The Best Jeep & 4-Wheel Drive Trails Around Ouray & Telluride, Colorado

The Ouray and the Telluride, Colorado, areas are two of the most beautiful areas in the San Juan Mountains of the Rocky Mountain range in the southwest region of Colorado. The area around and between these two small but unique towns boast picturesque mountains with 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks surrounding them. People who enjoy spending some time in one or both of these towns and would like to explore the mountains that rise above into the sky, will find that there are multiple trails that are appropriate for Jeeps and other 4-wheel drive vehicles to drive up the rugged mountain dirt roads for a day of exploration of the nooks and crevices of these mountainous terrains.

Yankee Boy Basin

Visit Yankee Boy Basin by taking a drive up the 14,150 foot Mount Sneffels, for an exciting 4-wheel adventure. Yankee Boy Basin can be found up the trail of the mountain at just under 12,000 feet in elevation. This adventure offers breathtaking views of mountains above, and canyons below. In the months of the summer, the wildflowers which can be found up on this mountain are amongst the most beautiful and diverse in the region. There are Columbine, Orange Sneezeweed, Kings Crown and Indian paintbrush just to name a few of the exquisite species. There are many areas to look out with awesome views. Above Yankee Boy Basin is the famous Twin Falls, a double waterfall which was used for the Coors beer commercials. There are places to hike and explore on the way up, as well as old abandoned mines and miners former dwellings.

Black Bear Pass

Black Bear Pass is an excellent 4-wheel drive trail that is recommended by the Ouray Chamber of Commerce in their guide for favorite Jeep trails. This scenic trail gradually travels up Red Mountain, and can become quite narrow, so it is important to have a very experienced driver who knows this road well, and to travel in a 4-wheel drive vehicle that is not very wide. The trail goes from Telluride to Ouray. It passes right by the gorgeous Bridal Vail Falls waterfall. The entirety of the road features views that are breathtaking.

Last Dollar Road

Last Dollar Road is an excellent 4-wheel drive or Jeep friendly road which offers gorgeous views along it's entirety. It can be travelled safely in a passenger car most of the time as well, so long as the precipitation is not excessive. It goes from about 10 miles north of Ouray and 12 miles west, winding gently towards Telluride. The views along the way are quite spectacular. Along the way there are thousands of acres of ranches, with excellent views of the 14,246 foot Mount Wilson. The road leads all the way to Telluride, the picturesque town, with many places to stop for a meal and a leisurely stroll along the main strip and window shopping.


Resources:

http://mycolorado.org/wildflowers.html

http://colorado.naturephotographers.net/hotspots/yankeeboybasin/index.shtml

http://www.4x4now.com/trcobb.htm

http://www.coloradovibes.com/offroad-trails/last-dollar-road/