Ophir, Colorado

Corkscrew Gulch is named for the narrow and winding switchbacks that "corkscrewes" up Red Mountain Two. It is hard to miss this area of the San Juan Mountains, because the deep reds, oranges, and yellows blanket all three of the named "Red Mountains". The red color in the mountains is caused by o...

While the Animas River runs for miles in the San Juan National Forest, a beautiful (and accessible) stretch runs right through Silverton, CO. Here, you can fish, hike, or chill. The river is fast with very few pockets for the trout to hide; however, if you search around enough, you'll find a fish...

The most common route, sometimes called the standard route or the Lavender Col route, begins at or near the top of Yankee Boy Basin, just outside of Ouray. Take the Camp Bird Road as far as you can, though be warned that the last few miles of the road are extremely rough and should only be attem...

There is a great description of this trailhead here: Hike Mount SneffelsThe SW Ridge route of Mt Sneffels is a Class III scramble in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness area of the San Juan Range located between Ouray and Telluride, Colorado. This route is 3 miles RT with 1,800 feet of elevation gain ...

Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook. Pro-tip: there is also another campground nearby called Molas Lake Park & Campground, so it's important to distinguish which you are hea...

To hike this section of the Colorado Trail, you'll begin from the Little Molas Lake Campground at around 10,895-ft. Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook, which is just South of S...

Reaching this trailhead actually begins off of Andrews Lake - you will see signs for Andrews Lake off HWY 550. I will provide directions from both Durango and Silverton at the end.  The trailhead is extremely well marked the entire way. The mileage from Andrews lake to Crater lake one way is 5.5...

We were vacationing in the San Juan Mountains for 2 weeks.  A local resident suggested the hike as a great place to see wildflowers. The "Engineer Mountain" sounded a bit too technical to be a scenic hike but we decided to hike like a local and this was one of the best hikes we did in 2 weeks. Ac...

Adrenaline Falls is a popular spot for the locals to swim and relax during the warm summer months.  The pool at the bottom of the falls is deep and popular for cliff jumping.  To get to the waterfall, turn onto the North access to Lime Creek road.  A high clearance 4x4 vehicle is recommended to ...

Spending much of the trek above tree line, Hurricane Pass is situated at 12,730 feet above sea level and offers up views of Poughkeepsie Gulch (a more extreme off-road trail) and sapphire blue mountain lakes, such as Lake Como. One of the most beautiful roads in the lower 48 states, Hurricane Pas...

Your adventure begins at the Blue Lakes Trailhead, elevation 9400’, in Uncompahgre National Forest. Take CO-62 from Ridgway toward Telluride, turn left onto Ouray County Road 7, and follow it into the national forest to the end of the road. Just past the trailhead, the trail splits; be sure to ...

California Pass’s summit is a jaw dropping 12,960 feet above sea level. A long way from the valley floor, California Gulch, but, as drivers start their trek, the valley floor starts to shrink and gives way to steep climbs and switchbacks. Off road vehicles are needed to reach the top, and drivers...

Placer Gulches 4WD trail is a gorgeous route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains and traverses an area rich with mining history. This area provides gorgeous wild flowers in the peak season of late July/ early August. Some of the best preserved mine structures in Colorado can be found...

Between the city of Silverton and prior to reaching the ghost town of Animas Forks a wonderful area of alpine beaver ponds that are teaming with trout, many species of ducks, beavers, and moose.  Along the forest road in the early morning and evening many moose can be easily seen from the road wa...

Box Canyon Falls is located on the outskirts of Ouray, Colorado less than five minutes from downtown. The nearly 300 foot waterfall crashes through the canyon down to the town's hot springs. The park also features a bridge overlooking the waterfall, river, and the town of Ouray. To get to Box Ca...

Over a mile of the Uncompahgre Gorge is farmed for ice every year and they have gotten very good at it!! The ice park begins at the southern edge of town and continues south through the gorge for approximately 1 mile. The ice park is typically open from mid December-late March.If you enjoy gettin...