Suggestions for one-day loop near Ouray

[open_circuit]

Maybe spending a day this weekend near Ouray with the Jeep. I've never been down to that area before, and I'm a little overwhelmed by the number of trails in the region. I'm looking for suggestions for a loop that I can do in one day even if the trails are busy due to holiday crowds.

From the little I know, it seems like there are two options, but I bet you all have some others to add.

1) Black Bear => Imogene
2) Some combination of the Alpine loop area patchwork. I quickly get lost looking at the various trails in this area when trying to plan a loop. Something like Mineral Creek => Poughkeepsie Gulch => California or Corkscrew Gulch to ? I am lost at this point.

Black Bear is on the bucket list, but I'm not sure if this is the right trip to try running it. I'm worried that it could be very slow going with crowds because of the busy holiday and this year in particular being very busy on trails. I'm also not sure my kids are on board with the hard switchback section.

Suggestions appreciated. Good company appreciated as well, should anyone see this and decide to join.

[FINOCJ]

For a bit mellower than BB and very nice scenery - I would go up Corkscrew Gulch to Animas Forks, and then head north towards Engineer Pass coming back out on the western end of Engineer Pass. You will have to make a short out and back (a couple switchbacks) to get to the top of Engineer Pass - but there isn't much reason to go down the east side. I have not run Poughkeepsie - its on my bucket list - so take this with a grain of salt, but its supposedly pretty tough. My dream loop is to combine Corkscrew with Poughkeepsie.

[Tom]

When Jim and I plus others were there in 2015 our first day we did Engineers from Lake City to Animas Forks. Then did California, Hurricane, and Corkscrew passes. It was a very enjoyable long day.

Vids on my youtube channel.

[Jim]

1) Ophir > Imogene (spending time at Telluride & Tomboy Townsite)

2) Black Bear > Imogene (spending time at Telluride & Tomboy Townsite)

3) Asphalt to Silverton (maybe spend some time walking about town?) > county road up to Animas Forks (spend some time walking about the area) > decide upon the next route depending upon how the day's feeling (see following options)

From Animas Forks
3a) Depending upon what you decide for the "rest of the day", if the weather's nice, consider a trek to Odom Point - it offers a nice mountain vista - possibly head west to asphalt / 550 via the western end of Engineer

3b) Head east on Cinnamon to Lake City then wrap back via Engineer*

3c) Head up to Odom Point then east on Engineer to Lake City then wrap back via Cinnamon Pass to Animas Forks*

3d) Head west from Animas Forks, stopping at the Fisco-Bagley Mill, and west to 550 via California & Corkscrew

* (could be a long day depending upon time spent at Silverton & Animas Forks)

4) Black Bear or Ophir to Telluride, spending time walking around Telluride and then asphalt west from Telluride, up to Ridgeway, down to Ouray - OR - head west from Telluride and take Last Dollar Road north from CO-145 up to CO-62.

I've not traveled Ophir, the western section of Engineer, Poughkeepsie Gulch or Last Dollar Road. I have traveled the other trails (some twice, with Tom) and I should have tracklogs for each of those trails. The tracklogs are handy for times - how long did we spend walking around at the different locations and how long did it take to drive X trail. I could send you the logs or you could just ask for specific items and I can easily look it up.

[Jim]

Trent - I slightly updated my post since you posted the thanks.

Some Last Dollar Road info
https://www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-hidden-gem-last-dollar-road
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33620-d3320720-Reviews-Last_Dollar_Road-Ridgway_Colorado.html

[newracer]

IMO Black Bear and Imogene is the best day trip in Colorado. Just start earlier and plan on getting done late. IIRC we left the hotel in Ridgeway about 8, got into Telluride in perfect time for lunch and got to Ouray around 8 for dinner. We spent some time in Telluride eating and checking out a few shops. We stopped several times on Imogene because I had bought my sons gold pans in Telluride so they wanted to pan in every stream/creek we came across.

[open_circuit]

I appreciate the feedback. The long day is longer for us because we will be staying in Montrose. We made last minute plans and there is little affordable lodging in Ouray this close to the holiday weekend.

[newracer]

I still think it would be doable. We were in Telluride for at least a couple hours and stopped a lot on Imogene. Limit that time and you should be fine.

[Jim]

If you're in Montrose - IF you do a trail that pops out at Lake City - consider asphalt back to Montrose (or do asphalt to Lake City then trails to US 550).

[open_circuit]

If you're in Montrose - IF you do a trail that pops out at Lake City - consider asphalt back to Montrose (or do asphalt to Lake City then trails to US 550).

This is the part I'm trying to figure out. If we run Black Bear / Imogene, the route is obvious. If we go east towards Engineer pass and terminate at Lake City, I didn't see an obvious way back to Montrose on pavement. It looks like the route back that way is 149 north to 50 (a little over 80 miles). Mineral Creek => Engineer ending in Lake City seems too short and fast. The Wells book makes me think this is only 3-4 hours total trail time?

We may still decide to run Black Bear and Imogene. I'd certainly prefer to if I can get buy-in from my passengers.

[FINOCJ]

If we go east towards Engineer pass and terminate at Lake City, I didn't see an obvious way back to Montrose on pavement.

This is why I would suggest using Corkscrew gulch combine with engineer - don't go down the east side of Engineer - its a long, bumpy 2wd to Lake City. Of course, BB and Immogene is the perfect loop if the group is up for it. Go early...get to the BB trailhead before 9am.

[Tom]

The way back to Montrose from Lake City. Take the road 149 North out of Lake City toward Blue Mesa Reservoir at hwy 50 head west to Montrose. Takes just under 2 hours.

[JandDGreens]

IMO Black Bear and Imogene is the best day trip in Colorado. Just start earlier and plan on getting done late. IIRC we left the hotel in Ridgeway about 8, got into Telluride in perfect time for lunch and got to Ouray around 8 for dinner. We spent some time in Telluride eating and checking out a few shops. We stopped several times on Imogene because I had bought my sons gold pans in Telluride so they wanted to pan in every stream/creek we came across.
I would have to agree, best bang for your buck. We started our trip from Ouray, ran Black Bear to Telluride didn't spend much time there just gas and right back on Imogene got back to Ouray in time for the dinner crowd. Are you going with others? Make sure the weather is good after watching Bleep n Jeeps video, I won't take that for granted ever again. But Both those trails are by far the most epic if you ask me.....? Be careful and have a safe trip.

[JandDGreens]

The way back to Montrose from Lake City. Take the road 149 North out of Lake City toward Blue Mesa Reservoir at hwy 50 head west to Montrose. Takes just under 2 hours.
Last time I was down there after camping on the south side of Stony pass, I drove through Lake city up to Blue Messa reservoir, very nice drive.

[open_circuit]

You have an swayed the crowd here. Going to try running Black Bear and Imogene.

Dave, if weather is bad we'll make some other plans and stay off Black Bear. We don't have any other rigs running with us, but we certainly won't be alone on the trail on the holiday weekend.

[Jim]

Going to try running Black Bear and Imogene.

Enjoy!

From Imogene Pass, heading towards Ouray, do make a stop at this easy-to-pass-by turn-out - first right turn available heading down from the pass (good views to the east / southeast):
37.930376, -107.729833

https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B055'49.4%22N+107%C2%B043'47.4%22W/@37.930376,-107.7303802,206m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d37.9 303759!4d-107.7298329

[Java]

Black Bear, Ophir and Bolam line up nicely too. You really can't lose in that area, hope it's a fun trip!

[newracer]

From Facebook

Effective immediately CR K68, Tomboy Road, FSR 869, Imogene Pass will be closed to through traffic until repair to a damaged bridge can be made.


The closure will impact the portion of road between the Smuggler Tram Ruins to the Town of Tomboy.

Motorists or visitors planning on traveling CR K68 between Telluride and Ouray will be required to turn around at the following locations:
Vehicles traveling from the Town of Telluride vehicles will have to turn around at the Smuggler Tramp Ruins.
Vehicles traveling from Ouray County will have to turn around at the Town of Tomboy.

We estimate repairs to be completed by the middle of next week.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we make the necessary repairs.

[open_circuit]

Thanks Mike. That is unfortunate timing. I guess I'll look at Paul's suggestion of Ophir and Bolam as a connector from Black Bear this evening.

[Blackjeep]

Trent,
Good choice! The best loop in the area is Black Bear to Imogene. We left Ouray at 8ish and got back by 2ish. We were not rushing and ate lunch on Imogene at the mines on the west side. Your LJ will have no issues... but the Steps are heart pounding and worth it.
enjoy!
jeff

[open_circuit]

I just checked Google maps to plan my route to the trailhead tomorrow and now it looks like road 823 (black bear pass) is closed with an update a few minutes ago. Does anyone know anything about this?

[Tom]

I just checked Google maps to plan my route to the trailhead tomorrow and now it looks like road 823 (black bear pass) is closed with an update a few minutes ago. Does anyone know anything about this?
The county website says its open
https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/406/Road-Conditions

as does the fs page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/alerts-notices/?cid=FSBDEV3_002300

[open_circuit]

Black bear was open. I found the county website last night as well. Not sure why Google thinks it was closed. The trail was very busy today, especially below the one way section as hikers were parking their cars in the turnouts.