Trip to Colorado questions

[JohnWiggy]

I will be traveling to Telluride and surrounding areas in November. CO peeps or people familiar with area I have some questions for. REALLY would like to take "Million Dollar Highway" and wondering if it is unreasonable to think you can take it in early November?? Closed usually? Just depends maybe? Chains? Also, are there any easy to moderate ish shorter trails that can be taken that time of year? Can't do anything too crazy because we only have one vehicle going Driving from Phoenix and just any ideas/ suggestions of things to check out would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I did this trail the last time I was in the area. TrailDamage.com - Ophir Pass I am sure it would not be open in November. It was barely open in June. There was 10 foot walls of snow that had been plowed through at the top of the mountain.

 

[JohnWiggy]

There was 10 foot walls of snow that had been plowed through at the top of the mountain.

In June?!:jaw drop: That's insane. I know it is gonna be really cold freezing weather but was hoping that the bulk of the snow didn't move in until closer to Dec. Read somewhere that the ski resort opens in late Nov.

 

[Burt]

Will be most likely closed by then. You will be limited to US-50 via Montrose.
Chains?.... You have 4WD, should be plenty with good treads. Chains are only required for 2WD and commercial vehicles. If roads are too bad, they simply close them, allowing for plowing. Have fun and be safe.

 

[JohnWiggy]

Have fun and be safe.

Thanks and I definitely will. Think I was confusing the "trail" from Ouray to Telluride with the Million Dollar "Highway" Imogene pass is what I was thinking of and that, come to find out, is a pretty rough trail even in the summer, no dice Might try "last dollar road". If anyone has any experience with these trails in this time of year I would love to hear more.

 

[JB.]

Might try "last dollar road". If anyone has any experience with these trails in this time of year I would love to hear more.

It's all about the combination of elevation and what kind of early snow year it is. I don't know what gets officially closed and what doesn't. Get a Benchmark CO Atlas to see roads and elevations. If you have a GPS that displays coordinates, that will help with the Atlas a lot. If it happens to be a late snow year and you're talking early November, you may be able to do quite a lot. I've done most of the trails in the area (early October) but not Last Dollar Rd. It appears that it doesn't go much over 9000 feet elevation. If it's a late snow year, you might have a shot at it. There are other dirt roads around Telluride, Ridgway, and Ouray at even lower elevations. Many of the trails are flanked by residential areas. Don't know how much plowing takes place, but you'll have plenty of places to poke around. At the south end of Ouray is the road that leads to Imogene Pass and Yankee Boy Basin. There's a mine and houses up there so access may be good. You can probably get quite a ways and it would be a fun drive.

Have fun (bring a shovel).

 

[turbodudey2]

The 10 foot walls of snow in June is very common. June is still very early in the season at high elevation. Most of the snow melt occurs in July and August. So October and November may still be pretty dry depending on the year. But the snow does usually start flying around that time, yes. You'll probably still be able to make it out to Yankee Boy Basin in Nov, but anything past that won't be a guarantee.

The million dollar highway (US 550) is open all year and passable in any vehicle, and chains are only required on commercial vehicles. (even if you do have chains, you won't be able to go anywhere you wouldn't be able to go without them because the roads are closed when it's that bad anyway.)

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park would be a nice place to check out, and the south entrance is open all year.

November will be pretty late in the season to do many 4x4 roads.

 

[JohnWiggy]

That's awesome info guys thanks for the help! That's kinda what I was thinking/ hoping for is that the snow maybe doesn't have a ton of time to build up again yet in early Nov. I just won't feel right not offroading while up there so I'm determined. My Dad did the Imogene trail in his Rhino and said it was amazing. Would love to take the runner through it. Grew up offroading in the mountains that are literally in my backyard but I don't have a lot of experience in snow (obviously) or super high elevations. Plus the lady gonna be with and she won't tolerate anything too "scary" as she puts it.. haha. Guess I'll just have to explore and see... :banana: