COVID-19 Resources & Visitor Information

Colorado enacted its most recent public health orders on Sept. 9, 2022, which had directives mainly impacting health facilities. Most locations visited by travelers to Ridgway are not under specific public health orders such as masking or vaccination status.

On September 8,  there were 187 individuals hospitalized in Colorado due to COVID-19, and 972 hospital beds were unoccupied across the state. At that time, 83% of Colorado’s intensive care beds were occupied and 85% of medical/surgical beds were occupied.

With the pandemic ongoing, the state government urges individuals, communities, businesses, and governments to remain vigilant regarding the spread of COVID-19. Individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted if eligible, remain at least six feet away from non-household contacts whenever possible, wash their hands, and wear a face covering to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission. As we continue to combat COVID-19 in our communities, continuing some limited requirements to mitigate disease spread remain appropriate.

Because there is always a potential for changes in city, county or individual facility rules, the best way to prepare for a visit is to check out the information resources in the right margin of this page. We also recommend you visit individual websites for each business and organization where you plan to visit. In some cases, a phone call may be the most effective way to get updated information such as operating hours and mask requirements. 

The Ridgway Visitor Center opened on Memorial Day weekend 2022.

The center is now open for the 2022 season! Regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4p.m.  

If you cannot visit during center hours, please be sure to check out all the information in our Member Directory and Plan Your Trip sections of the website.

Also, check out our digital copy of the 2022 Visitors Guide by going here.   

Ouray County and the Town of Ridgway lifted their mask mandates in their government buildings on March 8 and 9.

While masks are not required to be worn in public by local governments, some businesses may request mask wearing and some individuals may choose to wear masks for personal reasons. Please respect their decisions.

Ouray County is a mask friendly community!

Travel within the state of Colorado and outside of your community is safest if individuals can:

Additional details about Ouray County requirements, testing, vaccinations, and other updates are provided on the Ouray County website: ouraycountyco.gov/396/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Updates-and-Resourc as well as Ouray County Public Health Facebook page: Facebook.com/OurayCountyPublicHealthAgency.

Please utilize the Ouray County COVID-19 Hotline with questions: 970-626-5484.

For more information: masking guidelines

More information on traveling in Colorado during COVID-19 can be found here:

Food and drink establishments in Ouray County are able to operate with no restrictions but advised to follow public health recommendations. Please contact businesses directly for more details. 

Businesses and organizations can operate if they can meet the guidelines outlined in the state and county public health orders. Playgrounds, gyms, recreation centers, hot springs, and pools can also operate by meeting guidelines. 

All events no longer require masks, nor are proof of vaccination or negative COVID test necessary locally. Please review our Upcoming Events page for more information.