~ by Trevor Phipps ~
Teller County has become ATV (all-terrain vehicle) and dirt bike country, with even local officials getting into the act by passing rules that cater more to this burgeoning industry.
In the last few years, the entire county has been a popular spot for off-road adventurers.
Since there is a large amount of open National Forest lands in the county, many choose to view the wilderness on a motorized vehicle. Many trails in the area take adventurers on treks through the mountains that cannot be accessed by driving in a regular car or truck. These trails offer routes for riders of all skill levels and they can experience one-of-a-kind views while out in the wilderness.
According to Jarrod Rucker from Big D Motorsports located in Woodland Park, there are two main areas in the Teller County region that are popular for riders. The most popular areas to try out that new toy are the trails 717 and 357 that are located north of Divide. The Rainbow Falls area that sits north of Woodland Park off of Highway 67 is also a hot spot for dirt bikers and ATV-ers.
According to Rucker, Rainbow Falls is a popular spot for the more novice riders. He said that the ease of access is the number one aspect that draws people to the area with their off-road vehicles. “It’s simple to get there,” Rucker said. “It’s just off the highway on your right hand side and it has a rocky terrain that is not too intense and it is a novice friendly place.”
However, Rucker said that the trails to the north of Divide are probably the most popular off-roading areas due to the large variety of terrains in the region. “The real big ones are 717 and 357 which are north of Divide,” Rucker said. “That area has five or six hundred miles of usable trails and you can reach the South Platte River. It is a very wide open area.”
These trails are accessed by turning north at the signal light in Divide and then turning right at the first “y” and heading down to Rule Ridge Road. The road then turns into Road 357 which is the start to the hundreds of miles of off-road trails.
“There is just so much area out there,” Rucker said. “There is some technical and some not so technical sections. You can do camping, four-wheeling, or shooting if you so choose.”
