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Day Trips from Ouray

 

Stay in Ouray,

and take any one of several short trips (10 minutes to a few hours) to other Colorado blissful destinations.

Silverton
Black Canyon National Park

(Hwy 550. Distance one way: 23 miles/1 hour south of Ouray) The Million Dollar Highway, named for its Million Dollar Views, takes you past mountains, aspens, old mine structures.

Silverton is a historic mining town with shops, restaurants, and other activities. To visit its Ghost Town, follow Silverton's Main Street (Hwy 110) to the old townsite of Animas Forks. Pass Silverton's Courthouse and Museum on (left) then follow the right fork of Hwy 110 for about 11.5 miles. The Hwy turns into a gravel road and the entire road can be driven in a regular car.

Durango-Silverton
Narrow Gauge Train

This historic railroad takes you through the majestic mountains of Southwest Colorado. It runs from mid June through late August, and provides a bus which leaves Silverton at 7:45 a.m. and takes you on a magnificent drive to Durango giving you plenety of visiting time. The train arrives back in Silverton at 1:15 p.m. Call the Durango depot (970-247-2733 or 888-872-4607) for more information or to make reservations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mesa Verde National Park

Between Cortez and Durango on Hwy 145. One way: 3 hours)

One of the most popular National Park in the U.S., the ruins in this park give a larger than life look into the lives of the Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most important and well preserved in the United States.The park opens at 9:00 a.m. There is also an informative museum on site.

Telluride

(Hwy 550 to Hwy 62; Hwy 62 to Hwy 145. One way: 55 minutes)

Telluride is home to one of Colorado's GREATEST ski resorts and the views are we qually amazing. From the Telluride Film Festival to part-time residents, such as Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Daryl Hannah, Sylvester Stallone andChristie Brinkley, this town boasts an earthy wealth unique to Telluride.

The drive itself, (Hwy 62) takes you past undisturbed views of Sneffels Range (south side of Hwy), and is one of the most photographed part of the Rockies. 

 

Most of the year, Telluride has a free gondola ride from Mountain Village to Telluride or viceversa that operates as a lift to otherwise difficult to reach parts of the mountains, as public transportation, and as a 365 degree window to the San Juan Mountains. Hours: 7am-midnight with different seasons. Click Below for more Info. 

 

(US Highway 50 East & CO Hwy 347. One way: 42 miles/1 hour)

Only eight miles east of Montrose off Hwy 50. This steep, deep, and narrow canyon (one full mile deep at its innermost point, and 1,150 ft across at its narrowest point) has survived over millions of years of pounding from the Gunnison River. Hike the rim, hike down to the river, view craggly rock sculptures,

The South Rim is open to vehicles from early April to mid-November. In winter, it is open to Gunnison Point. The rest of the road is open to cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

North Rim usually closes late November and reopens mid-April.

Owl Creek Pass

(Hwy 550 to County Road-CR-10. One way time: 1-1/2 hours)

12 miles north of Ouray, lies an adventurous day trip that takes you into the core of the famous Cimarron Mountains. Follow signs that direct you through ranch lands, side creeks and over high country meadows to the pass at 10,114 feet.

The peaks of Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain are highlights of this former cattle drive trail. See how many locations you can site from the movie True Grit. Much of it was filmed here.

 

Colorado National Monument

(Just west of Grand Junction on Hwy 340. One way: 2 hours)

The Colorado National Monument preserves one of the awe-inspiring landscapes of the True West. There are several overlooks, picnic spots, and hiking trails (from Â½ to 14 miles long round trip) on this road. You can see rock masses that are nearly two billion years old: that's nearly half the age of Earth! Erosion and time has created some of the most spectacular naturally colored and created rock sculptures in the world, and they are all here.

 

 

 

 

 

Ridgway

(Hwy 550. One way: 15 minutes north of Ouray),

Ridgway has assorted activities: the Annual Ouray County Fair & Rodeo each Labor Day weekend, a popular arts and crafts show in August. locations where scenes from True Grit was filmed, restaurants and shops.

 

You can also PARtake in a world-class 18-hole round of golf at Fairway Pines Golf and Country Club (above Ridgway. 

You can also swing nine-holes at The Links at Cobble Creek , open year round, located south of Montrose.

 

RIDGWAY STATE PARK

(Hwy 550 north of Ridgway. One way: 12 miles/20 minutes)

 this year-round recreational beauty runs the Uncompahgre River Valley. A full day of hiking, biking, gold medal trout fishing, boating and rentals, full-service marina,, cross country skiing,  swimming, and more.

 

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