When your vacation plans take you to stunning Telluride, Colorado, you may expect a beautiful stay that is filled with outdoor activities, special events, excellent entertainment, fabulous dining and shopping and all manner of delightful ways to pamper yourself to the fullest. That’s a lot to fit into your visit, but your vacation can only be made better when you also make time for a day trip to nearby Ouray
About Ouray
Much like Telluride, Ouray is a friendly little town that offers an abundance of activities, attractions and events in an absolutely gorgeous setting. Beautifully nestled in a valley that sits at nearly 8,000 feet and completely surrounded on three sides by towering, 13,000-foot snow-capped mountain peaks, Ouray is the perfect destination for a wonderful day trip.
Visitors will find exceptional dining and unique shopping experiences available all year around, and every season brings some different and wonderful recreational activities. These are just a few of the many fabulous pursuits that you may like to enjoy during your visit to Ouray.
Soak Your Troubles Away in the Hot Springs
Ouray is famous for its incredible sulfur-free hot springs, and there are several available to the public. While many people enjoy a dip in the hot springs after a full day of playing in the snow, the springs provide a wonderful way to relax and unwind all year around. Visitors are welcome to have a soak at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, the European-style Wiesbaden Hot Springs or the naturally landscaped pools at the Orvis Hot Springs.
A Paradise for Off-Road Enthusiasts
If your heart rate increases at the mere thought of an off-road adventure, then Ouray is the place that you want to be. With hundreds of miles of the best roads for this type of activity, you’ll be able to spend the spring, summer and fall months exploring terrain that ranges from easy enough for beginners to extremely difficult for those who must have a great challenge. Expect to travel among high mountain passes and the most rugged winding roads, and you’ll enjoy incredible scenery wherever you roam. Alpine Scenic Jeep Tours is just one of the great area companies that can get you out on the off-road experience of a lifetime.
An Incredible Drive
Those who enjoy a scenic drive are sure to love the trip that takes you from Telluride to Ouray on the San Juan Skyway. If you choose to travel the entire 236-mile loop, your route will take you through several towns in the mountains with elevations that range from 6,200 feet to over 11,000 feet. It’s open all year, but it’s sometimes closed during times of heavy snow. Spring, summer and fall are excellent seasons for enjoying the natural beauty of the area, and you’ll travel through historic mining towns, wonderful alpine forests, prehistoric Indian ruins and large cattle ranges.
A Different Kind of Fun in the Ouray Ice Park
There may have been a time when enthusiastic rock climbers had to wait out the winter to enjoy their sport, but you won’t have to wait any longer because you can learn to climb the ice at this great park. Like nothing you’ve ever experienced before, the Ouray Ice Park is perfectly situated in an amazing natural gorge. Visitors may enjoy over 200 climbing experiences that range from easy to challenging and consist of both straight ice climbs and mixed climbs on ice and rock. Incredibly, it’s free to enjoy for locals and visitors alike. Climbing clinics and lessons are available regularly.
Water Fun Under the Sun
Those visiting during warm-weather months are naturally drawn to the water, and you’ll find many wonderful water activities throughout Ouray. Tubing is really popular, and there are tube rentals available on the Uncompahgre River during the summer months. During the spring runoff, a more wild ride is available with whitewater rafting down the Gunnison River Gorge. Stand-up paddle boarding, boating, fishing and swimming are also favorite area pastimes.
Hiking in the Clean Mountain Air
It’s easy to understand why doctors in the old days recommended a brisk walk in the fresh air for better health, and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy nearly 80 amazing walking trails in the Ouray area. Nature abounds, and you’ll see plenty of the area’s flora and fauna as you navigate these trails. This is the perfect activity for anyone because there are trails that are easy to navigate for families with young children and trails that present a challenge for the more experienced hiking enthusiast.
Start Planning Your Telluride Vacation Today
Contact us here at Telluride Rentals to make reservations for your luxury vacation home for your preferred dates, and our friendly staff will be happy to help you make plans for a wonderful day trip to incredible Ouray.