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The winding mountain roads and charming western towns surrounding Ridgway make for epic car and motorcycle tours. Ridgway is the perfect place to stage a series of classic day trips, complete with hot springs and friendly pubs to soothe away your road weariness when you return at the end of the day. We are part of many historic and scenic routes that connect our rural burgs to nearby towns and points of interest with shared history and purpose. The Alpine Loop is one of our most wellknown but only accessible by four-wheel drive.
Considered one of the most scenic drives in the U.S.A., this pass travels through jagged cliffs, babbling brooks, sites of Western movie sets, and has great opportunities for wildlife viewing and fishing. This route, laced with stands of aspen, is especially beautiful in the fall. This adventurous day trip will take you into the heart of the magnificent Cimarron Mountains. The peaks of Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain will watch over you as you drive along a dirt road, which once was a cattle drive trail.
A trip to Ouray County isn’t complete without a ride along the Million Dollar Highway, the section of Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton with many historic buidings and mines. Extend this to cover the entire San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway, a 233-mile loop to meander through Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, Rico, Dolores, Cortez, Durango, and Silverton. The drive is stunning in any season: spring offers hundreds of waterfalls along the route, summer brings fields of wildflowers, fall provides iconic golden-colored vistas, and winter gives you a high-contrast trip with robin’s egg blue skies and endless white powder fields.
Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs 970.325.4981
Horseback Adventures 970.325.3006
Mountain Dog Arts 970-239-3434
Mountain Trip 970.369.1153
O’Toys 970.729.2388
Ouray County Performing Arts Guild 970.626.2970
Switzerland of America Jeep Adventures 970.325.4484
The San Juan Mountains are a rugged, steep mountain range rising to just over 14,000 feet. These beautiful public lands offer adventures year round. If you are interested in exploring the San Juans, be prepared for challenging terrain that sometimes requires technical expertise and knowledge of the area.
Come prepared by doing research online to find maps, rules and helpful guidance from public agencies and user-generated websites. Utilize local expertise when you get into town by stopping in at our local gear stores. We highly recommend working with our local guide services that employ experts who can help you achieve your goals for world-class recreation. You can also take a course in: backcountry skiing, avalanche safety, rock climbing, ice climbing, and other valuable outdoor skills.
The Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce promotes business and community development in the Town of Ridgway and the surrounding area. The Ridgway Visitor Center, located at 150 Racecourse Road, Ridgway, Colorado 81432 (across from Citizens Bank off of HWY 62), The visitor center is closed as of October 1st and will reopen Memorial Day weekend.
P.O. Box 544
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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