ToyotaDoodz
New member
As requested by JB, I'm posting a list of suggested trail pairings for anyone thinking of doing the Ouray / Silverton, CO area. Pics will follow.
All the folowing trail pairings are based on you staying in or between Ouray or Silverton off highway 550.
I usually stay in Ouray and like to start out with moderate trails to reframiliarize with and then move up in technical level, etc.
Many times I'll drive 550 to Silverton and run Maggie Gulch, Minnie Gulch, and make the top of Eureka Gulch for lunch, then move up through Animas Forks to California pass back to 550 via Corkscrew Gulch (can be muddy but not bad). This is a full day.
Another full day trip that's a tad easier is drive north to Delta, CO and take county road 12 @ Paonia Reservoir to Kebler & Ohio Pass (more Aspen trees here than anywhere else) then to Crested Butte and north to run Gunsight Pass ( this has a long deep water crossing at the start that should be evaluated VERY carefully in spring runoff conditions ) then take the Slate and Gothic road loop over Paradise Basin (about lunch time) ( my favorite place on earth ) back to Crested Butte and retrace to take Ohio pass south to Gunnison and back to Ouray. This is a long but easy day and a MUST when the Aspens are turning. You will not see more anywhere on earth.
Another great day is to Yankee Boy and then Governor Basin (harder, rougher, narrower trail with little info) and then through the car wash ( river ) to Imogene with lunch in Telluride and back via Ophir Pass or back over Imogene.
Now you'll be ready to run the Alpine Loop. Up Engineer Pass via the lower harder section off 550 or to bypass the hard part, go to Silverton and take the road to Animas Forks then up to Engineer pass to Lake City for lunch and back via Wager Gulch, American basin, and Cinnamon Pass to Animas Forks. From here you can retrace to California Pass that you did before or take Picayne & Placer and then California Pass back to 550.
Another easy all day is take the trail to Clear Lake outside Silverton and then cross the bridge by the train station in Silverton to take the trail up to the 13,066 ft Kendall Mt mine. This is not in any of the books but well worth it. It has some real pucker power from steepness and altitude and if you have time run Stony Pass but it's not as cool.
As you'll see, Animas Forks is a major trail hub so lots of combinations can be done from it.
I hope this helps.
PS, I strongly recommend anyone considering this trip to spend $23 and get the "Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, Vol 1" by Charles A. Wells. You can plan an entire trip with his book having never been there. Save money and buy it direct cheaper at his site. I'm not affiliated in any way. The books are very good. Go to his site for sample maps, etc.
All the folowing trail pairings are based on you staying in or between Ouray or Silverton off highway 550.
I usually stay in Ouray and like to start out with moderate trails to reframiliarize with and then move up in technical level, etc.
Many times I'll drive 550 to Silverton and run Maggie Gulch, Minnie Gulch, and make the top of Eureka Gulch for lunch, then move up through Animas Forks to California pass back to 550 via Corkscrew Gulch (can be muddy but not bad). This is a full day.
Another full day trip that's a tad easier is drive north to Delta, CO and take county road 12 @ Paonia Reservoir to Kebler & Ohio Pass (more Aspen trees here than anywhere else) then to Crested Butte and north to run Gunsight Pass ( this has a long deep water crossing at the start that should be evaluated VERY carefully in spring runoff conditions ) then take the Slate and Gothic road loop over Paradise Basin (about lunch time) ( my favorite place on earth ) back to Crested Butte and retrace to take Ohio pass south to Gunnison and back to Ouray. This is a long but easy day and a MUST when the Aspens are turning. You will not see more anywhere on earth.
Another great day is to Yankee Boy and then Governor Basin (harder, rougher, narrower trail with little info) and then through the car wash ( river ) to Imogene with lunch in Telluride and back via Ophir Pass or back over Imogene.
Now you'll be ready to run the Alpine Loop. Up Engineer Pass via the lower harder section off 550 or to bypass the hard part, go to Silverton and take the road to Animas Forks then up to Engineer pass to Lake City for lunch and back via Wager Gulch, American basin, and Cinnamon Pass to Animas Forks. From here you can retrace to California Pass that you did before or take Picayne & Placer and then California Pass back to 550.
Another easy all day is take the trail to Clear Lake outside Silverton and then cross the bridge by the train station in Silverton to take the trail up to the 13,066 ft Kendall Mt mine. This is not in any of the books but well worth it. It has some real pucker power from steepness and altitude and if you have time run Stony Pass but it's not as cool.
As you'll see, Animas Forks is a major trail hub so lots of combinations can be done from it.
I hope this helps.
PS, I strongly recommend anyone considering this trip to spend $23 and get the "Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, Vol 1" by Charles A. Wells. You can plan an entire trip with his book having never been there. Save money and buy it direct cheaper at his site. I'm not affiliated in any way. The books are very good. Go to his site for sample maps, etc.
