OFFICIAL VISITOR’S GUIDE 2019 Spacious rooms with mountain views • Complimentary full breakfast • Walking distance to Ice Park, restaurants, shops, hot springs pool • Guest laundry • Coffee in rooms • Air conditioning • Outdoor spa and sundeck • Fridge and microwaves in all rooms In the Heart of it all... • Platinum Hospitality Award by Centrally located in downtown Ouray Choice Hotel 510 Main Street, Ouray, Colorado 81427 Within walking distance of hot springs pool, Ouray Ice Park, multiple hiking trails, waterfalls & downtown. (970) 325.4331 www.ouraychaletinn.com 191 Fifth Ave., P.O. Box 1163 • Ouray, CO 81427 • 970.325.7203 www.choicehotels.com Table of Contents k 28 4 Welcome to Ouray & Ridgway 6 Recreation Capital of Colorado John Wood - County Road 7A Ouray – The 7 38 Ghost Towns of the Switzerland of America Red Mountain Mining District Ridgway – Think Outside 8 39 Explore our Rich Frontier Past Ridgway & the Colorado 9 Visit Famous Filming Locations Creative Corridor 40 43 Culinary Experiences – 10 Calendar of Events Fresh Food Discoveries Await Outdoor Adventure 15 44 A Destination for Foodies 16 Hiking, Walking & Running & Beverage Connoisseurs 16 18 Breathtaking Bike Rides 46 Weddings & Gatherings 20 Off-Roading: Jeeps & OHVs 48 Scenic Drives & Epic Day Trips Antoni Tapl - Blue Lakes Trail 22 Ridgway State Park & Reservoir 50 Getting Acclimated 24 Rafting, Kayaking, Tubing, 51 Trip Planning – How to Get Here SUPing & Fishing 52 Relocating to Ridgway & Ouray 26 Climbing: Boulders, Mountains, Canyons & Ice 54 Business Directory 54 Accommodations 28 Golf, Photography, Hunting, 55 Dining, Bars & Cafes Wildlife Viewing & More 56 Shopping 29 Snow Sports: Snowshoeing, 57 Entertainment & Nightlife Nordic Skiing & More 58 Outdoor Adventure 59 Health & Wellness 30 Health & Wellness – 60 History & Heritage World-Famous Hot Springs 60 Local Services 31 Activities for Body, Mind & Spirit 32 Arts & Entertainment – OURAY TOURISM OFFICE Galleries, Studios & More 1230 Main St./P.O. Box 145, Ouray, Colorado 81427 800-228-1876 n 970-325-4746 [email protected] n OurayColorado.com Concerts, Theater, Poetry, Etc 30 33 RIDGWAY TOURISM OFFICE Rich Durnan - Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings Racecourse Rd./P.O. Box 544, Ridgway, CO 81432 34 Performing & Visual 800-220-4959 n 970-626-5181 Arts Classes & Events [email protected] n RidgwayColorado.com 35 Public Art & Literature THIS PUBLICATION WAS PRODUCED BY 36 History & Heritage – Mining, Ranching, Railroads, Western CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Douglas Bennett Movies & More CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Carrie Cass VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES David Habrat MANAGER OF CREATIVE SERVICES Tad Smith ADVERTISING DESIGN Christian Ridings Gary Markstein ADVERTISING SALES Kelly Bulkley Tana Bowen SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR Hunter Harrell CONTENT EDITOR Tanya Ishikawa BT Multimedia Communications COVER Sneffels Spring Sunset by Jack Brauer INSET CREDITS LEFT TO RIGHT: Ouray Hot Springs Pool by Courtney Island, Paddle Boarding on Ridgway Reservoir by RIGS Adventure Co., San Juan Skijoring by LoneCone 32 Photography, Mountain Top Mine by Don Paulson Kellie Day Art - 610 Arts Collective 2 K 2019 Official Visitor’s Guide OURAY & RIDGWAY Welcome to k Ouray OurayAtNight - Ouray, Colorado re you visiting Ouray for the first activity that pleases you. You can enjoy A time? Coming back because you long soaks in the Hot Springs Pool just couldn’t stay away? Now that Ouray’s that can be coupled with noteworthy crisp mountain air and small town magic star gazing in this dark sky area, or an has lured you deep into southwest incredible view of the towering peaks Colorado, it’s time to enjoy. that surround the city. You also have the Ouray is home to both rigorous and option to wander deep into wilderness relaxing adventures, allowing you to for a profound visit among unmatched tailor your trip to your and stunning scenery that will Malori Trujillo - San Juan Mountains of Colorado needs and make it uniquely leave you breathless. About Malori: Malori is a native of Ouray, yours! You can enjoy a lively Whatever direction you Colorado and just graduated from Fort Lewis experience in town when choose, please remember College in Durango, Colorado. Hospitality and love of place run deep in her family history and you visit the many shops, to play gently in this awe- her personal values, which she plans to translate restaurants, and breweries. inspiring area of the San Juan into her future career. Over her two summers You can dive into Ouray’s rich history Mountains! interning with the Ouray Tourism Office she welcomed countless visitors at the Ouray Visitor’s with a visit to the museum, a tour of We hope this guide is helpful in Center, managed our social media accounts once flourishing mines, or a trip down planning your trip, and if you have any (you’ll recognize her happy voice and excellent Main Street for a look at the many questions, please reach out so we can recommendations on many of the summer “Ouray historic buildings. You can take your pick assist you in making your trip to Ouray Lunch Breaks” on Facebook), oversaw our annual visitor demographics research, helped with the between ice climbing, rock climbing, unforgettable. The Ouray Tourism Office, first steps of creating Ouray’s Sustainable Tourism canyoning, hiking, biking, cross country the Ouray City Council, and our whole Plan and reminded us all to get outside and skiing, jeeping, or any other recreational community welcome you! experience everything in and around our beautiful town. We wish her well as she pursues a master's degree in International Sustainable Tourism at the Malori Trujillo College of Merchandising, Hospitality & Tourism 2018 Ouray Tourism Office Marketing Intern at North Texas University. 4 K 2019 Official Visitor’s Guide OURAY & RIDGWAY K Welcome to Ridgway Lisa Kral - Uncompahgre River Valley small but wonderful town tucked making our town a special place, as well as A into a valley at 6,985 feet. A town taking advantage of what Ridgway offers. that has snow way too early but no one Beyond the spectacular mountains complains because it means the start of that tower above us and the colorful ski season is coming soon. A town that aspen leaves, Ridgway is special because only has about 1,000 people but every one our community works hard at creating of them contributes to the community. great learning environments through our Ridgway is a special town with an schools, outdoor experiences, leadership amazing community. We love opportunities, team sports and Meet Emma... the outdoors, the wilderness, plenty more. Being a part of a TALENTS: Dance (jazz, ballet, hip hop), aerial and the uniqueness of community, where everyone silks, soccer, teaching, traveling, organizational leadership Ridgway. Our community agrees that we can all do is very involved, not solely something to make the world COMMUNITY & SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT: Weehawken Creative Arts (dancer, teacher and annual Ridgway in changing Ridgway but a better place, is awesome. Rendezvous staff person), Sources of Strength in changing the world. The Carry On! Our population is small but inclusive, volunteer, Student Council member, Knowledge Ridgway Resuses campaign is an effort by filled with open, generous people. Our Bowl Team member, club and school soccer teams member, Ouray Hot Springs Pool lifeguard and a group of middle and high school girls community is just the right size, where you swimming teacher, Montrose Memorial Hospital trying to free the world of single-use can find “your group” but also broaden volunteer, Fortuna Tierra’s Fun Run volunteer, and plastics, starting in Ridgway. The Mount your horizons with new experiences and Pinhead Institute volunteer teacher Sneffels Education Foundation advocates new friends. FUTURE PLANS: Earn a bachelor’s degree from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a medical for student trips and higher education There just isn’t enough space on this degree from a graduate school, become a through scholarships. page to tell you how amazing the Ridgway neonatologist, volunteer for Doctors Without I am Emma Wallin, a junior at Ridgway community is and how lucky I feel to be a Borders, and continue to travel on personal and High School who has had the privilege of part of it. This town is really one of kind. work trips growing up in Ridgway for 17 years. I am Welcome to Ridgway! We’re excited to FAVORITE VIEW IN RIDGWAY: Up Country Road 5 (by my grandma’s house) where you can see the mountain one of many active community members have you here! panorama with tons of aspen trees and daisies Emma Wallin 2019 Ridgway Chamber Youth Ambassador RidgwayColorado.com 800.220.4959 • OurayColorado.com 800.228.1876 k 5 Ouray k The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Colorado Salt Lake Utah City uray is located near the Four Grand Vail Junction Denver Corners – where Utah, Arizona, Zion Black Canyon O National National Park Colorado New Mexico and Colorado converge. Park Moab Ridgway Ouray Found in the Mountains & Mesas travel Four Durango Corners region in southwestern Colorado. Ouray Grand Canyon Farmington National Park is situated on U.S. Highway 550 along the San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Santa Fe Byway, one of America’s most beautiful Albuquerque Phoenix drives. The incredibly scenic Million Dollar Arizona New Mexico Highway connects Ouray to Silverton and Durango to the south, while the drive through Ridgway to the north and west laces past the Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area and into the lovely towns of Telluride, Rico, Utah Dolores and Mancos. Colorado Ouray has perfect weather, charm and beauty. With nearly Arizona New Mexico 242 days of sunshine a year and moderate year-round temperatures, this authentic Victorian town epitomizes the genuine Mountain Candace West - Ouray West and inspires everyone to truly touch the mountains. most unique and adventurous outdoor Sitting in a beautiful box canyon, Ouray activities in Colorado, winter or summer, is home to countless natural wonders like ice-climbing in the world-famous including the spectacular Box Cañon Ouray Ice Park, backcountry skiing and Falls, Cascade Falls, Bear Creek Falls, the hut stays, canyoning and excellent rock imposing Amphitheater, Red Mountains climbing and bouldering.