South Halfmoon Road 4-wheeler trail in Colorado should only be considered suitable for experienced 4-wheeler riders. This 4-wheeler trail is a very rough four-wheel drive road with some very difficult stream crossings. Extreme caution should be used and this is a trail for experienced 4-wheeler riders only. As the road climbs it takes your 4-wheeler into a large open alpine basin where an old mine is located.
Remember to never go or let anyone you know go into an abandoned mine. There are pockets of toxic gases that you can not see nor smell but they can render you unconscious or kill you. Also, the structure of most old mines isn't sound and vibrations from even walking can cause timbers to fall.
This extremely challenging 4-wheeler trail takes riders through 4.6 miles of San Isabel National Forest and the riding season runs May through October. You can get to the 4-wheeler trail by heading 3 miles southwest from Leadville on Highway 24. Make a right on to Highway 300 and head toward the Leadville National Fish Hatchery. Go about 1 mile down the road to State Highway 11, which eventually turns into Forest Road 110, Halfmoon Road. Drive 9.1 miles west on Halfmoon Road. South Halfmoon Road is on the left side of the road just 2 miles past the Mt. Massive/Mt. Elbert Trailhead.
Since this can be a very dangerous 4-wheeler trail, let's talk about some safety precautions that may well save your neck. As we mentioned before, this trail presents difficulties for even the most seasoned 4-wheeler rider. Crossing these streams with a 4-wheeler can be treacherous, so minimize the risk by only crossing at designated fording points or where the 4-wheeler trail is actually meant to cross the stream. 4-wheeler riders should stay in open areas and only ride on approved 4-wheeler trails. On slick parts of the trail, ease off on your 4-wheeler's throttle and use the clutch to gain maximum traction with less tailspin. As an experienced 4-wheeler ride you already know this - load up your machine and get ready for a wild ride!
