Where To Stay In Ouray Colorado?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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As towns,

Telluride is more upscale than Ouray

. Classier restaurants, night life, etc. Ouray is still a “real town” despite its location (probably because no ski resort). Don’t miss the free gondola to Telluride Mountain Village.

Is Ouray CO worth visiting?

However,

Ouray is gorgeous and totally worth visiting any time of the year

. We first visited Ouray 6 years ago on our very first trip to Colorado and instantly, I fell in love with its quaint small town feel and how tightly it’s nestled between the mountains.

Is Ouray Colorado beautiful?

Known as the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray, Colorado is

a beautiful mountain town

surrounded by rugged canyons and the unparalleled beauty of the San Juan Mountains. Located in Southwestern Colorado, Ouray is famous for its hot springs, outdoor activities, and its historic charming downtown.

Where do you fly into for Ouray?

Directions to Ouray, Colorado

The closest airports to Ouray are

Montrose Airport (MTJ, 45 miles away; Grand Junction and Durango Airports

, regional airports that are 2-hour driving distances from Ouray.

Can you hike from Ouray to Telluride?

The towns of Ouray and Telluride in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado are only 10 miles apart as the crow flies, but are separated by the rugged Sneffels Range.

In the summertime it’s possible to hike, run, bike, or even drive 17 miles over 13,114 ft.

What is there to see between Ouray and Telluride?

  • Box Canon Ouray.
  • Ouray Hot Springs.
  • Box Canon Falls.
  • Downtown Telluride.
  • San Miguel River Trail.
  • Telluride Walking Tour with Historian Ashley Boling.

What mountains surround Ouray?

Boxed in by the majestic

San Juan Mountains

, Ouray (elevation 7810 ft) sits at the bottom of a glacially carved valley. Prospectors established the town in the 1870s, but larger mining companies quickly came in and took over the gold mines, extracting over one million ounces of gold from the surrounding area.

How long is the Ouray Perimeter Trail?

Roundtrip Length:

4.4 Miles
Trailhead Elevation: 7753 Feet Total Elevation Gain: 1150 Feet Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: 523 Feet Highest Elevation: 8557 Feet

How do you pronounce Chief Ouray?

The proper pronunciation is

Ooo-ray

. Chief Ouray spoke Te-wa and Spanish. The Spanish phonetic spelling of his name was Uré, which would translate to Ooo-ray into English if done phonetically correctly.

What is Ouray known for?

Ouray is known as the “

Switzerland of America

” because of the high mountains rising on three and a half sides of town. It sits at 7,792 feet in the heart of the San Juan Mountains off of Highway 550. The town of 1,034 people was named after Chief Ouray of the Ute Indians, a native tribe to the area.

What’s the elevation of Ouray Colorado?

7,792′

What is it like living in Ouray Colorado?

Ouray is in Ouray County and is one of the best places to live in Colorado. Living in Ouray offers residents a

sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes

. Many young professionals and retirees live in Ouray and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Ouray are highly rated.

What do you wear to a waterfall hike?

  • Hiking Shoes. I just cannot tell you how much I have loved my Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Low Hiking Shoes (men’s and women’s). …
  • Rain Jacket. …
  • Shirt. …
  • Pants. …
  • Shorts. …
  • Daypack. …
  • Dry Sack. …
  • GPS Device.

How difficult is Engineer Pass?

Explore this 20.50 mile, point to point trail near Ouray, Colorado. Generally considered a

moderately challenging

route, it takes an average of 8 h 59 min to complete.

Can a full size truck do Imogene Pass?


It’s definitely doable

. They take tour rigs with 1 ton pickups that have bench seating instead of a bed all the time up there. There are a few spots where you might need to make a 47 point turn but it’s doable for sure.

Is there a gondola from Ouray to Telluride?

The town, at 8,750 feet, and upscale Mountain Village at 9,545 feet, are linked together by

a free gondola that runs from 7 a.m. to midnight every day

, and connects the two towns with a 13-minute ride.

How long is Imogene Pass from Telluride to Ouray?

Enjoy this

17.5-mile

point-to-point trail near Ouray, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 10 h 15 min to complete.

Is Ophir pass one way?

Moderate to Difficult Biking – Spectacular Ophir Pass is

six miles one way

from Hwy. 145 to top of the pass with a 2,480-foot elevation gain. From Telluride, drive south on Hwy. 145 for 8 miles.

Is Ouray open?

Rain, snow, or shine, the Ouray Hot Springs are

open year-round

for public use. The Ouray Hot Springs Pool and Fitness Center houses five pools, three of which are geothermally heated.

What does the name Ouray?

The name Ouray is primarily a gender-neutral name of Native American – Ute origin that

means Arrow

.

Where does the Ouray Perimeter Trail start?

Driving Directions from Ouray: The official beginning of the Ouray Perimeter Trail is at the

Ouray Visitor Center, 1230 Main Street (Highway 550)

. The Visitor Center is located at the north end of town along the west side of Highway 550 and shares a parking lot with the Ouray Hot Springs.

Are dogs allowed on the Ouray Perimeter Trail?


Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash

. Ouray’s Perimeter Trail, a unique five miler, features the surrounding cliffs and mountains. It begins across from the Ouray Visitors’ Center on the east side of US 550.

Where does the perimeter trail start?

The track begins from

Mallawa Road and Bullara Street near the edge of the Terrey Hills Golf Course

. The loop follows a combination of road and single-track trails as it meanders through the hilly bushland of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.