Trip to SW Colorado

5071 Views 81 Replies 13 Participants Last post by mtnbound, Oct 1, 2021

mtnbound

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2021

I'm planning to take a trip from Denver to Gunnison and then maybe down alittle farther into SW colorado to the ouray/ silverton/ telluride area. I've never been down there and wonder if anyone has any good tips for places to stop along the way. I would like to camp the first night or two, then stay in a motel somewhere for a night and then camp again on the way home for the last night to break up the drive. Im off for a whole week plus a few days in sept, the week after labor day, so that's when it would be.

any help appreciated, maybe one day or night some site members would like to meet up and run a trail and do a group camp somewhere.. just a thought..

21 - 40 of 82 Posts

4EPHOMOPKA

· #21 · Aug 11, 2021

mtnbound said:
thanks for the tips! I literally have a mini rod/ reel

to your point on not packing too much. I've already started going through my 4 bins of camping gear and pulling out only the good stuff that I know i will use. Im also looking at building a lightweight stove/ drawer set up on one side of the rear to help keep things organized and easy to access.

Good overall rod for trout fishing is 5wt 9'.

No,i didn't mean how much gear you bring. That's up to your prefference.
But you mentioned where you want to go and that was a lot of miles. Mountainous Colorado is tricky, you look on a map it seems really close, but when you start driving those passes it takes time. Besides when you are going from A to B you likely to miss fun stuff in between. I guess I was projecting. Being an avid photographer I like to stop and pause, and look and inhale the beauty. Unfortunately legalization of pot in CO brought different meaning to high. Mountains make you feel high in pure context.

There is nice flyshop in Arvada, Charlie Craven is well known. I use his fly tying book a lot. That pretty much use for my X. Get me to cool streams. Right now we exploring WY fishing.

Reactions: 2

Matt3400

· #22 · Aug 12, 2021

2

We just made it to Ouray today, plan on taking Blackbear to Telluride then Imogene/yankee boy basin back to Ouray.

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mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #23 · Aug 12, 2021

4EPHOMOPKA said:
Good overall rod for trout fishing is 5wt 9'.

No,i didn't mean how much gear you bring. That's up to your prefference.
But you mentioned where you want to go and that was a lot of miles. Mountainous Colorado is tricky, you look on a map it seems really close, but when you start driving those passes it takes time. Besides when you are going from A to B you likely to miss fun stuff in between. I guess I was projecting. Being an avid photographer I like to stop and pause, and look and inhale the beauty. Unfortunately legalization of pot in CO brought different meaning to high. Mountains make you feel high in pure context.

There is nice flyshop in Arvada, Charlie Craven is well known. I use his fly tying book a lot. That pretty much use for my X. Get me to cool streams. Right now we exploring WY fishing.

Ah, I understand, and agree. I think i may just stick to the alpine loop, and not try to get in too many other trails, I do want to be able to relax a good bit.

I'm thinking drive down there day one and find a nice camp site in the area. wake up day 2 and do alpine loop, find a good place to camp for the night. next day, day 3, wake up and spend some time aroundf telluride or ouray , coffee breakfast etc, then head on home. I may be able to squeeze in a night 3, but idk, we'll see.

that sound reasonable?

Reactions: 1

Brunnie

· #24 · Aug 12, 2021

If in Telluride, go to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Fun little trip up the lower portion of BB.

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mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #25 · Aug 12, 2021

Brunnie said:
If in Telluride, go to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Fun little trip up the lower portion of BB.

sounds perfect!

4EPHOMOPKA

· #26 · Aug 12, 2021

Have a wonderful trip. Don't be obsessed with selfies but enjoy yourself and scenery and unwind.

Safe trails

Reactions: 1

mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #27 · Aug 12, 2021

Matt3400 said:
We just made it to Ouray today, plan on taking Blackbear to Telluride then Imogene/yankee boy basin back to Ouray. View attachment 138259
View attachment 138260

beautiful, where'd ya stay?

Matt3400

· #28 · Aug 12, 2021

Ouray Inn, nothing here in town is cheap but it’s off the main drag so not as busy.

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mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #29 · Aug 12, 2021 (Edited)

4EPHOMOPKA said:
Have a wonderful trip. Don't be obsessed with selfies but enjoy yourself and scenery and unwind.

Safe trails

thanks! I have the opposite problem though, I ignore my phone when im in the mountains and end up coming howmewith hardly any pics...

Reactions: 1

4EPHOMOPKA

· #30 · Aug 12, 2021

Oh, one last thing. You moved from sea level not to long ago. Cottonwood pass, for example, 12000 ft, Gunnison is 7700,Leadville 11000. You might want to get little oxygen bottle in walmart.

We were skiing in Ski Cooper and there was a fellow from South Dakota.
He stayed night in Leadville. We stroke a conversation at the yurt and he complained that he felt light-headed. He was doing motorcycle trip around Colorado. Told us about Twin peaks at SD. I offered to stay with him on a way down and later saw an ambulance. I don't know if he was there or just a coincidence.
It still bothers me that I didn't check.
So just a little heads up.

Enjoy enjoy.

mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #31 · Aug 12, 2021

4EPHOMOPKA said:
Oh, one last thing. You moved from sea level not to long ago. Cottonwood pass, for example, 12000 ft, Gunnison is 7700,Leadville 11000. You might want to get little oxygen bottle in walmart.

We were skiing in Ski Cooper and there was a fellow from South Dakota.
He stayed night in Leadville. We stroke a conversation at the yurt and he complained that he felt light-headed. He was doing motorcycle trip around Colorado. Told us about Twin peaks at SD. I offered to stay with him on a way down and later saw an ambulance. I don't know if he was there or just a coincidence.
It still bothers me that I didn't check.
So just a little heads up.

Enjoy enjoy.

thanks, truly appreciate your knowledge on this!!

that said, i've lived here in denver for 5 years and spent enough time over 10k ft that im not too worried about that.

yes, its sad its taken me 5 years to plan this trip.

I also would have felt bad not checking on that myself as well. but, ultimatley, not your responsibility and not much you could have done at that point anyways.

4EPHOMOPKA

· #32 · Aug 12, 2021

Don't worry about not making it earlier. Many born and raised coloradans don't know where Lake city is, but texans do, ironic.😱

Reactions: 1

MaddMatt

· #33 · Aug 13, 2021

The trip you're planning is going to be great - just a couple things to add:

1) Altitude. I know you've lived here 5 years, but altitude sickness can and will get you whenever it wants - speaking as a lifetime resident, born and raised at altitude. Dehydration usually brings it on, so drink lots of water - all the time. Living in Denver and going to Telluride is the same as living at sea level and going to Denver, and if you react correctly (water and a nap if possible) you can keep it to a headache, but I've had a couple trips negatively affected - if you want to read up on the serious side of it, check this out: Altitude Sickness | APEX | Altitude.org - hate to sound like a nanny, but I spent years as a ski instructor, and I've seen multiple people loaded into ambulances because they didn't take their "little headache" seriously.

2) Rain. It nearly always rains in the afternoon in that part of the state - you probably already know this, but I didn't see it mentioned before.

3) Alpine Loop. Don't sell this short and don't rush through it. All 3 passes are absolutely amazing. It has been said in other replies, but I'll say it again - don't rush through this. Take the stupid tourist picture with your rig at the sign at the top of the pass. Trust me on this, 5 years from now you'll forget feeling like a fool waiting behind all the stupid side-by-sides from Texas, but you'll see that picture and remember the whole trip. Here's a picture I took from one of those touristy pull-off places - one of my favorites.

Have a great trip!

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mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #34 · Aug 14, 2021

OK, so help me sort this out. at this stage in my planning im really trying to iron out my route, roughly at least.

here is what im thinking currenty, and i have a few questions:

285 sw to salida, then west on 50 to gunnison. from there south down to lake city, i believe thats 149.

then it looks like you can maybe get from lake city to ouray by west going up over that mountain range, using parts of the alpine loop, to Ouray.

then I could take imogene fro ouray to telluride.

telluride up to blck canyons. and then back home.

I may have to cut out that last part, depends on time.

day 1, get to lake city and then on back roads and find a place t camp for the night.

day 2 make it to ouray, then imogene on to telluride. camp somewhere.

day 3, telluride, and start heading back home.

so questions:

1. does this sound feasible and or make sense?

2. can i get from lake city to Ouray using back roads.

3. does anyone have a better proposed route or alterations?

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mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #35 · Aug 14, 2021

4. Anyone able / willing to join for a day/ night/ pass?

mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #36 · Aug 14, 2021

maybe thats too much to try to fit in? idk this is knda overwhelming.

Matt3400

· #37 · Aug 14, 2021

We stayed in Ouray, made it to box canyon around 8:30am, did Yankee Boy Basin and Governs Basin then Imogene Pass to Telluride. Made it to Telluride around 2:45pm, drove the strip (good luck finding any parking there (On a Thursday). Refueled, grabbed some snacks and headed south on 145 to Ophir Pass. We made the Summit right at 5:00pm then started the way down and were airing up around an hour later. Went south on 550 to Silverton and ate at the Pink BBQ place, finished up and took 550 north back to Ouray. We were at our Hotel around 8:30pm. We didn’t rush anything and stopped plenty of times for pics.

I would recommend trying to do this during the weekday, it seemed pretty busy even then so I can’t imagine what the weekend would be like.

mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #38 · Aug 14, 2021 (Edited)

Matt3400 said:
We stayed in Ouray, made it to box canyon around 8:30am, did Yankee Boy Basin and Governs Basin then Imogene Pass to Telluride. Made it to Telluride around 2:45pm, drove the strip (good luck finding any parking there (On a Thursday). Refueled, grabbed some snacks and headed south on 145 to Ophir Pass. We made the Summit right at 5:00pm then started the way down and were airing up around an hour later. Went south on 550 to Silverton and ate at the Pink BBQ place, finished up and took 550 north back to Ouray. We were at our Hotel around 8:30pm. We didn’t rush anything and stopped plenty of times for pics.

I would recommend trying to do this during the weekday, it seemed pretty busy even then so I can’t imagine what the weekend would be like.

thanks! super helpful.

I plan to leave either sunday or monday morning.

I wonder if should just skip the lake city part and go straight to ouray and take it from there?

Brunnie

· #39 · Aug 15, 2021

Telluride parking is off the strip, UNDER some of the buildings.

mtnbound

Discussion Starter · #40 · Aug 15, 2021

Brunnie said:
Telluride parking is off the strip, UNDER some of the buildings.

hail?

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