The national forests of Colorado are laced with snowmobile trails for adventures far from the highways. While it can be difficult to feel like a gold-mining frontiersman with an eight-cylinder snow-skating motorcycle beneath you, snowmobiles are the fastest and most exhilarating way to explore Colorado’s beautiful backcountry.
Many of the snowmobile trails are groomed and maintained by locals, and they can serve as great day adventures. Depending on what type of experience you’re looking for, snowmobiles are easy to rent, easy to use and there is a plethora of guided tours for first-timers.
Being Prepared
Where to Ride
Additional Information
Tips for Being Prepared
1. Plan your trip. You can get maps and directions for snowmobile trails from the U.S. Forest Service.
2. Always know where you are. The backcountry of Colorado is vast and breathtaking, so it’s easy to venture off.
3. Know the snow conditions. Get your up-to-date snow report.
4. Tell someone where you are going and always take a companion.
5. Bring appropriate gear. If you are heading to avalanche-prone areas, a backcountry pack and avalanche training are a must.
6. All snowmobilers are required to carry a valid driver's license. Snowmobile registration is needed in Colorado’s state parks; registration can be purchased at ranger stations for $20.
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Where to Ride
The national forests of Colorado are the best place to enjoy a trip in a winter wonderland. Here are a few examples of what Colorado has to offer:
Arapaho National Forest
The closest snowmobiling trails to the Denver area are around Winter Park in Arapaho National Forest. The rolling hills in this north-central area of Colorado open up to both deep forests and open valleys, perfect for a snowmobiling excursion.
White River National Forest
It’s not surprising that this area of Colorado ranks as one of the top five forests for total recreational use in the U.S. Consisting of over 2 million acres of Colorado’s central mountains, this area contains some of the most beautiful forest and BLM land in the state. The dense Aspen glens line the higher-altitude pine and fir trees and surround patches of fields that are covered with wildflowers in springtime. In the area near Aspen, overnight visitors have easy access to snowmobiling trails, as well as eccentric mountain towns.
Routt National Forest
Weather systems seem to favor this northwest location around Steamboat Springs, where snow is considered the softest and driest in all of Colorado. This area has open fields that surround lakes, and has rivers near the foothills. Snowmobiling this area is popular for understandable reasons—not only can you tug up a backcountry skier to fresh, untouched snow, but the snowmobilers then have a fantastic downhill trip themselves.
Uncompahgre National Forest
The San Juan Mountains are known for their rugged peaks and deep, scarcely populated valleys. Imogene Pass—the second highest drivable pass in Colorado—cuts through the San Juans as it connects Telluride to Ouray, and is joked about by the locals as the only way out of Telluride. In reality, the pass is used mostly for recreational adventures that lead to remote areas of the far-reaching valleys. In the winter, snowmobilers dominate the trails scattered throughout this section of southwestern Colorado, and local snowmobiling clubs maintain the trails and give guided tours.
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Additional Information
Snowmobiling listings
More in the snow activities
Parks and public lands
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