Is there a trail that goes from Teluride to Ouray?
03-03-2017, 05:48 PM
#12
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When I went up there, I made 1 page (front and back) trail maps for each pass using info from taildamage.com. Laminated each page for nice quick reference trail info. If you care, I've made the document on my Google drive shareable via this link - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing
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03-18-2017, 06:53 AM
#13
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Climbing up Ophir Pass from the Telluride / Ophir side, while not technical, can be difficult if at all wet. It's exposed, very high and mostly loose rock.
An alternate road to consider from Telluride is Last Dollar which is super scenic and fun to drive without the exposed cliffs. This route finishes at the top of Dallas divide about 20 minutes from Ridgeway. From there you're just 15 minutes back into Ouray. Last Dollar does have some soft muddy sections so do consider recent rain/ snow. If really wet it can be a mess.
Have fun!
Climbing Ophir Pass
An alternate road to consider from Telluride is Last Dollar which is super scenic and fun to drive without the exposed cliffs. This route finishes at the top of Dallas divide about 20 minutes from Ridgeway. From there you're just 15 minutes back into Ouray. Last Dollar does have some soft muddy sections so do consider recent rain/ snow. If really wet it can be a mess.
Have fun!
Climbing Ophir Pass
Last edited by SanJuanJK; 03-18-2017 at 06:57 AM.
03-18-2017, 07:27 AM
#14
JK Enthusiast
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Climbing up Ophir Pass from the Telluride / Ophir side, while not technical, can be difficult if at all wet. It's exposed, very high and mostly loose rock.
An alternate road to consider from Telluride is Last Dollar which is super scenic and fun to drive without the exposed cliffs. This route finishes at the top of Dallas divide about 20 minutes from Ridgeway. From there you're just 15 minutes back into Ouray. Last Dollar does have some soft muddy sections so do consider recent rain/ snow. If really wet it can be a mess.
Have fun!
Climbing Ophir Pass
An alternate road to consider from Telluride is Last Dollar which is super scenic and fun to drive without the exposed cliffs. This route finishes at the top of Dallas divide about 20 minutes from Ridgeway. From there you're just 15 minutes back into Ouray. Last Dollar does have some soft muddy sections so do consider recent rain/ snow. If really wet it can be a mess.
Have fun!
Climbing Ophir Pass
03-18-2017, 07:40 AM
#15
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I like Imogene. Lots of old mining ruins, creeks to cross and great variation as you start in town Telluride and climb well above the tree line before descending back towards Ouray. I walk it as much as I drive it and always enjoy it.
Imogene is 17 miles long and depending on how many stops you make can take hours to complete. Many people do the loop you described - Black Bear down and Imogene back. If you've had enough for one day with Black Bear, (you mentioned a severe fear of heights) Last Dollar can be a nice "easy" way back as well. Really depends on what you feel like doing.
I live right here so happy to help if I can...
Imogene is 17 miles long and depending on how many stops you make can take hours to complete. Many people do the loop you described - Black Bear down and Imogene back. If you've had enough for one day with Black Bear, (you mentioned a severe fear of heights) Last Dollar can be a nice "easy" way back as well. Really depends on what you feel like doing.
I live right here so happy to help if I can...
03-18-2017, 08:23 AM
#16
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If you have severe fear of heights and they are anything like what my wifes fear was 7 years ago you might want to work into during black bear pass. It is very narrow, meaning the width of your jeep will barely fit in spots and of course like all the shelf trails there is no place for error.
if you are going to be there for multiple days and are jeeping for several of those days I would do Ophir pass over to Telluride then Imogene back to Ouray. Then on a second trip do Black Bear pass, once your fears are settled some, and do Last dollar road back to Ouray.. like the other person said that is a beautiful trail.
While your in the Ouray area make sure you drive up to Yankee Boy Basin.
I have a 4 video series made from Ophir pass to Black Bear into Telluride if you haven't seen enough videos of it already.
https://youtu.be/wA19ixPGozc
either way you select to trail run have fun it's a Beautiful area.
if you are going to be there for multiple days and are jeeping for several of those days I would do Ophir pass over to Telluride then Imogene back to Ouray. Then on a second trip do Black Bear pass, once your fears are settled some, and do Last dollar road back to Ouray.. like the other person said that is a beautiful trail.
While your in the Ouray area make sure you drive up to Yankee Boy Basin.
I have a 4 video series made from Ophir pass to Black Bear into Telluride if you haven't seen enough videos of it already.
https://youtu.be/wA19ixPGozc
either way you select to trail run have fun it's a Beautiful area.
Last edited by JK-jeepit; 03-18-2017 at 08:27 AM.
03-19-2017, 12:45 AM
#17
JK Jedi Master
Why in the world are you going to Colorado then? If you truly are fearful of heights, then there are many other wonderful places around this nation to go off-roading. Don't let Jeep owners enthrall with Colorado (or Moab for that matter) keep you from discovering all of those other wonderful places. Have you considered the Gila National Forest in New Mexico? I just finished up my second trip there, and in three days traveling nearly 200 miles we saw ZERO other people--unlike in Colorado (or Moab) where the trails will be slammed with people. It's a beautiful, mountainous region with routes across the Continental Divide, amazing history (we drove up the same route that Billy the Kid used during his escape from the Silver City jail, and traversed a region that Geronimo used to elude the U.S. Calvary). Honestly, if you're just going to Colorado because that's what Jeepers do, despite your fear of heights, there are much better options out there. Personally, I find Colorado over populated, over commercialized and over hyped.
03-19-2017, 02:40 AM
#18
Super Moderator
Why in the world are you going to Colorado then? If you truly are fearful of heights, then there are many other wonderful places around this nation to go off-roading. Don't let Jeep owners enthrall with Colorado (or Moab for that matter) keep you from discovering all of those other wonderful places. Have you considered the Gila National Forest in New Mexico? I just finished up my second trip there, and in three days traveling nearly 200 miles we saw ZERO other people--unlike in Colorado (or Moab) where the trails will be slammed with people. It's a beautiful, mountainous region with routes across the Continental Divide, amazing history (we drove up the same route that Billy the Kid used during his escape from the Silver City jail, and traversed a region that Geronimo used to elude the U.S. Calvary). Honestly, if you're just going to Colorado because that's what Jeepers do, despite your fear of heights, there are much better options out there. Personally, I find Colorado over populated, over commercialized and over hyped.
On the topic of heights, he's spot on. If you've a fear of heights, then you're not going to enjoy much.
03-19-2017, 10:41 AM
#19
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Oh I'll enjoy it. Part of the fun is being scared. We took my old TJ up there a few years ago and had a blast! We were planning on doing black bear then but got to the one way sign and chickened out. It has haunted me ever since. We WILL do it this time. Starting august 19 we will stay 3 nights in Crested Butte, one trail planned is Pearl Pass. Then 4 nights in Ouray, after the first easy day of Yankee Boy Basin. The second day will be Black Bear with a trip back on Imogene. Maybe on the third day Ophir Pass and Last Dollar. I'll have to spend one day in there somewhere looking at doilies in town to keep the wife happy but that's okay.
