Ouray, CO – A spectacular 4×4 drive into the alpine region between the Colorado mountain towns of Ouray and Silverton, reaching 12,730 feet and “views for miles” of numerous peaks, cirques, lakes and mine remnants. Start your journey by driving about 8 miles south of Ouray on US 550 and turning left (east) on County Road 20 (aka Corkscrew Road). The road becomes progressively rockier and bumpier as you ascend. A note about vehicle requirements: The 2010 version of Charles A. Wells and Matt Peterson’s “Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel -Drive Trails” book lists this drive as easy, but I’m thinking significant washouts over the ensuing 10 years have upgraded this to moderate, at least in this driver’s mind. I would not attempt this without low range.
View of Red Mountain 2 from Corkscrew Gulch area
The first real views come 2.8 miles up the road, where there is a well placed vault toilet in amongst the trees. There is also a nice hike that ascends and circles the bowl before you, directly beneath Red Mountain #2. After that little exercise, hop back in the Jeep and get read to drive up steep, narrow switchbacks. I successfully negotiated these using just 2WD, but 4WD with low range would have made it easier. In fact, go ahead and shift into low range before entering the switchbacks; it’ll be needed for the next 2 hours of driving.
Optional walking trail led to this basin
Red Mountain 2
At 3.7 miles arrive at a high point with great view into both basins. There is another opportunity to stretch legs with a narrow ridge walk (but be careful, a fall here would be disappointing, to say the least). Continue on, with jaw dropping views in all directions, until, at 4.7 miles, you come to the most remote and impressively located vault toilet I’ve ever seen. I can only imagine the level of effort required to empty this thing.
Another view
Snow near Hurricane Pass in late June
Our Jeep at Hurricane Pass
Mining structure near Hurricane Pass
Drive another 2 miles to reach Hurricane Pass, which is great spot for lunch. Looking down the basin to your north you’ll see Lake Como, which was partially covered in ice on our June 25 trip. Wind down steep switch backs for 0.5 miles to reach the end of Corkscrew Gulch trail and the beginning of California Gulch. There is another trail option here, called Poughkeepsie Gulch, that is rated difficult, but was closed in 2020 due to damage.
Lake Como at Hurricane Pass
View from Hurricane Pass
Lake Como from Poughkeepsie Gulch reached on foot
View from Hurricane Pass area
The drive up to California Pass is steep, so low range is nice to have. Likewise, descending down from the pass is easier in low range. California Gulch is known for its many mining remnants, some in quite good shape. Take time to explore these, but don’t enter any mine shafts and please leave everything the way you found it (I.e., take only pictures, leave only footprints). The trail officially ends at the Animas Forks ghost town, but the 12 mile drive back to US 550 provides endless views. To reach US 550, follow Forest Service Road 586/County Road 2 back to Silverton, turn left onto Highway 110 which ends at US 550. If you want a longer adventure you can add Placer and Picayune Gulch Routes before heading back to Silverton.
California Pass
Looking back down at the road to California Pass
East side of California Pass
Marmot on the east side of California Pass
Tuttle Mountain and our route (the road in distance) descending from California Pass
During this trip to Ouray we also traveled on Last Dollar Road, Ophir Pass Road, Porphyry Gulch, the Alta Lakes Road, and Placer & Picayune Gulch. We hiked the Ouray Perimeter Loop, Wetterhorn Basin Trail in the Uncompahgre Wilderness, Blue Lakes Trail in Mount Sneffels Wilderness, a section of the Colorado Trail/Continental Divide Trail at Stony Pass, and the Highland Mary Lakes Loop in the Weminuche Wilderness. We stayed at the Ouray KOA but there are some other RV camping options in the region. During earlier trips we have driven Engineer, Cinnamon, and Imogene Passes.
