Who lives and/or rides in the greater Denver area? What's the riding like in the central Rockies? I know it's such a huge area. Just looking for some general opinions.

 

We ride Utah in the spring then in May do the Colorado mountains. We stay low and more in the open, at 10,000 or more most trails in the trees will still have large snow drifts until late June or early July. There are great places to ride everywhere west of I-25 to the Utah state line. The mountains are almost all National Forest and BLM then the northwest corner is 100s of miles of BLM land. My opinion is when you are at 11,500 feet looking across a valley at another ridge with a elk herd on top and no other person within 20 miles it's very hard to beat.

 

This all depends on the time in which you planning the trip and where exactly you want to go and stay. If you want a place to go where you can ride for days without crossing the same trail twice look at Taylor Park. at the trading post ther are cabins to rent or A campground to stay at. There is food and gas at the trading post as well!
Stay The Trail Colorado - View Trail - Taylor Park Trail System

 

Where is the best place to buy maps for the atv trails around the lake city, co area. I don't want to download any maps or print any.

 

I'm not sure where to get maps to ride but one place in colorado is the north dunes east of cowdrey, north of walden. It's kinda hard to see the sign where to turn but its a pretty cool place to ride. Lots of sand and even some trail riding. I know one of my customers goes up by Gould(south of walden) somewhere but not sure where. The dunes has a lot of predator style bikes. Gould I believe is more trail riding like sportsman style machines. Theres also a jeep trail on the way up 14 from Ft collins. I guess it takes you to red feather lakes if you take it all the way(never been there) I've heard of guys taking it to. I can see the parking lot to it in my head but for the life of me I can't remember the name. It's a ways from Denver but it's some options for you.

 

National Geographic has by far the best trail maps going they are called Trail Illustrated. One of many places to buy them is REI.
National Geographic Maps | Colorado

 

Another book/map that work pretty good is Funtrecks guide books. There is quite a bit of info in these books but the maps themselves are not as good as the NG ones.
FunTreks Guidebooks

 

http://sheriffsjc.com/alpineloopbrochure0809.pdf

 

As someone mentioned, depending on the snowfall levels, you have to wait awhile for the snow to melt to get to some areas. 400 inches of ave. snowfall in the peaks takes a bit to melt.

Vail Pass which is accessed off of I-70 is amazing. N. and S. Fork is hard to beat. In southwest Colorado, Ouray and Silverton, which I believe is very well known for 4x4 roads has been labeled amazing. There is too many great places to list. Colorado is quite amazing.

 

We may have some options coming along with the National Park Service and are considering the move from ME to CO.

The thoughts of moving again are daunting, but the ATV riding could get me to go. Is that a rational man speaking....I'm not sure.