Ouray Trip - Need Help Planning

jdtaylor42

jdtaylor42

New member
I know there is TONS of information out there but I decided to start my own thread so that I can keep suggestions and information organized and I can have a single place to reference as I plan. I will keep updating this first post as I make my plans more definite.

I plan to drive up to the area June 30th and we will camp through July 4th; so I will have three full days for activities. My main goal is to run the passes in the 4Runner and I have a friend who has a Tacoma from Steamboat who will be meeting me and running the passes with me. However, my wife and sister will also be going and they don't have any interest in spending three days four-wheeling but they would rather hike and fish.

So on to my questions and desired advice:

1) Camping spots - Any suggestions on good spots to camp? I actually prefer to be away from established campgrounds with facilities. We will be tent camping and are fine just driving to a cool spot and setting up. I would like to be somewhat central to the trails I plan to drive though so I guess someplace between Ouray and Silverton?

2) Best Trails for Time - Are there good established routes where you can string together multiple trails? I have read up on the various trails and I am not worried about difficulty but more trying to figure out how long each trail takes and which ones are good to pair. (From my research it sounds like I will stay away from Poughkepsie Gulch and I may or may not try Black Bear but I am definitely confident I can handle Engineer and Imogene)

3) Good Non-4Wheeling Activities - Are there good fishing spots? What are the suggested hiking trails the girls could do? They will have their own 4WD vehicle so they can get to whatever trail as long as it isn't crazy off-road. Also we live in Flagstaff at 7900' feet and are very active so I don't anticipate fitness or altitude sickness being an issue.

Those are the big details I would like to get ironed out but any other suggestions and info people would like to provide I would be happy to get! This will be my first 4WD adventure into Colorado so I want to be prepared and I want to make sure everyone has a good time so we can do trips in the future as well!
 
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Subscribing to mooch off the info you get. We're meeting up with my parents and brother literally the month prior: May 30th through June 4th. I imagine you'll have much greater trail access than we will.
 
1) Camping spots -
There are 5 main camp grounds in the area between Ouray and Ridgeway. The larges being a state park at the lake (north of Ouray and ridgeway). I have never stayed there however, it is a Colorado state park and therefor pretty well taken care of.

You have the KOA just outside of Ouray (north) that has a built in restaurant with good country food. Nice to stay in the cabins in the back of the park on the creek.

the triple 3 camp ground is just an RV site but has good wifi

there is a primitive camp ground just next to the water park coming into Ouray from the north. Its very primitive and I do not believe they even have electricity.

The last one is the Ridgeway camp ground about 10 miles north of Ouray, it's basically just a camping area with hookups, nothing special at all. If you want to go 30 miles north of Ouray there is a Jellystone park that is great for kids.

2) Best Trails for Time

Run Imogene to Telluride, spend the day in telluride and play on the gondolas (it free and also the larges free public transit in the US). plenty of cool stuff to see and great places to see in Telluride/Mountain Village. When you are done for the day, run Opher pass back into Ouray for a nice easy drive and great view.

I always run Mineral creek (also the entrance to engineers) to Animas fork and then into silverton. Great morning run and dumps you through 3 little mining towns and spits you out in Silverton at lunch time where they have a famous BBQ place (its been on TV) called "the pits"

3) Good Non-4Wheeling Activities


Telluride will likely have a festival going on in that week, so be sure to plan on spending a day walking the the town just o have fun. Like I said above the gondolas are a great way to see the two towns above Telluride. There is a mine tour just a mile north of Ouray that we have been on a couple times with out kids, its rather fun and informative.


Enjoy.. we will be there July 10-26th.
 
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This is such a beautiful area and beautiful time of year! I am super jealous as we had plans to be there at the same time but then my gf has to be in a wedding. My family has a condo at Purgatory and I have spent many a summer and winter in the area. I digress...

My favorite trails in the area is basically completing the Alpine Loop plus a few other trails. Ophir, Imogene, Cinnamon, and Engineer passes just to name a few. This will take you through towns like Silverton, Animas Forks, Lake City, Ouray, Telluride. There are plenty of trails and areas to pull off and find a neat spot to camp (weather permitting as there isn't too much cover when those afternoon storms roll in).

They call Ouray the swiss alps of the west (or something like that) and they sure don't lie. You can often find people rock climbing all over in Box Canyon and there is a neat hot spring in the city.

Telluride is a beautiful town and definitely worth spending some time in like was mentioned above.

My favorite town of them all is Silverton. They have by far the best fireworks show I have ever seen. On July 4th they have a rhubarb festival and a parade. The fireworks (fire danger permitting) are shot from atop a hill and basically explode just over your head and you can only imagine the boom it provides in the canyon there. As you exit town, north, there are various gulches. Cunningham gulch has a mine called the Old Hundred Mine and they do tours frequently which are very entertaining. There is also the old Boarding House which they will probably point out. It is possible to hike there, pretty strenuous but the payoff is incredible! In Arrastra Gulch, there is a hike called Silver Lake which is pretty breathtaking as most of the little town and artifacts are still there as they are impossible to hike out.

I feel like I am just touching the surface, but I hope I was able to leave you with some ideas. We are still trying to plan the trip around the wedding but we shall see what plans are in store. If we make it maybe we will see you out there! Happy trails!
 
As it goes for Black Bear, it may not even be open. Going to the summit a few years back, it was closed even then and considering your trip is earlier, it may not be an option. As it goes for places to go, I always enjoyed Southern Vittles in Lake City. You can run the Alpine Loop and the midpoint is Lake City. It is a full day trip but I enjoy it. If you want to do some camping in the mountains, you may consider going up towards Yankee Boy and Imogene and then branching off from there to camp. Many of those places allow camping for many days and the spots are simply beautiful. What the other guys have said I must agree with and feel as if they have nailed it on the head.

There is a hiking trail that goes around Ouray and is very pretty. It starts near the hot springs and goes around the town. It is a couple of hours at most though, but still fun. Plus, it ends at the hot springs and is a great place to relax after the hike.
 
It's been a few years since I've been in the area, but I always tried to take the California Gulch/Picayune Gulch loop out of Animas Forks. Trail was not tough, but the views and scenery are amazing!
 
Won't add much more to the many trails already suggested, but if you need/want a place to stay, try calling Cascade Village, they're between Durango and Silverton, fantastic place to rest before the drive home!

Lots of fishing in Durango off the river, and I'm sure you'll find a few spots off the trails for fishing, as I recall going by some really nice streams.

Really need to get back there someday and do some backcountry trekking with my truck!

Make sure to take lots of photos and post 'em up here when you get back!
 
Summit a 14er!

If you want to do a 14er (and why wouldn't you?), I highly recommend Handies Peak. That and the surrounding American Basin is certainly the most beautiful hike in SW Colo and quite possibly the entire state.

And you need a T4R to reach the best trailhead. It is required by Colorado law. :)

Only 2 issues I can see. First, July 4 can still a tad early for 14ers. You might have to deal with some snow and muck (yes, really!). Second, I've not approached the hike from Ouray. Instead, from Lake City on Cinnamon Pass (The "Alpine Loop"). So you might have to read up on how to get there from Ouray.

Refer to traildamage.com for the local 4WD trails. Especially the Alpine Loop. That entire area is awesome.

Also, be aware that early July is "monsoon" season in SW Colorado. You probably know this being from AZ. You might get lucky and get no rain. In any case, plan to get your butt below treeline in the afternoon and lookout for lightning. That stuff is not to be trifled with!

Edited to change Yankee Boy Basin to American Basin. Got my Basins mixed up! American is by Handies Peak and Yankee Boy is northwest of there and also awesome.
 
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If you have time, make your way to silverton. Cool little mining town not to mention the drive provides pretty amazing scenery. Southern Colorado doesn't suck.
 
Yeah, get the book. You really can't go wrong anywhere in that part of the state. It is just flat frickin' beautiful in every way possible.

Do an internet search for Colorado ghost towns and mining camps. Loads of historical sites in our state.
 
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1. Lots of good dispersed camping spots, just find an existing fire ring
2. Just look at the trail maps for loops you can do. None of the trails are technically difficult or really take time to get through, other than enjoying the scenery. P Gulch and Black Bear will not be passable on 7/4/16
 
After camping I definitely suggest soaking in ouray hot springs. Just up the road is Orvis Hot Springs. Which is much smaller that Ouray Hs, and a damn good time.

2014 4runner Trail Premium. Shrockworks sliders, Weather tech floor mats, and some sort of high falutin tint and clearbra.
 
Not to harsh the thread, but IMO you'll get more varied responses in the General Discussion forum. This area is mostly only 5th Gen people. I know it seems strange to a new 5th Gen owner, but most 4th Gens are still running and even a few 3rd Gens will crank up. They're mostly old farts, but they have knowledge about camping spots and trails. :)
 
Get the book. Will serve you well when you go back - and you WILL go back.
I highly recommend corkscrew pass - stunning views, easy enough, and a GREAT camping spot at about 11,000 feet (just below timberline there).
Don't pass an up an opportunity at Stony Pass and a visit to the town of Creede as well. Creede is a great fishing town, Orvis shop there and all. It's often overlooked or forgot about so it doesn't feel QUITE as touristy as the others. Actually - never mind. Forget I said anything about it. ; )
 
Get the book mentioned above! It helped me tremendously with route planning.

Alpine loop is great and if the weather looks stable, spend a night in the American Basin for a quick ascent up Handies peak. Or camp at grizzly gulch (below treeline and with a composting toilet) for the longer but more scenic hike to summit Handies from the other side. From grizzly, you can also summit Redcloud and Sunshine together the next day. Three 14'ers in two days!

Another camping option is at Eureka. Easy access to Animas, Silverton, and several easy mining trails.

Check out my adventure thread here for some pictures.
 
I am subscribed. I will be there at the end of July. Looking forward to it. Hopefully will be moving near there soon as well.
 
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