Help! Durango/Silverton/Telluride- UTV and 2 wheelers?

fly-boy wrote:
So now we are thinking about taking the trailer-
How is the road from Durango up to Silverton? I have a fairly heavy 48 foot TH.

Durango to Silverton isn't bad but from Silverton to Ouray it gets interesting. I did get pulled over for riding my dirt bike on a gravel road to the trails. The nice officer let me off with a stern warning. I did have a Colorado ohv sticker.

Ouray is one of favorite places micro-brewery, Good Mexican food and the hot springs pool. I usually stay at 4 j's campground in town. I get a site along the river.

So now we are thinking about taking the trailer-
How is the road from Durango up to Silverton? I have a fairly heavy 48 foot TH.

I've been to Silverton twice, and done various parts of the Alpine Loop in my Jeep, and various sections I always have seen ATVs, UTVs, Side x Sides. Call the SIlverton Chamber of Commerce. I've heard that certain streets in Silverton, it's OK for OHVs.

https://www.codot.gov/travel/scenic-byways/southwest/alpine-loop

http://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/alpineloop.html

http://www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-scenic-byway-alpine-loop

2. Vehicle and OHV Registration/Permit Questions
I have my ATV / Side-by-Side licensed for street use in my home state. Can I ride it on public roads in Colorado?
The short answer to this is no. Each state does have the authority to decide what types of vehicles to allow on public roads, and Colorado does not recognize ATVs and Side-by-Sides as vehicles appropriate for licensing and highway use. There are a few cities and counties that allow OHV use on certain roads under their jurisdiction, and to connect trails to staging areas, gas stations, or other amenities. We recommend contacting the local Sheriff's Departments for additional information. Contact information for each county can be found here http://www.csoc.org/counties.asp

Interesting SO WHO'S PATROLS THE OHV AREA'S??

CO also requires an OHV permit for a street legal motorcycle if you ride it on a trail. The very act of riding your street legal motorcycle off the pavement makes it an OHV. I'm OK with that as long as they spend it on the trails and don't put into the general fund.

I haven't ridden around Durango, but I have ridden a good bit around Ouray, Silverton and Telluride. Also rode a good bit around Taylor Park, Creede, South Fork, Gunnison and Lake City. Your best bet is to get some of the Motor Vehicle Use Maps from the Forest Service.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd492994.pdf

I am from Colorado and I am in law enforcement. Anything registered as an Off Highway Vehicle is not allowed on the roads in Colorado. This obviously includes paved roads but also gravel county roads posted as NO OHV.

The UTV is fine on the trails as long as the area is not posted as 50 inch wide or less. My prime hunting area is 50 inch or less so I am limited to an ATV.

Colorado requires an OHV permit for out of state OHVs.

Check before you head out to see what restrictions the area has in place.

http://www.staythetrail.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=6&Itemid=155

There is riding especially over the hill from Telluride in the Red Mountain/ Ouray/Silverton area. I have not seen one riding on the paved roads. I know Ouray does not allow it in town. Everything I saw was hauled to a trailhead.

I drove my buggy around Colorado Springs, but it has an unrestricted street plate with DOT lighting and signalling. You may want to check out the CO DMV website to see if they have similar licensing to AZ or if they are restrictive like CA.