiple rock outcroppings.
Open Year-Round
Switzerland Trail
The perfect trail for full day riders as there is more trail than you can accomplish in a day. It has a little bit of everything. Great views, easy trails, moderate trails, wildlife, water sections, and fun off-shoots.
Skill Level - Easy/moderate
Open - Year Round
Time to complete - Full Day
Drive Time From Estes Park - 55 min
Wildlife and Views - Popular moose area and some of the best views in Colorado.
Open Year-Round
Parachute Hill
Although really short, it's a really fun trail worth ripping around on a couple of times. It's actually connected to Johnny Park. It's open year round even though Johnny Park isn't. There's an awesome view at the top looking back at Longs Peak and the valley below.
Skill Level - Easy
Open - Year Round
Time to complete - 1 hour
Drive Time From Estes Park - 30 min
Wildlife and Views - Not a lot of wildlife, but it has a really nice view point at the top.
Open Year-Round
Rock Creek
Although there aren't any views because it is tightly wooded, the trails are pretty fun. You start at about 8000 feet and end up at nearly 11,000. Although open year-round, the snow can get really deep in late winter. I like the small river that runs along the edge of the trail. It comes straight off a glacier at the top. You will cross it one point.
Skill Level - Easy/moderate
Open - Year Round
Time to complete - 2 hours
Drive Time From Estes Park - 30 min
Wildlife and Views - You won't see wildlife or views here. Woods are too tight.
Open June 16th - Nov 25th
Pole Hill
Although short (about 2 hours of ride time), it has some of the best views you can find. Trails are fast and flowy with really fun washout humps. It has a fairly challenging rocky section in the very beginning. After that, it smooths out and you can pick up the pace. Parking is really tight at the staging area, but if you can back up a trailer, you're gonna love it. It's one of my personal favorites.
Skill Level - Easy/moderate
Open - June 16th - Nov 25th
Time to complete - 2 hours
Drive Time From Estes Park - 10 min
Wildlife and Views - Not a lot of wildlife but the stunning views make up for it.
Open June 16th - Nov 25th
Johnny Park
This is a local and customer favorite. It's close to Estes and has a little bit of everything you could ask for. Most of the trails are easy, fast, and really fun. It does have about a mile of steep rocky terrain that lends its hand to the more adventurous riders. Take the time to check out the multitude of views scattered throughout the trail system.
Skill Level - Easy/moderate
Open - June 16th - Nov 25th
Time to complete - 3 hours
Drive Time From Estes Park - 30 min
Wildlife and Views - You could see anything from deer, elk, moose, big horn sheep, and bear on Johnny. The views are plentiful.
Open June 16th - Nov 25th
Pierson Park
One of my favorites because there usually isn't very many people here. It's also a trophy elk and moose hunting area. Not a whole lot of views, but the trails are fun and fairly easy. It's worth taking a few minutes to do short hikes into some of the meadows off trail looking for wildlife.
Skill Level - Easy/moderate
Open - June 16th - Nov 25th
Time to complete - 3 hours
Drive Time From Estes Park - 35 min
Wildlife and Views - One nice view point. Tight woods, but lots of big game lurking around the area.
Open June 16th - Nov 25th
Middle Saint Vrain
This is one of the most popular trails in Colorado. The water crossings are simply amazing. You'll go through rivers and deep glacier runoffs. Moose and bear love this area. If you take the time to hike off trail just a few yards you can see waterfalls and moose hangouts. The view at Coney Flats is absolutely stunning. Keep in mind, this is a very difficult trail for experienced riders with common sense only.
Skill Level - Difficult / Extreme
Open - June 16th - Nov 25th
Time to complete - Full Day
Drive Time From Estes Park - 40 min
Wildlife and Views - 10 of 10 in both departments.
Open June 16th - Nov 25th
Park Creek
A very popular, but difficult trail system. The main attraction is the Airforce jet plane crash site at the top of trail 203. It's also the most popular moose hangout area near Estes Park. Pony lake is another amazing attraction. You'll have to hike a couple hundred yards, but the moose love that lake and all the lily pads. Parking for this trail takes place at Middle Saint Vrain.
Skill Level - Difficult / Extreme
Open - June 16th - Nov 25th
Time to complete - 3 hours
Drive Time From Estes Park - 40 min
Wildlife and Views - Best wildlife area out of all trails. There aren't many views though.
Open Year-Round
Rollins Pass / Jenny Creek
Hands down, my favorite trail by far and worth every minute of the amazing drive there. Stunningly beautiful with high mountain lakes, fishing, and great riding. Rollins Pass has easy trails and Jenny Creek has the harder ones. It's a great blend. Ride above the tundra line near the glaciers. Discover old mine shafts and hike a 1/4 mile to the top of the continental divide. Although open year-round, the snow is too deep in the winter and early spring months.
Skill Level - Easy / Moderate
Open - Year-Round
Time to complete - Full Day
Drive Time From Estes Park - 85 min
Wildlife and Views - Potential of moose and elk. The views and special attractions are the big draws.
Open June 16th - Nov 25th
Storm Mountain
Hands down, the best views in northern Colorado. However, every inch of the Storm Mountain trail system burned to the ground in Nov of 2020. Half of it opened in 2022.
Skill Level - Moderate / Difficult
Open - June 16th - Nov 15th
Time to complete - Full Day
Drive Time From Estes Park - 55 min
Wildlife and Views - The view from the summit is breathtaking. Wildlife is very abundant (even after the fire).
See Fire Update on Storm Mountain
IMI Motorsports Complex
This is a private track in Erie, Co. It has a motorcross track, kids riding area, open short trails, and a UTV track where Razors rip around.
Skill Level - Easy/moderate
Open - Year Round
Time to Complete - $20 entry fee, ride all day
Drive Time From Estes Park - 60 min
Moab
Hands down, the most popular riding area in the western United States, if not the country. Rentals in Moab are outrageously priced. You're welcome to rent from us and we'll even supply the trailer.
Skill Level - Easy/moderate/difficult/extreme
Open - Year Round
Details - You will need a Utah ORV tag
Drive Time From Estes Park - 7 hours
When you do an ATV Rental from Backbone Adventures in Estes Park Colorado, it's yours for the day. You can take it anywhere you like. We don't "tell" you where to go. If you ask for suggestions, we'll give you our opinions. If you need directions to a specific area, we are happy to offer those.