Planning a trip to Ouray

F

FoolishTrickery

New member
Hey guys,
I'm planning a trip to Ouray with my girlfriend the second week of September. Any tips on what to take and things to do around that time? I've been looking at the website for the city but was looking for more first hand experience. We are planning on camping at a KOA campground since my girl can't be away from a shower for longer than a day. Thanks in advance.
 
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Just about every state has an Ouray, and a Winchester, an Arlington, and a Springfield.

:rockthrow:

Which state are you talking about?
 
FoolishTrickery said:
Hey guys,
I'm planning a trip to Ouray with my girlfriend the second week of September. Any tips on what to take and things to do around that time? I've been looking at the website for the city but was looking for more first hand experience. We are planning on camping at a KOA campground since my girl can't be away from a shower for longer than a day. Thanks in advance.
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Yankee Boy Basin is nice (just dont take the wrong tun onto Govenors Gulch). The hot springs pool is nice. Box Canyon is easy to get to and is where the pools fill from.

Great hiking trails (didn't try any, but lots to get to from within town).

Outlaw restaurant is good but pricey.

Silver Dollar sucks.

Check the FJ Summit thread for pics and feedback on the trails. I did Imogene - Ophir, California - Corkscrew. My limited has non stock tires but no lift and not up-armor. Did just fine with the exception of a large dent in the fuel tank skid.

Air and a good deflator are recommended. I ran my Cooper Discoverer ATP's at about 27PSI. That allowed me to drive to and from the trails without having to air up/air-down. Teluride is fun as well. Great Goddess burger at Sweet Things.

Okki
 
FoolishTrickery said:
Hey guys,
I'm planning a trip to Ouray with my girlfriend the second week of September. Any tips on what to take and things to do around that time? I've been looking at the website for the city but was looking for more first hand experience. We are planning on camping at a KOA campground since my girl can't be away from a shower for longer than a day. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I've been making an annual trip to Ouray for over 10 years and staying at the KOA all these years. We've even made friends with some of the regulars who are at the KOA every year as well.

Ouray is the off-road capital of Colorado and can't be beat for its beauty. The San Juan mountains are the most rugged of all the Rocky Mountain ranges. I don't know how your rig is set up, but in stock 4wd form the T4R is capable of running most of the trails in the area. You won't be able to really appreciate the beauty of the area unless you get off the paved roads. In addition, you can go to Telluride, Silverton and Lake City for shopping and sight seeing. You may be able to catch the aspens changing at that time too.

PM me if you would like more details on the area.
 
Cinnamon, Imogene, Yankee Boy, and Engineer are fun. I liked Buen Tiempo for food in Ouray, nice patio, but it's kinda overpriced. I think Telluride is definitely worth heading over to, be it on dirt or pavement. Sit outside and grab a burger at Floradora. Silverton is cool too. This is probably obvious, but it can be cold at night.

Ouray caters to the 4x4 crowd. Haven't seen any other towns in Colorado plow out a dirt road to "nowhere" quite like Ouray...
16_2011060923073821.jpg
 
The aspen "peak" about the third week in September.

Watch for dramatically changing weather conditions at altitude. Take cold weather gear.

Definitely go to Telluride via Ophir Pass or Imogene Pass.

Old Red Mountain Pass is easy & fun.

Dinner at the St. Elmo on the main drag in Ouray is very nice.

Enjoy!
 
I'm trying to plan that same (hopefully) trip at about the same time. Arriving on about the 7th, departing around the 12th or 13th. I was about to ask the same questions. Any help given to flatlanders is greatly appreciated! :thumb3:

I'm not entirely sold on going all the way to Ouray (only time constraints, not desire); just trying to get away and see a mountain and smell a pine tree.

FoolishTrickery-- I used to live in Mission and I'm from the 956.
 
Gerdo said:
Black Bear Pass goes from Ouray to Telluride.
TrailDamage.com - All Trails
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I'm not sure I would take that unless you are more experienced and comfortable with the angles. I know I bailed on that trail in my (largely stock) Limited. You did see the pic in the FJ Summit thread of Joneseyyy balancing on less than 4 wheels in the middle of the multipoint turn right!?! :thumb3:

Imogene and Ophir are very doable though and I really enjoyed those two passes.

Okki
 
I camped at 9000 ft Tuesday night in Utah and there was a significant frost come mornin'. Expect the same in Ouray. Peaks should be starting to dust with snow then too.
 
JB. said:
Black Bear is either a "must do" or an avoid depending on experience and what one is looking for.

When I went, I originally planned to pass on doing it but instead ended up doing it twice.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/121788-post9.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/122327-post14.html
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When I was there in July I did Black Bear in the rain. We didn't see another vehicle on the entire trail that day. When we got to the steps we figured out why. I've done Black Bear several times, but never wet. The 100 yards down the steps turned into a semi controlled slide and bounce. All three vehicles in our group made it without too much drama (two modified Toyotas and a Rubicon), but the pucker factor was greatly enhanced.

As stated above you may encounter some light snow at the highest elevations, but all of the trails should still be open. Let your off road experience be your guide for tackling the tougher trails (Black Bear and Poughkeepsie Gulch). Imogene, Engineers, Corkscrew, Yankee Boy and Governors all take you to spectacular scenery and shouldn't be too much of a challenge for a stock T4R.
 
BigredTEX said:
When I was there in July I did Black Bear in the rain. We didn't see another vehicle on the entire trail that day. When we got to the steps we figured out why. I've done Black Bear several times, but never wet. The 100 yards down the steps turned into a semi controlled slide and bounce. All three vehicles in our group made it without too much drama (two modified Toyotas and a Rubicon), but the pucker factor was greatly enhanced.
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WOW... The 3 different folks from Mountain Rescue that I talked to ALL said that you should stay off Black Bear in the rain and that the people that died all skipped that rule. :eek:

Glad you all made it down alright BigredTex!

Okki
 
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