Ouray County: Mountains, Waterfalls, and History

More than 150 named ice and mixed climbing routes in the free public Ouray Ice Park stretch across nearly two miles of the Uncompahgre Gorge. This is a striking introduction to the variety of Ouray County: topics for planning your trip range from mountain landscapes and river trails to history, art, and events.

Ice Climbing, Via Ferrata, and Trails

The Ouray Via Ferrata follows steep walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge using permanently anchored cables, ladders, and iron rungs. The differences between the routes are specific: the Downstream Route is more accessible; the more technically demanding Upstream Route is more exposed and has fewer rungs. This lets you compare the described route features with your own plans without treating the two options as equivalent.

The Uncompahgre River Walk Loop, also called the North Ouray Corridor, offers a different perspective. The two-mile loop runs mostly flat along the Uncompahgre River, north of the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. Access points for the Uncompahgre River Walk are at the Hot Springs Pool parking lot, Chautauqua Lane opposite Rotary Park, and Uncompahgre Street.

Trails and scenery are also the focus at Box Cañon Falls Park. Box Cañon Falls is a 285-foot-high waterfall that plunges into a narrow quartzite gorge. The park has three interpretive trails rated easy to moderate. Box Cañon is also recognized as an important birding area and is home to a large colony of Black Swifts.

For another trail description, the Weehawken Trail has a shortened version that passes through shaded forest to the first open meadows. The route offers views toward Potosi Peak and Whitehouse Mountain. The waterfall, gorge, forest, and open meadows offer distinct highlights, but do not form a single route.

Mountain Landscapes and River

In the southwestern part of Ouray County, the Mount Sneffels Wilderness covers more than 16,000 acres. Mount Sneffels itself rises to 14,158 feet and is the highest peak in the Sneffels Range. The headwaters of the Uncompahgre River lie on the southern mountain slopes of Ouray County, making the river another defining geographic feature of the county.

Ridgway State Park stretches for nearly five miles through the Uncompahgre River Valley. Around Ridgway Reservoir are pinyon-juniper forests, montane shrublands, riparian areas, wetlands, and riparian vegetation. These diverse habitats give the park a distinctive natural character within the river landscape described here.

Another distinctive feature of Ouray County’s hot springs is that they do not have the strong sulfur smell found at many other hot springs. This refers to the intensity of the smell, not to a claim that the springs are completely sulfur-free.

History, Crafts, and Events

The Ouray County Museum is housed in the former St. Joseph's Miners' Hospital. The hospital was built in 1886 and completed in 1887. The museum explores the history of mining, ranching, and railroads. For visitors interested in history, this combination of building and exhibits offers a different way to experience the county’s past than its trails and landscapes.

Ironton also tells the story of the region’s past: the town was founded in 1883 at the northern end of the Red Mountain Mining District and served as an important transportation hub as well as a stopover and supply center. The Labor Day Rodeo dates back to 1917; the Rodeo Association holds it annually.

Culture is not only part of the past. Since 1983, the Ouray County Performing Arts Guild has brought music, dance, theater, and other events to Ouray and Ridgway. The San Juan Potters' Guild offers technical workshops. Nearby, locals and visitors gather around fresh food, music, and community at the Ridgway Farmers Market in Hartwell Park every Friday. Seasonal details may change; check current dates before your visit.

When planning, you can take the different schedules into account: the rodeo takes place annually, while the market is held every Friday.

Discover more destinations: Ouray, Lincoln County, Pitkin, Mineral County, Lake County, Routt, Mesa, Summit.

For the main travel overview: Colorado.