Couple of questions about southwest Colorado

[iBison]

It's been a long time since we've been to the southwest corner of Colorado so the wife and I are leaving Friday for Co, here's our plan so far.

Drive through Denver, Vail and head down to Durango stopping to see the sites at Crystal City and Black Canyon, spend three nights in Durango and up through independence pass and out through Denver.

I want to explore some of the trails around there but nothing to extreme. I have an 04 with AT3s and my wife wont like any extremely rough roads or black bear. I normally wheel in my grand cherokee because it's built for that and it's already beat, but I don't want to pull it to Colorado milder trails will be what I will be doing.

How is the Imogene pass trail? From the videos I've seen it doesn't look to bad.

I saw where blkhwk mentioned Last Dollar road, how long should I plan to take to get from the end of that to Telluride?

Any suggestions on fairly easy trails around Durango, things to see or places to eat would be appreciated. Is the Ore House still open? My wife likes history and historic stuff.

 

[MountainClimber78]

Just got back

I spent two weeks there. I'd recommend Owl Creek pass between Gunnison and Ridgeway. It will give you a lot of great scenery and the route is easy, like sedans can do it. If you want there are some great camp sites along the route also. The KOA outside of Ouray is the bomb if you're looking for a paid campground but Angel Creek is just outside of Ouray and is along the route to Imogene.
Imogene itself is beautiful but there are some rough sections. The last portion into Telluride has some big exposure so make sure you (and your passengers) are ok with some big exposure. I've got a '11 Trail with a 3 inch lift for reference.
After that I'd take Ophir Pass back over to the 550. It's pretty easy and it's a beautiful drive.
You've got a beautiful trip ahead of you, enjoy every mile!

Also, if you're camping and don't have it yet, take a look at downloading Allstays Camp and RV. Best nationwide database of campsites I've found.

 

[iBison]

Thank you I will look at those options. I showed the wife video of the Imogene pass and she said no problem, but video is different than being there. We are not camping this time but we are staying in a cabin at the koa in Durango. I'd love to camp but she has some back issues that make a cabin a better option right now. If it was not for that we would probably be going to Yellowstone.

 

[iBison]

If you were going to do Ophir and Imogene would you go clockwise and how long do think it would take?

Thanks

 

[MountainClimber78]

If you're talking about Imogene and Ophir from Durango and back it would be a full day. Imogene took me 4 hours alone and we didn't have much traffic. Ophir will take at least two or three depending on the wait for the shelf road. After that factor in normal travel time.

 

[iBison]

If you're talking about Imogene and Ophir from Durango and back it would be a full day. Imogene took me 4 hours alone and we didn't have much traffic. Ophir will take at least two or three depending on the wait for the shelf road. After that factor in normal travel time.

Which did you like better of the two?

 

[Stangboy]

I just did Imogene & Ophir Passes also. Stock '16 Trail on stock size Duratracs. You shouldn't have a problem. I would take a little side trip to Yankee Boy Basin, it's off the Imogene Pass trail on the Ouray side. I liked Imogene better of the two. Beautiful country regardless!

 

[iBison]

Thanks guys! What tire pressure do you run on trails like these? 25 or so?

 

[Stangboy]

I aired down to 25 PSI.

 

[Jimmy_D]

I've done Ophir from 145 to 550 (highway to highway) in as little as 30 minutes. It just depends on how much traffic you encounter and whether you stop any. Imogene depends a great deal on how many times you stop and how much time you spend at each stop you make. There's nothing really difficult about Imogene unless you take some of the alternate trails adjacent to the main route. You don't actually need 4 wheel drive on it. Low range is helpful, especially while descending, because it takes a load off the brakes. Last Dollar Road is very easy. Pretty much just a non-paved graded road. There's a Conoco gas station at the main intersection in Ridgeway that has free air if you happen to go through there and want to air up.

 

[MountainClimber78]

Thanks guys! What tire pressure do you run on trails like these? 25 or so?

I've got cooper MAXX, load range E, and aired down to 15. I normally go to 10 when I'm running empty but I had about 500 pounds of gear and dogs in the truck.

 

[gm350reratliff]

We also ran Imogene and Ophir passes this summer. Imogene is one of my favorite trails but Ophir offers some incredible views as well. Like previously stated, you probably won't even need 4wheel drive but I like to drop it in 4low and take my time and take in as much of the scenery as I can. We ran both passes during the FJ summit so the traffic was thick as it was prime summer vacation time so everyone was out there. It took us all day just for Imogene. There probably won't be as much traffic when you go. I would recommend checking the weather before you attempt the pass as there have already been reports of snow, so pack accordingly. Airing down to 20-25 psi should be plenty.

Last dollar road is a nice very easy trail as well. Alpine loop is a nice trail but it seemed pretty rough this year so I don't think I would recommend it if your better half isn't into rough trails. It's an all day trail as well.

 

[TBuzz]

I live here in Dgo and have some info for you. There's a lot to do in your truck. The trees are just starting to change in some areas. Now that school is back in there isn't any traffic except some hunters and hold overs. Considering where your base camp is plan to take an entire day going Silverton>Ophir pass>telluride>Imogene>Ouray>Silverton>KOA. You can do it no problem but it'll be a long day especially if there is weather. Imogene is much longer than Ophir. I'd air down to 20psi at least and u can air up at the gas station in Silverton. The möbius coffee in Silverton is excellent. There are a lot of greats restaurants in here. If you like sushi, go to Rice Monkeys. It's tiny spot but gaurantee you'll be impressed. Zia taqueria,

I've done Ophir from 145 to 550 (highway to highway) in as little as 30 minutes. It just depends on how much traffic you encounter and whether you stop any. Imogene depends a great deal on how many times you stop and how much time you spend at each stop you make.

30 mins is a bit misleading. You'd have to be disregarding everyone's safety to do that and driving way over the speed limit. I've been over it 25+times, 4x this year and even yesterday.
OP please don't try to do this in 30 mins or count on it as accurate. As for Black bear you could easily go up to get some views and turn around. I'd certainly do that I were you. You don't have to go all the way up either. I'd recommend you do several up and backs out of Silverton. There's even more roads that are as good as or better than the typical ones ppl post up. LMk if you need more info. Have fun...oh and if you like organic farm fresh wonderful food. About 2 miles down from the KOA is James ranch. I know you'll like it.

 

[Jimmy_D]

You'd have to be disregarding everyone's safety to do that and driving way over the speed limit

Sorry but you're absolutely wrong about that. I've probably done Ophir 30-40 times over that last 25 years. There was zero traffic when I did it in slightly over 30 minutes and I wasn't going particularly fast (and if you've ever seen a speed limit sign after leaving the town of Ophir heading to 550 you must have been hallucinating because I've never seen one in all those trips. If I mentioned that I've been UP Black Bear several times you'd probably say I was BS'ing everyone as well but you'd be wrong again. I NEVER go overly fast when I'm off-roading.

 

[TBuzz]

Sorry but you're absolutely wrong about that. I've probably done Ophir 30-40 times over that last 25 years. There was zero traffic when I did it in slightly over 30 minutes and I wasn't going particularly fast (and if you've ever seen a speed limit sign after leaving the town of Ophir heading to 550 you must have been hallucinating because I've never seen one in all those trips. If I mentioned that I've been UP Black Bear several times you'd probably say I was BS'ing everyone as well but you'd be wrong again. I NEVER go overly fast when I'm off-roading.

Of course there are signs after you leave the highway to Ophir...there are speed limit signs in the town of Ophir and speed bumps. Specifically to keep yahoos from trying to make it in 30 minutes. Why would I say you were wrong about going up BB when u must have done it on one of those days it's allowable? 30 mins and not speeding get real, don't be that guy.

 

[Jimmy_D]

The speed limit signs are on the road from 145 to the town of Ophir (25 mph) and in the town itself (15 mph) and if you'll reread my post you'll see I said there were no signs after the town and I can assure you I have never exceeded either of those. After you exit the town in that direction there are no speed limit signs whatsoever all the way to 550. Try it sometime with no traffic on the road and not slowing down or stopping to sightsee and see how long it takes. Assuming someone chose to adhere to the 25 mph speed limit on the road heading into Ophir after leaving it (which would be the normal assumption since there are no signs), you'd be risking life and limb. Even after cresting the pass where the road is very well maintained all the way to 550, going 25 would be risky in a number of spots so how you've deduced that I must have been driving in excess of some non-existent posted speed limit is beyond me. My intent was merely to point out that a 3-4 hour travel time (which someone else posted) would probably not be a reasonable expectation unless you decided to stop a number of times. You've simply decided to make a number of assumptions that have no basis in fact.

 

[TBuzz]

is that what they teach you for $300 at FJ summit?

 

[TBuzz]

I don't think this guy is in a race and he probably is sight seeing. Ophir pass is not the best for that but compared to Texas or Oklahoma it's probably great. Black bear pass isn't even that great once you get to the top and head over. Most the pictures you see people post are from above town. The view is much better the other way looking into the San Juans.

Imogene, no doubt has bigger views than Ophir but look at where the trails ends up. The views are much grander up there. Easy to get those views in other places as well that are quite easy such as Corkscrew gulch and so on are much better views than Ophir.

There's a great museum in silverton and oh yea the guy that sells produce in Durango at the high school parking lot is a must stil too if you're cooking.

 

[Jimmy_D]

is that what they teach you for $300 at FJ summit

Well, let's see......I've been off-roading (in a vehicle) for close to 30 years. I've done pretty much all the really difficult trails in Moab (including Pritchett Canyon) as well as all the trails around Crested Butte countless times (we have a weekly 4-wheel drive group that I co-founded which goes out each week in the summer/fall); not to mention I've been going to the San Juans since the early 90's. I've taught a great number of folks how to wheel properly in serious terrain. In all that time I've never been accused of going too fast.....at least until you decided to chime in here with your smartass, accusatory remarks. What, exactly, is your experience level which gives you the expertise necessary to determine whether I'm guilty of excessive speed offroad?

And, yes, I've been to all the Summits. The guys that put it on are good friends of mine. Year before last I took Christo Slee (Slee Offroad) out along with some of the Summit organizers and Christo was hauling ass coming down Imogene (after going over Black Bear) and I didn't hear anyone accusing him of setting a bad example.

 

[TBuzz]

Drop all the names you want and quit stewing in those juices. Which one of you guys would get out of line and question anyone like Christo anyhow, bunch of sheep.