Ouray

Ouray is best known as the city at the northern end of the Million Dollar Highway, the scenic section of Rt. 550 that winds up through the San Juan Mountains. Now there’s a road trip you should make time for! The road heads through the mountain passes and skirts some steep drops, and there aren't even guardrails. It can be an unnerving, and yet exciting drive.

Ouray is a fine town to stay in during your vacation, but you'll find most of the attractions are outside of town. Not far from Ouray is the Uncompahgre Gorge, Box Canyon Falls and Yankee Boy Basin; all amazing natural sites that you shouldn't miss.

When you're planning your vacation schedule, see if you can be in Ouray on the fourth of July. The local firefighters get into action and stage a giant water fight right in the middle of town. Plan on getting soaked even from two blocks away!

Thanks to the town's old mining heritage, there are back roads and Jeep trails all through the local mountains. If you enjoy a rough off-road trip, Ouray is the place to be and is right up there with Moab in Utah. Let us know when you want to get off the beaten track, and we'll hook you up with a great 4-wheel drive vehicle.

And when you're done for the day, take a long soak in one of the natural hot spring pools. You can't get much more relaxed than that!

Quick Facts:
--Ouray is nicknamed the "Switzerland of America", because of its scenic beauty.
--Nearby Camp Bird Mine is actually still in operation, and is the second largest gold mine in Colorado.