In Moab thru the weekend and will be heading back to Cleveland middle of next week was looking for places to ride Colorado on my way home.That would not be to far off of 70 within an hour or two. Campground, with direct trail access pulling a 28' TH any suggestions ??

Thanks!!

There are several places that are good riding within 5 miles of I-70, but neither of these two have camping. One is Empire/Bill Moore Lake to the north of I-70 at the Empire exit and the other is Saxon Mountain/Lamartine at the Idaho Springs/Mt. Evans exit. Both of them are fun areas and Saxon Mountain trails ajoin the Spring Creek trail if you want some good rock crawling. Another place within 15 miles of I-70 is Central City and there is Columbime Campground there that you can ATV in and out of. Most trails are moderate with a few that are difficult, however some beautiful country and close to 12,000 ft elevations. It is north of I-70 at the Central City exit. If you happen to have the Charles Wells book on Central Colorado trails, these are all in there. If not, let me know what if any interest you, and either I'll or some others on here will fill you in. If you were willing to travel, one of the best places is the Taylor Park area, however it is more than a couple hours off I-70, but is worth the drive.

Thanks for the reply I was wondering about how far is it to get down to Silverton area?? from 70 I understand there is some good riding there to. but looking at the map it looks like a good distance, and it looks like I would be transversing the mountains also.

Thanks

Looks like 120 miles from Grand Junction to Silverton. And yes, you would be in some beautiful and hilly country. A site I like to use for trail ideas is Trail Damage. Although it is more tailored for Jeeps, alot of the trails are still good for ATVing.

Camp Hale is also within a hour from I-70 take the Minturn exit south.

The Empire area is good! A couple old cabins in Empire(ghost town of Empire) are primative and 1st come 1st serve. We asked the local PD where to park and they said in PD parking lot was OK but with 2 truck/trailers they let us park at the ball field parking lot. We stayed at 1 cabin 1 night and the other the next. Get a map of the area and have fun lots of trails. Yeah right off 70 about 1 mile north.
Funny thing when we got in town the whole 2 blocks, we asked the post man for directions to Empire Ghost town and he never heard of it, new to Empire, then to the coffee shop same answer.
Finally asked which way all the Jeeps and atvs go they pointed up Main St.
Local PD were very friendly and helpful.

Try looking at Vega state park just about an hour out of Grand Junction. One of the campgrounds there allow riding out of it. You have a lake for fishing and access to some great trails. You can pick up a map at the visitors center or the pay station. You can read a little more here:
http://www.wsatva.org/index.htm