Ouray / Telluride / Silverton Area Ideas

[Engineer]

Starting to plan our fall trip and the plan is to head to that area and explore (day hikes, 4x4, mine, towns etc) While I see there is clearly more to do in 5 days ( already removed travel time) we are planning to stay in the area. Last year we did RMNP, MOAB/Canyonlands/Arches and Yellowstone all in 1 go and while we would do it again in a heart beat it was ALOT of time on the road. If you know of any must do things feel free to suggest as we are not that deep into planning yet. Timeframe is Early September just after Labor day

Current Thoughts

Basecamp will be in Ouray

1 Day for drive recovery in Ouray spent in-town and exploring local area (Box Canyon) and maybe a Mine tour and/or day hike.

1 Day for Blackbear pass and Imogene Pass

2 Days for Apline Loop with Camping somewhere along the loop (Engineer Pass & Cinnamon pass) -

1 Day for Exploring Silverton Area ( Ice Lake, Island Lake, Animas Forks - driving through coming off of Cinnamon Pass)

 

[Khjphoto]

Great trip!

When in Silverton be sure to eat at Handlebars Food and Saloon

 

[BigredTEX]

That's a lot to do in the time you have planned. I've been vacationing in Ouray for over 15 years and still find places to explore.

The hikes you are planning are all entire day hikes. It would be very difficult to hit ice lake and island lake in a single day unless you are in top, acclimated condition, which coming from Minneapolis will be difficult (Take it from another flat lander).

We always base camp in Ouray. The Black Bear/Imogine run is easily done in a day with plenty of time to lunch/shop/explore in Telluride, just be prepared for a trail th type you've never seen before. I've run Black Bear many, many times and it is different every time. It's not really that difficult but the visual aspect is very intimidating and people die on that trail.

Another good day run is Mineral Creak (lower Engineers)/Animas Forks (ghost town) and into Silverton. You'll have plenty of time to explore along the way and shop and dine in Silverton. The Mineral Creek trail, which is the starting point of the Alpine Loop from Ouray, is a great trail and will test your skills and vehicle. If you can make the first 1/2 mile you'll be good. There are places to camp along the trail, but no established camp sites. Be aware you will be above 11K feet at most places once you get a mile into the trail. You also have the option of turning off onto Poughkipsie Gulgh, which is probably the most technical trail in the area. A winch will most likely be required.

There are many trail options around Silverton. Ice Lake and Island Lake are out of the way if you are in Silverton. Try the Silver Lake hike out of Silverton, or Bear Creek Trail out of Ouray if you want some challenging hiking and breath taking scenery.

I'll be there the last week of July-1st week of August and will be doing all of the 4X4 trails as well as the Silver Lake hike, Bear Creek hike (all the way to Engineers Pass) and the Blue Lakes trail from the top of Yankee Boy Basin.

 

[Engineer]

[MENTION=80379]BigredTEX[/MENTION] , great feed back I will take a closer look a those hikes and my own distance's. Its a good starting point. Mind if I ask where you stay in Ouray, The Ouray RV park and Cabins looked like a decent spot. We are planning to meet my parents there so while we will be in a tent every night we will have access to the kitchen in the 5th wheel ( not exactly off the beaten path but sometimes the amenities are a plus and it does make camping easier) but also means we need to stay somewhere "large RV friendly"

 

[Jeremy556]

Engineer/Cinnamon is a 1 day thing. Definitely take Mineral Creek from just south of Ouray to Engineer pass.

Make time for Hurricane Pass, Corkscrew Gulch, and California - they are all in the area between Engineer/Cinnamon and Ouray.

 

[BigredTEX]

[MENTION=80379]BigredTEX[/MENTION] , great feed back I will take a closer look a those hikes and my own distance's. Its a good starting point. Mind if I ask where you stay in Ouray, The Ouray RV park and Cabins looked like a decent spot. We are planning to meet my parents there so while we will be in a tent every night we will have access to the kitchen in the 5th wheel ( not exactly off the beaten path but sometimes the amenities are a plus and it does make camping easier) but also means we need to stay somewhere "large RV friendly"

We've always stayed at the KOA a few miles north of town, to the point that we're on a first name basis with Dave and Deb, the owners. It has all the amenities of a KOA with large and small RV sites, cabins and tent sites. We're tenters so we always reserve one RV site with electric and water and a couple of adjacent tent sites. We'll be there for the last couple of days of he FJ Sumit plus eight more days. We made our reservations last August as we were pulling out of town, but just made some date changes a week ago so you shouldn't have any problems making reservations now.

 

[dogojoe96]

If you have to choose between day hikes, my vote would be ice lake, especially if you have not done it before.

While doing the alpine loop, animas forks is neat but there is some better camping a bit farther towards eureka, down cr 25. In eureka gulch,

It is a bit isolated, but that's why I like it, away from the crowds.

Sounds like a good trip, have fun!

 

[jdtaylor42]

Awesome thread, subscribed. I planned on making a similar thread because I want to go out for a week in the summer.

Is June too early or will the major trails be clear of snow and good to go?

 

[jpachard]

Awesome thread, subscribed. I planned on making a similar thread because I want to go out for a week in the summer.



Is June too early or will the major trails be clear of snow and good to go?

That depends. It's been a big snow year so depending on how warm it gets soon June might be iffy. I typically ride my BMW R1200GS out there and when I went two years ago over July 4th Hurricane pass still had walls of snow near the top but it was plowed out. Just check on the FS website as they list the pass openings. Black Bear is pretty serious so please do not attempt, unless you are very experienced. There is a crux move on it and if you blow it it"s a 1000' express trip to the Pandora mill. Other than that, enjoy!

 

[Desert Dawg]

Black Bear Pass...pucker up...lol!




Going up there in July too. My brother has his Toyota FJ Team Edition while I have my Tundra. I think I may be severely disadvantaged...lol.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Recommend you check out as many of these types of sites as possible:

Colorado ghost towns, mining camps, four wheel drive trips, hiking trails

Also google "Colorado ghost towns and mining camps"

I assume "RMNT" is a typo and you meant "RMNP"?

 

[Jeremy556]

Is June too early or will the major trails be clear of snow and good to go?

Some of the passes are closed until into July, even on light snow years. They start plowing them in June, this was mid June of last year

That depends. It's been a big snow year so depending on how warm it gets soon June might be iffy. I typically ride my BMW R1200GS out there and when I went two years ago over July 4th Hurricane pass still had walls of snow near the top but it was plowed out. Just check on the FS website as they list the pass openings. Black Bear is pretty serious so please do not attempt, unless you are very experienced. There is a crux move on it and if you blow it it"s a 1000' express trip to the Pandora mill. Other than that, enjoy!

The FS site lists the dates the trails are "technically open" but they are often not passable/haven't been plowed. Some of the Jeep rental places put up real up to date information on plowing status.

Black Bear Pass...pucker up...lol!




Going up there in July too. My brother has his Toyota FJ Team Edition while I have my Tundra. I think I may be severely disadvantaged...lol.

That's a photoshop, and not Black Bear, anyway. Nothing difficult about that trail other than making several point turns at the switchbacks.

 

[Desert Dawg]

That's a photoshop, and not Black Bear, anyway. Nothing difficult about that trail other than making several point turns at the switchbacks.

Yeah,, but I love the photo! lol

Seriously though, do you think the switchbacks are too tight for the Tundra?

 

[CrazyNorwegian]

Yeah,, but I love the photo! lol

Seriously though, do you think the switchbacks are too tight for the Tundra?

Demello did it in his tundra. He used the bump out on his sliders to pivot around one of the switchbacks.

 

[Jeremy556]

Yeah,, but I love the photo! lol

Seriously though, do you think the switchbacks are too tight for the Tundra?

You can always back down a section instead of making a multi point turn.

 

[Desert Dawg]

Demello did it in his tundra. He used the bump out on his sliders to pivot around one of the switchbacks.

You can always back down a section instead of making a multi point turn.

Thanks guys...I am seriously thinking of trying it but wasn't sure if I could navigate them. Backing down would be different...lol.

 

[Engineer]

Recommend you check out as many of these types of sites as possible:

Colorado ghost towns, mining camps, four wheel drive trips, hiking trails

Also google "Colorado ghost towns and mining camps"

I assume "RMNT" is a typo and you meant "RMNP"?

You are correct RMNP is what I meant, will fix in original post

 

[smurray711]

I live in Telluride. Something a lot of people aren't aware of is being able to drive up to Mt Sneffels. It makes Sneffels one of the easiest 14rs in CO.

You just drive up from Ouray towards Yankee Boy Basin and then keep turning towards the peak. You can make it all till the last 2000 feet saving a nice rocky scramble for the end. Good stuff.

Either way, you can't go wrong. Hope you have a great time!

 

[BigredTEX]

Thanks guys...I am seriously thinking of trying it but wasn't sure if I could navigate them. Backing down would be different...lol.

I've seen it done in full size pickups. The trail has a couple of narrow spots; one on the steps leading down to the switch backs that tends to pitch you into the wall on the right and one between the 1st and 2nd switch back that pitches you off camber towards the drop off. The 1st switch back is a *****, but the 2nd one is her mother. A full size can make it but plan on 4 and 5 point turns and a spotter.

 

[BigredTEX]

Try this site for trail reports:

Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<BR>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates

Black Bear typically doesn't open until July 4th. Ouray and San Juan counties generally have their trails plowed by late June. San Miguel (Telluride) county doesn't care about 4X4 traffic and is in no hurry to clear their trails.