½ Day in Ouray - Driving & Walking

Wow!  All of a sudden you’ve happened into one of Colorado’s most beautiful little mountain towns, Ouray, Colorado where we love “Keepin’ it real.”  But darn it,  you only have 3 hours to uncover this newly found treasure.  So here’s a little itinerary to give you a taste of what you’ll want to come back and truly experience.

If it’s summertime, roll those windows down and breathe in some of that fresh clean mountain air and head up Main St (Hwy 550) then turn west on 7th Avenue.  You can grab a coffee or an espresso at Ouray Ice House, 225 7th Avenue and enjoy the local art murals.

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Directly across the street is The Western, a Victorian/Italiante hotel built in 1891 and newly restored in historic preservation style.  At the end of 7th Avenue, turn left up Oak Street, one of the highest original streets in town providing a great view back over our hamlet.  At the bottom of Oak head east, (3rd Avenue) back up towards Main St, you’ll pass two of our inviting lodges with their own natural hot springs, Twin Peaks Resort and Box Canyon Lodge.  Cross Main St and take a left (north) down 4th Street  where you will pass four of our designated historic residences (guides to all of Ouray’s historic buildings can be purchased at the Ouray Historical Museum or the Ouray Visitor Center) and the County Courthouse made famous in the courthouse scene of True Grit. Continue down 4th Street to 8th Avenue and turn right.

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You’ll be glad you’re driving as 8th Avenue is one of our longest and steepest streets in town; however, you will want to park at the “top” of 8th Avenue and walk the 50 or so yards to the base of the Cascade Falls.  In this park you can also pick up our very popular Perimeter Trail, but save that for another day when you have at least three hours to hike it.  Back at your vehicle, breathing normal again, head down 8th Avenue back to Main.  Turn south (left) on Main St and cruise slowly up the 1/2 mile stretch of the main downtown getting a glimpse of the variety of retail stores like Kristopher’s Culinaire and Ouray Rocks and Minerals as well as restaurants with rooftop seating and gourmet menu selections.

Main Street shops include adventure options like a rock climbing wall at Basecamp Ouray and historic entertainment venues like The Wright Opera House.   At 630 Main you can grab a bag of the famous ‘Ray’s Jerky’  for holding you over till lunch.  Keep going past the end of the commerce and residential area and head up Highway 550, more famously known as The Million Dollar Highway.  Stay the course for about 3 miles to a large pull-off on the right side of the highway; you’ve reached Bear Creek Falls, definitely worth an exit from the car to walk out on the platform and look over and under to view the cascade created by Mineral Creek.  From here, you will be very inclined to continue on the Million Dollar to soak in more of this majestic scenery; however, you’ll have to come back to do that another day.  Head back to town, stop in that shop that grabbed your attention and do lunch ‘al-fresco’ at one of our many great restaurants.

That’s it! You are on your way again.  But I’d be willing to bet you’re already planning your return to our majestic little mountain town in the heart of the San Juans.  There’s so much more to experience! Hiking, jeeping, museums, rock hunting, ghost towns, canyoneering, galleries, history, free music concerts . . .   You just have to come back.  We’ll see you again soon!