Backcountry 4X4 Four-wheel driving allows you to travel the remote regions of the Forest without having to hike for miles. Roads used in the 1800s by gold miners, settlers, and loggers now provide a rugged route to backcountry adventure. Once traveled only by horses and mules, some Forest roads meander past abandoned mines and old dwellings perched precariously on the sides of towering mountains. These structures are usually located on patented claims or private property. Everyone is encouraged to heed these signs.
Ruts caused by off-road use can take centuries to recover.
To protect the land, please limit vehicle travel to established pathways. There are many excellent backcountry roads in the Ouray and Telluride areas. Yankee Boy Basin , Imogene Pass Road , and Engineer Mountain Road in the Ouray area pass by old mines and offer splendid scenery. The Ophir Pass Road was once a toll road that now connects the Telluride-Ophir area with the town of Silverton. The San Juan Skyway passes through millions of acres of the San Juan National Forest and the Uncompahgre National Forest.