Trip to Ouray Colorado

[Andyman]

First day on the road. Heading to Ouray from Florida. Check back if you are interested in the trip

[Andyman]

[Andyman]

Camping at Chewacla in AL tonight next to an Oliver elite

[Raz]

Colorado is a state we would like to explore too so we will follow your adventures with great interest. Safe travels, Raz

[Jon in AZ]

Ouray is an amazing area. You'll love it!

I've tent camped at Ridgeway State Park several times. It's cool because the tent area lies across the Uncompahgre River from the parking and RV sites, so no vehicle sounds, just the rushing river! You have to cart in your gear. RV areas are nice, too, and a great base for exploring locally. You'll want reservations during the summer.

Kids will love the hot springs, and there's a popular day hike up to a waterfall right in town. Miles of great Jeep roads in the area. Silverton... meh... beautiful but touristy. Best to visit before the first train arrives or after the last train leaves.

Beautiful family! Have a wonderful trip!

[Jack L]

The Red Mountain Highway, AKA The Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton is spectacular. Lots of photo opportunities. I did it in early May this year. Hope to do it again some day. Also, the locals pronounce it "U-Ray"

[emij]

One of the most beautiful places in Colorado! We were just out there over the July 4th weekend, camped at Ridgeway State Park with lovely views of Mt. Sneffels. Enjoy your trip! Look forward to seeing it unfold!

[rbryan]

What a beautiful family you have there Andy. Enjoy "colorful Colorado". We always do.

[ColoradoSwany]

Check out Amphitheatre Campground, just up the mountainside from Ouray (headed to Silverton). We've lived in Colorado for 23 years, camped in Colorado for ~45 years and this is our favorite Campground in the state. Saw a bear in the campground last year.

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by ColoradoSwany

Check out Amphitheatre Campground, just up the mountsinside from Ouray ( headed to Silverton). We've lived in Colorado for 23 years, camped in Colorado for ~45 years and this is our favorite Campground in the state. Saw a bear in the campground last year.

Another for Amphitheatre CG... if you can get a campsite. It's fairly popular.

My last visit there was in July 2011. Fond memories. I was able to snap this candid shot of a guy with great aim...


... and with a restroom only a few feet away! Sheesh!

[Fred-Linda]

You will love the area! We will be there in September for the 35th year in a row without ever missing a year. We camp in Silverton at Red Mountain RV Park because Silverton is more central to more of the Jeep trails. Be sure and do the Imogene trail from Ouray to Telluride, then back across Ophir Pass to Highway 550 into Ouray. A beautiful loop - - - and many more like it.

Also we agree about Ridgeway State Park on the other side of Ouray - - - Beautiful and lots of fish if you are in to that. Our friends Billie and Gerrie from here in the Dallas area are the Campground Hosts at Ridgeway every summer.

Have fun! . . . . Fred
www.OurScenicCountry.com

[Scamper Jim]

Andy,

That southwest part of Colorado is the most beautiful in the whole state, and yes, as Jack said, it is pronounced U-Ray who was chief of the Indian tribe in that area.

In Ouray, you can take a road trip without the camper up to the old Camp Bird mining camp. It has some interesting history including King Leopold of Belgium, and the Hope diamond.

If you stay at the Amphitheater campground just off the road up from Ouray, stop as you cross the bridge and look down on the right side. Notice the water flow. Then go over to the left side and look down. I won’t tell you what you will see… You will be able to stay there because of the small size of your trailer. I did it with my Scamp 13’, and make the right hand turn and try to stay on the top campsite road. Check with the camp host before driving down to the lower level as it can be very difficult to turn the trailer around if all sites are taken.

If the weather is nice you may consider taking some of the 4 x 4 trails around Ouray and Silverton as that is the ultimate 4x4 country. Engineers Pass will take you over to Lake City. I have done it with a Jeep Grand Cherokee so you should have no difficulty with your beefed- up Jeep. From Silverton, you can also take some back roads over the pass to Telluride. Just get a good 4x4 road book and get ready to enjoy the area. Your Jeep will get a good workout and you will see incredible sites.

If you are planning to go down to Durango, you have to ride the Durango & Silverton train. However, you have to order tickets well ahead of time. If you have some time, also visit the railroad museum in the roundhouse at the back of the train station. It's free and really interesting, even for the kids.

After that, drive out of Durango heading west to Mancos, Dolores, up over Lizard Head Pass, detour into Telluride, and then back to Ridgeway. After Mancos, you can take the road to the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde Nat’l. park and then return to Mancos and continue your drive up to Dolores.

You will be following the old rail bed of the Rio Grande Southern RR, home of the Galloping Goose motor cars. Two of the original cars, #5 in Dolores, and #4 in Telluride can be seen. That railroad was built because Otto Mears was not able to build a railroad the final few miles from Silverton to Ouray because of the incredible mountains, so he had to go all the way around. Even then, he made so much money the first couple of years from hauling gold ore that he gave out special RR passes made of pure silver.

You will want to spend the entire summer in that area.
Jim

[BARNEYCONE]

Try the road from red mt. Pass to "to-hell-you-ride", one-way in only!!!
It is a thiller & sacrrie as hell, one time was enough!
Last visit to u-ray, dropped a h-d, only three broken ribs, rode back to durango with tears---damn such fun.
My late sweetheart loved it!!!!

[Captleemo]

Sounds like a real adventure. Have fun.

[Andyman]

Thanks for the kind words and advice. I appreciate it. Tonight we are staying at Lake Dardanelle SP Arkansas

[Mike Magee]

Nice location! On your return trip, the kids might like Petit Jean SP (between Russellville and Morrilton). Turtle rocks, the bear cave, high overlooks, and more.

[Andyman]

Last night was in Amarillo TX today made it to The Sand Dunes CO. Pics to follow when I get some better wifi

[Andyman]

[Fred-Linda]

Oh my goodness! Did your children put all that decoration on those Cadillacs??? Ha.

I remember when he first put them there - - - before there was any graffiti on them. It was quite an attraction back then, and still is.

Unfortunately the owner got in trouble and passed away in 2014 while still fighting his indictments.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...dies/10703433/

[David B.]

Andy, maybe we'll see you there, as we should be in that area this coming weekend. We will be dry camping in the ghost town of "Ironton Park", off Red Mountain Pass between Ouray and Silverton.
Dave & Paula