Colorado Overland Trails: What’s Open Right Now (Spring 2026)
We had a very low snowpack this winter — not great for skiing, but it’s leading to earlier-than-normal trail access across much of Colorado. In many areas, trails are opening a month or more earlier than they typically would.
A lot of routes are already opening up, and others are getting close weeks ahead of schedule. If you’ve been waiting until mid-summer in past years, you may not have to this time.
What’s Open or Opening Now
Right now, lower elevation trails and many high-desert routes are already good to go.
- Front Range foothills trails
- Western Slope desert routes near Grand Junction
- Many Moab routes, which are already in full swing for spring
These are great options if you want to get out immediately without worrying as much about snow or high-elevation closures.
Opening Soon: May into June
This is where things get interesting this year. San Juan and Ouray counties have already made significant progress opening many popular routes. Some of these are finished or very close, however changing weather conditions means that some trails are getting a few inches of snow here and there that melts off and creates challenging driving conditions with mud and slush that should be avoided.
Based on current conditions, we’re expecting earlier access than usual for the San Juan Mountains, including areas around Ouray, Silverton, Lake City, and sections of the Alpine Loop.
In a typical year, a lot of these routes don’t fully open until mid-to-late June, and sometimes even July depending on snowpack. This year, there’s a good chance parts of these areas will be accessible weeks — possibly even a month — earlier than normal.
Still Too Early in Some Places
Even in a low snow year, higher elevation passes can still hold snow longer than expected.
You’ll still want to be cautious with the highest sections of the Alpine Loop, more technical high-altitude passes, and north-facing routes that don’t get much sun.
Conditions can change quickly, and just because a trail looks open at the start doesn’t always mean it’s clear the whole way through.
Best Early-Season Trips Right Now
If you’re looking for a good mix of scenery, accessibility, and minimal risk, these are a few solid options:
- Moab, Utah — Already in prime season
- Western Colorado — Great early access around Grand Junction and the surrounding desert routes
- Front Range trails — Easy to reach and opening up quickly
These are ideal if you want to get out sooner rather than waiting for peak summer.
One Important Trade-Off This Year
There is one downside to the early season this year.
Because of the low snowpack and dry conditions, fire risk is already elevated across much of the state. Many areas are implementing restrictions early, and in some cases, open flames are completely prohibited.
In most restricted areas, that means no campfires and no charcoal. Propane stoves are generally still allowed, but you should always check current local fire restrictions before your trip.
It’s something to plan for, especially if you’re used to building a fire at camp. The upside is you can still cook normally — you just may not be sitting around a fire at night.
Why This Year Is Different
Most years, overlanding in Colorado doesn’t really hit its stride until mid-summer.
This year, snowpack was significantly below average, melt is happening earlier, and trails are opening weeks ahead of schedule.
If you’ve ever dealt with late openings, mud season delays, or crowded July and August trails, this is one of those years where you may be able to get ahead of all of that.
Planning a Trip?
If you’ve rented with us before, you already know how this works — fly into Denver, grab the keys, and you’re on the trail the same day.
No gear to figure out. No complicated planning.
And as a returning guest, you’ll always get 10% off your next trip.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been thinking about getting back out there, this is a good year to do it earlier than usual.
The trails are opening up faster than normal, but the season is also shifting — so timing matters.
If you want help figuring out where to go based on current conditions, just reach out. We’re always happy to help point you in the right direction.
