The Switzerland Trail

If you’re new to off-roading, or are seasoned but looking for a relatively easy drive with astounding views, I’ve got a trail for you! The Switzerland Trail is located west of Boulder, near Nederland Colorado. It is rated as an easy 4×4 trail, though a lot of the trail is covered with large loose rocks that can be rough on your suspension and tires.

Getting There

The trailhead is located on the Peak to Peak Highway (highway 72) about halfway between Ward and Nederland. You can reach the Peak to Peak Highway from Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, or Westminster. Turn east onto CR 120 and follow the road as it turns to the right and into the Switzerland Trail.

The Switzerland Trail is 14 miles long and takes you through the Roosevelt National Forest. I started on the southern side of the trail and followed it north.

Switzerland Trail Description

The Switzerland Trail is one of the few 4×4 roads in Colorado that is open year-round. In the spring, there is a good amount of runoff and puddles.

About 5.5 miles down the trail, you’ll come to a parking area, which is the trailhead for the Sugarloaf Mountain hike. You have the option of leaving the trail here and returning to pavement if the trail is to rocky for you!

Follow the parking lot as it curves back west and in about half a mile you’ll see a pull off on the left. There’s a foot-only trail that will lead you to an old miner’s cabin. Unfortunately, the cabin was an anti-climatic find, as it had definitely seen better days!

After the Miner’s cabin, there is a long stretch of very rocky road. In roughly a mile, you’ll come across a road on the right that leads off the main trail. If you have a high clearance vehicle, you can head up the off-shoot for another amazing view!

Following the Trail

The very small town of Sunset separates the trail. You can leave here and follow the canyon to Boulder. Down this road, Four Mile Canyon Drive, you’ll find the Wallstreet gold extraction mill site. There is a little museum, though it is currently closed due to Covid-19.

For a less rocky drive, I suggest starting the Switzerland Trail at Sunset and following the trail north. This section of the trail was still a 4×4 road, but has less loose rocks knocking you around! This section of the trail leads you to Mount Alto Picnic Area.

From Mount Alto picnic area, it’s just 1.1 miles to Gold Hill Road, which will take you back to the Peak to Peak Highway. The trail extends north of Gold Hill Road, but this portion is marked as a difficult 4×4 route. It is narrow in spots and steep rocky stretches require a high-clearance, aggressive SUV with an experienced driver.

History of the Switzerland Trail

The Switzerland Trail follows an old railroad bed that was built in the late 1800’s. This railway stretched from Eldora to Ward, but was washed out by a flood in 1919. The railroad made mining possible and profitable in the mountain communities. However, the failure of the Wallstreet mill and financial panic of 1907 shifted the railway use to tourism. The trail was dubbed the Switzerland Trail of America because of the scenic trips it took passengers on through the mountains.