Mineral County, Colorado
Top Spots in and near Mineral County
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Telluride, Colorado
Drive Black Bear Pass & the Ingram Basin
5.012 mi / 3000 ft gainBlack Bear Pass (el. 12,840’), officially known as Forest Service Road 648, is an infamous 4WD road that runs between U.S. Highway 550 (between Silverton & Ouray) and Telluride, CO. From the pass downhill through the Ingram Basin to Telluride, the road is one-way and features switchbacks and ...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Engineer Mountain via Cold Bank Pass
5.05.85 mi / 2293 ft gainWe were vacationing in the San Juan Mountains for 2 weeks. A local resident suggested the hike as a great place to see wildflowers. The "Engineer Mountain" sounded a bit too technical to be a scenic hike but we decided to hike like a local and this was one of the best hikes we did in 2 weeks. Ac...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Backpack to Island Lake
5.08 mi / 3000 ft gainFrom the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. We camped on a little shelf above Island Lake, but you can camp anywhere you find a ni...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Upper Ice Lake
5.06.74 mi / 2464 ft gainFrom the Ice Lakes trailhead begin hiking through a meadow that quickly enters the forest and begins to climb. The trail will climb ~1,600 feet in the next two miles. As the trail climbs there is a scenic waterfall just over .5 miles, it is worth it to scamper up for a closer look (at ~1.0 miles ...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Climb Fuller Peak
3.0Begin by hiking the Ice Lakes Trail for 3.5 miles, which will take you to Ice Lake. From here, you can identify the obvious, delta-shaped mountain to climber's left, known as Fuller Peak (13,761ft). Hike cross country, directly toward the base of the North Ridge (right skyline), walking past Full...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Camp at South Mineral Campground
4.8Some general notes: South Mineral Campground does not take reservations - all sites are first come first served. There are an assortment of designated areas along South Mineral Road where dispersed camping is allowed so there is plenty of camping in the canyon on all but the busiest days, but y...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Columbine Pass via Purgatory Flats
5.034.52 mi / 6932 ft gainThis hike begins at the Purgatory Flats Trailhead across from the Purgatory resort. The register is about a hundred yards from the Trailhead and is located next to a trail map. From here you will begin your descent down into the flats, which is roughly a 600-700 foot descent over the course of ju...Read more -
Ridgway, Colorado
Ice Climb the Ouray Ice Park
5.0Over a mile of the Uncompahgre Gorge is farmed for ice every year and they have gotten very good at it!! The ice park begins at the southern edge of town and continues south through the gorge for approximately 1 mile. The ice park is typically open from mid December-late March.If you enjoy gettin...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Explore Clear Lake
5.0The road to Clear Lake offers wonderful views of the South Fork Mineral Creek, and the San Juan Mountains. Some people make the 9-mile round-trip hike with 2,600 feet of elevation gain, others drive as far as their vehicle will allow and hike from there, and some make the drive all the way up. It...Read more -
Ouray, Colorado
Lower Cascade Falls
3.00.5 miLocated within the picturesque town of Ouray, Colorado, Cascade Falls is what most city parks strive to be. This park and amazing waterfall are located on the edge of town along the longer 5+ mile Perimeter Trail and provides a place for picnics, relaxing, and further days hikes through connector...Read more -
Ridgway, Colorado
Explore Yankee Boy Basin and the San Juan Mountains
5.0While its nickname "The Switzerland of America" may have been invented by some overzealous marketers, Ouray, Colorado and the surrounding San Juan Mountains is a destination you won't want to skip. Expansive green valleys blanketed with wildflowers, distant snowcapped peaks, and hidden lakes will...Read more -
Ridgway, Colorado
Box Canyon Falls
5.00.57 mi / 243 ft gainBox Canyon Falls is located on the outskirts of Ouray, Colorado less than five minutes from downtown. The nearly 300 foot waterfall crashes through the canyon down to the town's hot springs. The park also features a bridge overlooking the waterfall, river, and the town of Ouray. To get to Box Ca...Read more -
Ridgway, Colorado
Soak at Ouray Hot Springs
4.0There are three different hot springs facilities to choose from in Ouray, notable for its proximity to the San Juan peaks. Orvis Hot Springs has seven pools, each ranging from between 98 and 112 degrees, with nice views to accompany your soak. Wiesbaden Hot Springs has a natural vaporcave, in add...Read more -
Lake City, Colorado
Backpack to Wetterhorn Basin
13 mi / 3000 ft gainThis trip is for the lover of solitude and the appreciator of the unscathed backcountry. Wetterhorn Basin is in the heart of the beautiful San Juan Mountain range in Southwestern Colorado.With a 4WD high clearance vehicle start at the West Cimarron Trailhead at 10,750 feet (38.1117N -107.5533W),...Read more -
Ophir, Colorado
"Iron Way" Telluride Via Ferrata
3.15 mi / 974 ft gainThe Via Ferrata is an incredible way to enjoy Telluride from above. If you and your group have rock climbing experience this will be right up your alley. If no experience rock climbing there are guided options with great shops from town that will help you along this route. Hike up to Bridal Veil...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Hike the First Fork/Red Creek Loop
9.8 mi / 2195 ft gainLeaving from Durango, head north on Florida Road/CR 240. From the intersection with County Road 250 (the last stoplight), drive about 8 miles until you reach Colvig Summer Camp. Turn northwest here. The road will soon narrow and turn to dirt - continue straight. 1 mile further, there will be a la...Read more