Brown's Gulch

Rating: 2.5. 

This has some moderately steep climbs with a loose surface as well as a few washed out areas. This is still suitable for a small SUV and low-range is not required, but it can be more difficult depending on recent weather.

Location

Just off Red Mountain Pass (Million Dollar Highway) between Ouray and Silverton, CO.

Trailhead

The north end of the road starts immediately south of the top of Red Mountain Pass, about 0.2 miles south of the pass. It is to the left if you are travelling south. Coordinates are 37°53'45.1"N 107°42'49.4"W (37.895860, -107.713734)

The south end starts 0.7 miles north of the turn off to Ophir Pass.

The road parallels highway 550 to the east.

Description

This is a fun, short trip that gives great views of the San Juan Mountains. As with most of the roads in the area, there are multiple mines and mining buildings that you can visit. The road travels to an elevation of about 12,100 feet.

The road isn't difficult, but there are a few areas with ruts and a few washed out areas that requires at least a small SUV. I only used 4-wheel drive for the gearing going downhill.

Here are the GPX and KML files.

Just to the right of the Jeep you can see the road going to Black Bear Pass on the other side of highway 550. The pass is almost exactly above the Jeep.

Kebler Pass

Rating: 1. This is a well maintained road with a surface the is treated for dust with something like magnesium chloride.

Location: Near Crested Butte.

Trailhead 

The east side starts at Crested Butte. Whiterock Ave turns into the Kebler Pass road. Coordinates are 38°52'04.3"N 106°59'26.8"W (38.867868, -106.990775).

The west side starts off of Colorado Highway 132. It is 0.6 miles west of the Paonia Reservior Dam and 6 miles East of Summerset. GPS coordinates are 38°56'28.6"N 107°21'46.1"W (38.941285, -107.362814).

The road is County Road 12.

Description

This is an alternate way to get to Crested Butte. The main way into the town is from the south going through Gunnison. If you are coming from the north this way is much shorter.

The road surface is well maintained and treated. There are very few ruts and potholes and can be traveled easily by passenger cars.

The scenery travels through pine and aspen forests and would be great in the fall.

Here are the GPX and KML files.

Paradise Divide

Rating: 2.5. There are a few areas that can be washed out and a few steep climbs that require at least AWD in good conditions but may require 4WD. In good conditions a small crossover SUV should have no issues.

Location

Near Crested Butte, CO

Trailhead

The trail starts 0.8 miles north of Crested Butte measured from 6th St and Elk Ave (north end of the park). GPS coordinates are 38°52'47.9"N 106°58'34.2"W (38.879978, -106.976163). To road travels to the north west (left) off of 6th street.  

The loop ends and turns into Gothic Road in Mt Crested Butte. If you want to start at this end, take 6th street out of Crested Butte and follow it north and it will turn into a dirt road.

Description

This is a scenic drive across Paradise Divide and Schofield Pass. The base is good and there aren't many areas that get muddy in the rain. However, there are a few areas that can get slick and caution should be used in rainy weather. We watched a Ford Explorer struggle through a muddy area due to having street tires, but luckily he was going downhill and didn't get stuck.

If you start at the turn-off 0.6 miles, follow this road until Paradise Divide. It begins as a paved road and will later turn into a dirt road. There are multiple other roads in the area, but the main one takes you to Paradise divide. Once at the top, follow the signs to Schofield Pass and then back to Crested Butte. 

Here are the GPX and KML files.

Sawpit Cutoff

Rating: 1. This is a well maintained, gravel road that can be easily done in a passenger vehicle. 

Location: This is a cut-off between Ridgeway and Telluride, CO.

Trailhead

The north end starts 12.1 miles west of Ridgeway, CO on Highway 62, measured from the intersection of highways 62 and 550. The coordinates are 38.099930, -107.912448 (38°05'59.8"N 107°54'44.8"W). This is the same turn-off for Last Dollar Road.

The south-end begins at Sawpit, CO on highway 145. The turn-off is to the north, 4.2 miles east from the intersection of highway 62 and 145. It is east measured from the roundabout going into Telluride. Coordinates are 37°59'40.6"N 108°00'00.8"W (37.994618, -108.0002180. 

Description

This is a scenic, alternative way to travel to Telluride from Ridgeway. I doubt it saves any time, but it is shorter. It is 11.5 miles long compared to the 15.5 miles it would take on pavement.

This is a great alternative cut-off to Last Dollar Road for people who don't have high clearance or 4-wheel drive. The scenery is similar and it is a nice road to get off the beaten path a little.

Here are the GPX and KML files.

Sawmill Mesa

Rating: 2
This is a decent graded road, however there are a few rough areas and there can be ruts that increase the rating to a 2. Any small crossover SUV will have no issues with this road.

Location
This is just west of Delta, CO in the Uncompahgre Plateau.

Trailhead
The trail is located west of Delta. If you take 5th street to the west it will turn into Sawmill Mesa Rd Continue following this road until you see a sign that directs you to the Delta Correction Center. At this sign there is a dirt road going to the right. Sawmill Mesa Road continues to the right on the dirt road and the correction center is to the left on the pavement. GPS coordinates are 38°42'47.7"N 108°10'09.8"W (38.713245, -108.169388). There are two dirt roads going to the right at this location, the first one is Escalante Rim and the second road is Sawmill Mesa. They are about 250 ft apart and there are road signs identifying each road.

Description
This is an easy dirt road that does not require 4-wheel drive in dry conditions. Some areas could potentially be difficult in the rain as demonstrated by areas of deep ruts.

This is entry to the Uncompahgre Plateau. The scenery starts with barren scenery with little vegetation, then it develops a Juniper and scrub oak forest with occasional pinion pine, then it turns into Poderosa and Aspen forests. The Uncompahgre Plateau is used frequently during the hunting season.

This road is also great to use with Escalante Canyon or Dry Mesa Jeep Road to make a loop. Our trip today (Aug. 2015) started with Dry Mesa and we completed the loop with the Sawmill Mesa Road. For this reason, the GPS file below doesn't connect all the way to Escalante Canyon. I will update the GPS file in the future when I do the loop with Escalante Canyon.

Here are the GPX and KML files.

This was actually on the Dry Mesa Jeep Road, but it was a fun picture so I decided to include it!