The Adventure begins California to Ouray, Colorado

Castle Valley, Utah

 

Ouray, Colorado 

 Nicknamed "Switzerland of America" the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado may be the best place in America to explore in a 4-wheel drive

Town of Ouray

 

 Dave drooling over the Hot rod old Bronco

Cindy's Mac-n-Cheese Burger
Dave's Bacon-n-Egg Burger

 Backroads and 4-Wheel drive trails in and around Ouray, Silverton, Lake City and Telluride.

Trail head

 

 

 

 

 Remains of the Mickey Breene Mine

 

 

 


 

 

 

Poughkeepsie Gulch

Really? This looks like it could be a challenge.

Good thing we have a wench.

 

After we made it up, we helped the Lexus going down. 

Lake Como

 

  

Hurricane Pass - Elevation 12,730 

 

  

Black Bear Road



 

 

 



 

Black Bear Pass - Elevation 12,840

 

 

 

 

 

 

One-way down hill only beyond this point.

 

Where's the road?

  

Descending one-way switchbacks to Telluride

  

  Loose shale and tippy spots are not for the faint of heart. 

 

 Incredible views from high above Red Mountain Pass and Telluride, our destination below.

 



 

Black Bear Road gets it difficult rating based on a mile long stretch of dangerous switchbacks above Bridal Veil Falls

 

Most vehicles must back up to make the tight turns.

  

 

 Bridal Veil Falls

 

 Here we are in Telluride.  Home to the rich and famous.

 

 

Tomboy Trail head is at the end of a narrow residential street.

 

 

View of Black Bear Pass that we just came down from Tomboy Road

 

 Remains of Tomboy Townsite in Savage Basin. Once a rich producer of gold. One of the most active mining towns in Colorado.  At one time 900 people lived in Savage Basin.  The mine opened in 1880. In 1897 it sold for 2 million dollars. Tomboy closed in 1927.

 

 

 

Imogene Pass - Elevation 13,114

The second highest drivable pass in Colorado.

 

 



                                     

 

Bridge is out. I guess we just go for it.

 

 



 

 

California Gulch 

 

 Sheep Herder using high pasture for the summer.

 

 

 Animas Forks

 

 

 

 

 California Pass - Elevation 12,960

 

Cinnamon Pass - Elevation 12,640

  

Engineer Pass  - Elevation 12,800

 

You never know what you're going to see on the trail

 

 Town of Silverton

 

Bronze Eagle at the Dennis Weaver Memorial Park 

 

Happy daze in Ridgeway, Colorado

  

Views from US Route 550.

The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway

 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park