Our favorite Colorado ATV riding spot � Gunnison National Forest (Pitkin)

It’s incredible what Colorado has to offer ATV enthusiasts…it’s like, it’s a state made for ATV riding. We get asked a lot about our favorite Colorado ATV hang-out and in the past, it has been really difficult trying to pinpoint one single ATV riding spot that we can call our favorite. But recently, one of our writers had the chance to ride in Pitkin area where the Gunnison National Forest is…and now, we have a clear winner. As far as Colorado ATV riding is concerned, this takes the cake.

The reason is clear and simple – you get there with your car or van or whatever it is that you want to use to bring your ATV over, you reach, you unload the ATV and that is all you will need for the rest of your time there…until you’re ready to go home. As you ride your ATV, you’ll definitely get a load of the scenery…that’s when you get a little shutter happy for a bit. But what was surprising was the history of the place. Ah well, history? You’ll just have to go there, experience it for yourself. The many ghost towns, mining operations for gold and silver which is no longer in operation is enchanting as much as it is beautiful.

If you’re looking for a challenging ATV ride, you’re looking at the wrong place. The Gunnison National Forest is a scenic ATV trail with sprawling space to explore and handsome scenery to take pictures of. In terms of how challenging the ATV trail is, we’d say it’s from really easy to medium. What Gunnison National Forest of Colorado ATV trail lacks, it makes up for it with different attractions, like the Alpine Tunnel which is east of the main National Forest area. The Alpine Tunnel will take you up to about 11 thousand feet above sea level…now, how cool is that? You’d be riding your ATV through solid granite, folks!

Another diversion along this ATV trail is the Hancock Pass which you will come to if you pass through the Alpine Tunnel continuing eastward. Now, those experts might be somewhat satisfied with a few challenging parts near the top of the summit. At the top, there’s also the ghost town of Hancock which is a cool place to ride your ATV in…or you can hike. Either way, this is a really cool place.

If you decide to head north from Pitkin instead of east, you can go to Cumberland Pass which will bring you to the small town of Tincup. Although they don’t sell gas there (you’ll have to remember to bring extras for emergencies) but they do have small grocery store and a tiny little restaurant where YOU can get a refill. Well, if you’re not into small restaurants, you can head on east from Tincup where there’s Mirror Lake. In Mirror Lake, there are more choices – it’s a favorite place for ATVers to stop for their meals.

In all honesty, it’s not possible for anyone to finish exploring this ATV trail – too many places to visit and go to. What we’ve mention is just a fraction of what this Colorado ATV trail has to offer. You could spend a week or two there and still not be done with it. so, the best thing for you to do is to plan your ATV trip carefully and decide beforehand where you want to go before heading out.

Don’t worry about where to stay because there are endless options there. You can either camp out or stay in motels; it’s entirely up to you. For basic necessities, you can get back to Pitkin where you can find loads of places selling basic grocery items, soda, water, gas, snacks, and sandwiches and if the day is hot, you can get yourself an ice-cream too. If you want more information, give the Gunnison Ranger District a call at (970) 641-0471 or visit their website for more information.

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