I am planning a trip to Ouray For my Labor Day vacation this year. Wondering if anyone has any experience with the area. Im thinking Black Bear and Emogeen Pass one day and then Poughkeepsie Gulch the next. Good idea or some better trails in the area. Any trailer parking at trailheads? I'm going to be alone. My rig is pretty drop dead reliable but if the unexpected happens how busy are the trails? Would we see someone if we were totally F'd. Always prepared to walk out but wondering. Nite life in Town? Any should not miss things to do in the area?
Headed To Ouray
- Thread starter bobdog
- Start date
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
There are so many options down there, spend some time in Silverton, Telluride & Ouray... they're similar, but a bit different. Stop and see Animas Forks, do the Alpine Loop and stop at Engineer Pass, if you have time time. Lake City is a neat place to see too. Imogene Pass is one of my favorites, drive up to the top of Yankee Boy Basin if you have the time (it's an up & back, above Ouray and you pass the turnoff for Imogene).
Most of the trailheads have parking areas big enough for trailers, but they do fill up with all the SxS's down there. The trails are pretty busy, I'd imagine Labor Day weekend will be packed.
Most of the trailheads have parking areas big enough for trailers, but they do fill up with all the SxS's down there. The trails are pretty busy, I'd imagine Labor Day weekend will be packed.
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Yes, pretty easy to do in a day and have time leftover.
smfulle
Active Member
- Location
- Plain City, UT
I’ve done the Black Bear, Imogene loop two separate times in my flat fender. It’s a wonderful experience and you can get back to Ouray in plenty of time for dinner in town.
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rholbrook
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Kaysville, Ut
I think I may be headed there the first week of October for the leaves. Just trying to catch the colors at the perfect time so I will be watching this thread.
- Location
- West Haven, UT
We were just there last week. If you are planning on going THIS would be the year if you want to see the beautiful waterfalls. Also a LOT of damage this year from avalanches, we've never seen so many in the area and this was our twelfth year in a row. Last summer was dry and very few streams even had any water but this year they are flowing and flowing a lot.
They just opened County Road 2 from Animas Forks to Silverton last week due to a pretty large avalanche. Poughkeepsie Gulch won't be open this season according to several locals that I talked to due to damage. They have it gated off and some were going around the gates which only makes it harder to keep these trails open and out of conflict with the environmentalists. Rangers were telling people that if they get caught going around the gate closures they would be ticketed and possibly vehicles impounds so please heed their warnings.
Black Bear Pass was also closed last week but opened on Monday of this week. It was then closed again on Wednesday due to a roll over on top near the steps by Ingram Falls. I think they had it cleaned up and opened again late yesterday though. There was also a 72-year old couple from Montrose that had gone over the edge and rolled their Jeep approx. 450' down off of Imogene Pass on Saturday which had us backed up for several hours but they were able to retrieve the Jeep and transport the couple to the hospital. It was a multi-agency cooperative effort on that one but last I heard they are recovering and doing well after treatment.
I have a lot of pictures on my build thread that I posted earlier in the week from last weeks trip. All in all a great area and I highly recommend it although I wouldn't wait too long as they are known to start getting snow and trails begin to close as early as late mid-late September.
Mike
They just opened County Road 2 from Animas Forks to Silverton last week due to a pretty large avalanche. Poughkeepsie Gulch won't be open this season according to several locals that I talked to due to damage. They have it gated off and some were going around the gates which only makes it harder to keep these trails open and out of conflict with the environmentalists. Rangers were telling people that if they get caught going around the gate closures they would be ticketed and possibly vehicles impounds so please heed their warnings.
Black Bear Pass was also closed last week but opened on Monday of this week. It was then closed again on Wednesday due to a roll over on top near the steps by Ingram Falls. I think they had it cleaned up and opened again late yesterday though. There was also a 72-year old couple from Montrose that had gone over the edge and rolled their Jeep approx. 450' down off of Imogene Pass on Saturday which had us backed up for several hours but they were able to retrieve the Jeep and transport the couple to the hospital. It was a multi-agency cooperative effort on that one but last I heard they are recovering and doing well after treatment.
I have a lot of pictures on my build thread that I posted earlier in the week from last weeks trip. All in all a great area and I highly recommend it although I wouldn't wait too long as they are known to start getting snow and trails begin to close as early as late mid-late September.
Mike