Did the entire Perimeter Trail the other day...clocked 6.2 miles in just under 4 hours…read more Started in the am at the trailhead located in the parking lot across from the Ouray Visitor's Center (which I highly recommend). You'll understand as you begin your final descent. As you start your initial ascent and climb the wood stairs into the hillside, enter the cliff path...a .8 mile slightly narrower trail than I'd prefer and a drop-off...but hey, the views are stunning! You can see the Ouray Hot Springs and more! As you keep on trekkin' on you'll start to "hear" before you make it to the gorgeous Cascade Falls!!! Chill, explore...even hike up behind the falls if that's your thing! I think I was pretty "ok" until we passed through the tunnel after the upper Box Canyon Bridge. We almost took a bail-out trail back into town along the way but persevered. There are actually a few bail-outs along the trail. Anyway, there were some sketchy narrow, steep, rocky-dusty-slidy, drop-off sections along the trail that gave me the heebie-jeebies. If you have a fear of heights, this may not be for you. For the majority of hikers out there I'm sure it's easy, but nonetheless make sure you go prepared. 1. Depending on what time you hike, be sure to eat a healthy meal before you go and bring some extra snacks just in case. 2. Signage isn't the best and is lacking "you are here", so I'd recommend taking a photo of the trail map before you head out. 3. Staying properly hydrated is key along the trail. If you've got a camelback that's great! 4. Take breaks when needed and don't feel pressured by any of your overzealous hiking buddies...it's supposed to be fun, safe and not a competition. 5. A walking stick or trekking poles can prove very helpful! Many people leave sticks at the trailhead(s). If you use one be sure to leave it behind for the next person. 6. Wear appropriate shoes for hiking. Yeah some peeps can hike in Croc's or Chaco's, but not highly recommended. Enjoy the trail, be safe, and take some pix! The views are beautiful! Be Happy Outside!

This is a must do hike, plan to take about 5 hours or more if you take side trips. You will have…read moregreat views of the city, mountain ranges on all sides, Canyon views, waterfalls, an aspen grove, a tunnel, various bridges, some narrow heart pumping areas on the west side, and views of the rock climbers along the via Ferrata

Bridal Veil Falls is absolutely worth the hike and was one of our favorite stops in Telluride. I'd…read morerate the trail as moderate. There aren't any ladders or technical sections, just a steady uphill climb that becomes a bit steeper after the second waterfall. We hiked it with our Labrador, Luna, and she had no trouble at all. Along the way, you'll pass two smaller waterfalls before reaching the main Bridal Veil Falls, which makes for great places to stop, take photos, catch your breath, and enjoy the scenery. The trail is about 2.5 miles round trip. It took us longer than average because we stopped often to take in the views, but it was well worth the time. There is also a decent amount of shade from the trees, which makes the hike more enjoyable on warmer days. It's a popular trail, so while it never felt crowded, there were people hiking up and down throughout the day. That made it feel safe without taking away from the experience. If hiking isn't your thing or you're short on time, you can also drive to the top with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to see the waterfall without making the hike. Overall, this is a must-do if you're visiting Telluride. Beautiful scenery, dog-friendly, and one of the most rewarding hikes in the area.

Bridal Veil Falls Trail is absolutely amazing...It's not too advanced...making it perfect for most…read morehikers...but still offers a great workout (my legs are sore...but it was worth every step!!!)...The trail is filled with beautiful sights and wildlife -- I spotted several birds and some adorable chipmunks along the way. There are three breathtaking waterfalls that are truly the highlight of the hike...Reaching the top feels so rewarding...and you even have the option to walk back using the road...which we did for an easier descent. I highly recommend this trail for anyone looking for a scenic adventure that's not overly difficult but still feels like a great accomplishment!!!

We only stopped to take a peek at the falls. We had already summitted mount sneffels that day and…read moreour legs were tired. But a friend who is a local said we needed to stop there to see it. The falls were beautiful and amazing. It was definitly worth the short stop. The trail was nearby and easy to access. If i was in the area id definitely stop to do the entire hike.

Bear Creek Preserve Trail is a must-do hike when visiting Telluride…read more You access the trailhead at the end of South Pine street, right in town. This beautiful and well-marked wooded trail ends with a waterfall and an unbeatable view of the town of Telluride. The hike is 2.5 miles one way to the Falls, with an elevation gain of 1,050 feet. You should plan between 1 hour and 1 hour 1/2 from the trailhead to the falls depending on your pace. 5 miles round trip, so it's perfect to start the day!

Walking distance from the heart of Ouray, the ice park is truly an incredible amenity. A great…read moreplace to start your ice climbing journey. There's a wide variety of difficulties available and lots of stable places to anchor from. It's not for the faint of heart. If you're not rappelling into the park, the only option is to down climb one of a few "canyon access" trails. There are guide ropes to help with stability, but these access trails are steep and in my opinion scarier than the climbs! Helmets and crampons are required starting at the canyon access trails. There's also great viewing opportunities from one of the many bridges in the park for those who don't climb. It's a fun place to grab some pictures and comment about how cold all the climbers look. Overall I highly recommend this breathtaking place in the winter!

Climb hard, party hard, sleep hard, repeat. A day in Ouray:…read more Wake up at 7-8ish. Walk into town. Drink lots of coffee. Eat some bacon and eggs. Walk back to your hotel. "Right yourself" from all that coffee. Get your harness on. Walk out to the ice park. Climb until the sprinklers come on. Walk back to hotel. Get in hot tub. Trade climbing stories, drink adult beverages, take embarrassing seflies. Get dressed in non-climbing clothes. Walk into town. Eat dinner. Walk back to the hotel. Crash, hard. Repeat. This is pretty much life in Ouray. It's a really good cadence. I really miss it. Kudos to the town of Ouray for building and maintaining such a wonderful ice park! It's probably the best place in the world to learn how to ice climb. If you're ice-curious, you definitely need to go to here.

The camp host was very active maintaining tidiness and order. I arrived early on a weekday and…read morefound a lovely and quiet spot under trees with plenty of space between neighbors. It was very convenient to the Mountain Village Gondola and for a stay in Telluride, at $20/night it's a bargain. I had cell phone reception (Verizon provider) and a spacious, flat, asphalt parking space for camper and car. Incredible views of sunshine peak, too!

This hike was suggested to me by several friends who went to school in the area. It is pretty easy…read moreto find and parking wasn't too horrible. As much hype as this trail got before we did it, I can tell you that we all agree that this might be our favorite hike in Colorado so far. The trail is so lush and covered in wild flowers, knowing that it could have been the time of year, too. I loved that a lot it went through wooded areas before opening up above the tree line. It seemed that once we got above the tree line that there were amazing views everywhere we looked. We saw some mountain bikers but the trail wasn't too crowded overall. The summit is just under 13,000 feet but it is a great hike to get out of Durango for the morning and then to enjoy the afternoon back in town. Here are the directions to get there: Head North on Hwy 550 past Purgatory toward Silverton. Coal Bank Pass is 35 miles north of Durango, 13.5 miles south of Silverton, on Route 550. There is a parking area and restroom facility on the east side of the road at Coal Bank Pass (but don't park there). Just north of that, turn onto a road on the west side(opposite the rest area) which goes to the Pass Creek TH in under 200 yards.Slow down after mile marker 56 (it's between mm 56 and 57), you will see a rest area on the right and about 30 yards from that there is a small dirt road on the left - turn in there. It is hard to see, so slow down. Park at the end of the road on the side of the cul-de-sac. You will see the trail head heading north, and start there. Make sure you have plenty of water, a sweatshirt, and some rain gear. It should take 4 hours to casually hike up and back.

This trail is amazing, the wildflowers were incredible. It's a medium challenging trail up until…read morethe base of the mountain, then it's shale all the way to the top. Amazing views of mountain ranges even if you just make it to the fields. I went late July beginning of August and it was just the perfect temperature and I still can't get over all the wildflowers!

I was able to return to take Mount Sneffles which has been on my bucket list of 14ers. I ascended…read morevia the standard rout (not blue lakes) which starts from a different trailhead:the yankee boy basin. If you have a good car you can get to the outhouse easily. I did this in my Subaru Crosstrek and car camped overnight. The outhouse actually is functional and very nice! The standard route is about 6 miles round trip with over 3K elevation gain. You walk about 2 miles up the road, then go straight up a bunch of scree. It's not technical, but was daunting. I thought it would be worse going down than it was in reality. After this section, veer left up a fun class 2 scramble to the top of a gully. Then go left again right before the top to the famous V notch. Not as scary as I thought it would be although a very nice person was helpful with descending as it's best to go through backwards. Then there is a short class 3 scramble to the summit with beautiful and rewarding views. You can see the blue lakes and mountains as far as the eye can see. This is a very special mountain and I met lots of nice people at the top! Id highly recommend this hike for anyone progressing to class 3s as it's a fairly easy one.

We ventured up Mount Sneffels last week. It is considered an "easy class 3" 14er. We opted to go…read moreup the standard route (south slopes) which starts at Yankee Boy Basin trailhead. However to get to the trailhead you will need 4WD nd high clearance vehicle. If you dont have that you will either need to park at the bottom of the road or at the lower lot. Exposure and rockfall potential is considerable. Route finding and commitment is moderate. From the lower lot parking lot, you would start at 11350 feet elevation and will end at 14150 feet elevation. From the lower lot, round trip length of this trail is 6 miles. This trail was tough. once you get to the actual trail head, you will have around .5 mile of okay trail and then 1.2 miles of lots of scree and loose rock. You need to bring a helmet for this hike. People can kick down rocks above you or they could just fall loose. Poles would also be highly recommended. I normally do not hike with poles (well ever) and i was wishing i had them for this hike. My knees actually hurt on this one on the way down. It was one of the most challenging experiences i have completed but it was extremely rewarding. The views from the top were like no other. It was undescribable. So amazing. My top peaks would be this one or uncompaghre, just be sure that you are up for the challenge as it is VERY physically challenging.

Handies peak is a beautiful and easy class 1 in the San Juan's. My group and I did this one the day…read moreafter Redcloud & Sunshine, so it was nice to have a shorter day. It's less than 3K elevation and I clocked 6 miles round trip, granted the elevation builds quickly during those 3 miles to the summit. It was so beautiful that my two friends declared it was one of their top three favorite 14ers that they've done! The view at the top is stunning, with gorgeous scenery and breathtaking vistas along the way. You can make a very short detour and even visit a lovely alpine lake. The hardest part of the hike is accessing it. We were already parked along cimaron pass at our campsite, but it took an additional 40 minutes or so to drive from Redcloud trailhead to Handies. I made it in my Crosstrek but there were a couple of truly sketchy spots and a very very bumpy ride. No bathrooms at the trailhead and not much coverage to duck into the woods so keep that in mind. A must do for every 14er fanatic or ambitious hiker!

Handies peak! I have dreamed about hiking this one for several years in the summer when…read morewildflowers are blooming but distance kept me away. Planned a 5 day stay up in the lake city/san juan area so we could knock it out. I finally did it and it did not disappoint. We took the Handies via grizzly gulch which is the non standard route and it is longer than the american basin route. The road getting to grizzly gulch from lake city was rough. lots of pot holes and jutting rocks. Also narrow stretches with drop offs on the side. ATVs and jeeps like to zip down the road at the speed of light and there are not a lot of pull offs along the way. I made it with my honda pilot but it was SLOW going. plan extra time for this road. (cimmaron pass) We were initially going to go to american basin but after the long drive to get to grizzly gulch i just didn't have it in me to do another 4-5 miles on even rougher road. There is a bathroom at the Trailhead. There are no trash cans or dog poop bags however so be sure to pack out whatever you pack in (including your dog poop)! This trail is a class 1. Though that does not mean it is "easy" by any means. However we did enjoy the first half or little more of the trail that had dirt trails and step ups. The trail was very well maintained. Currently in july there are fields of lovely wildflowers that are so abundant and in a variety of colors. Also there is a stream for a chunk of it that you will walk near. As you ascend further up, it begins to get rocky and there is scree near the top. As you merge on to the peak, you will meet up with all the hikers from american basin standard approach which is substantially more. So the peak may seem a little crowded. On our trek, we only saw maybe 6 other people. The flowers along the way and then the view at the top was all breathtaking! So thankful to have finally gotten to complete this peak!