Alta Lakes – Easy

The 1870s mining town of Alta is on the National Register of Historic Places and Alta Lakes are picture postcard beautiful. This is 5 miles one way with a 1,700-foot elevation gain. Directions: go six miles south of Telluride on Hwy. 145 (toward Cortez) to Alta Lakes Road on the left. To reach the ghost town of Alta, stay on the main road for 4 miles. To get to the lakes, turn right at the town and follow the signs to Alta Lakes. High clearance vehicles are recommended.

Bridal Veil Falls - Easy

These stunning waterfalls, over 300 feet in length, entice many people to hike, bike, or four wheel drive up the road. From Pandora Mill to Bridal Veil waterfalls and the power plant, it is 1.8 miles and a 1,200 foot elevation gain. Directions: Go east through town on Colorado Avenue toward the mountain, pass the old Pandora Mill on your left, and follow the road marked County Road. Continue on this dirt road and go up the switchbacks for 1.2 miles to the bottom of falls, or go the extra .6 miles to the top of the falls. From here the traffic is one way from the other direction (Black Bear Pass), so you have to make a three point turnaround and head back to Telluride. You can hike beyond the privately owned historic power plant where the awesome Bridal Veil Basin, Blue Lake, and Silver Lake await you. There is no parking lot, however.

Black Bear Pass – Difficult

This is for expert 4WD drivers only. Black Bear Pass (Class 5) is a one way, 3.6 mile jeep ride from Red Mountain Pass (US550 between Silverton and Durango), and extreme caution must be taken coming down the switchbacks to the Bridal Veil Falls intersection above Telluride, a 2,520-foot elevation drop. The one-way road climbs gradually at onset before making a breathtaking plunge into Telluride alongside the 125-foot Ingram Falls, and past Bridal Veil Falls into the east end of the town.

Ilium Road/Ames Historic Site – Easy

Ames is the site of the country’s first alternating current power plant, built by L.L. Nunn, with engineering design by George Westinghouse of Nikola Tesla’s concept of alternating current electricity. To get there, bike or drive five miles west on Hwy. 145 from Telluride, then turn left at the “Ilium Road” turnoff that parallels the San Miguel River (south fork) to the historic Ames power plant. It is 6 miles one way with a 1,250-foot elevation gain.

Last Dollar – Moderate

A great drive with terrific views everywhere you look, this road is not to be missed. Access: 3 miles west of town on Hwy. 145, turn right on the airport road and follow it for 2 miles to the dirt road that forks north just before the airport. Continue north to Hwy. 62 where an inspiring panorama of mountain peaks awaits you at Dallas Divide on the way to Ridgway, Ouray, or Montrose. A longer loop for 4WD vehicles is available by following Last Dollar Road, then descending to Sawpit and Hwy.145 via Rd. 58P.

Ophir Pass – Moderate

If Imogene Pass wasn’t enough, try spectacular Ophir Pass. From Telluride, drive south on Hwy. 145 for 8 miles. Turn left onto a dirt road (watch for “post office” sign) and proceed through “old” Ophir to the pass road. Ophir Pass climbs six miles above timberline over a scree field to the 12,789-foot summit, a 2,480-foot elevation gain. Return via the same route, or continue down to Red Mountain Pass (US550) and make a long loop back to town via Ouray. 4WD required.

Tomboy Road- Moderate to Difficult

Moderate to Difficult (3-4 on a scale of 5, most difficult)
Be prepared for the rugged five-mile road to the fascinating town of Tomboy (2,650 foot elevation gain) by taking plenty of water, food or snacks, and warm clothing. It is 7 miles to Imogene Pass (at 13,114 feet, it is a 4,350 elevation gain) and 18 miles total to Ouray. Start in town at the north end of Oak Street and turn right on the dirt road (Tomboy Road). Continue past the waterfalls and through a tunnel to arrive at the mining camp of Tomboy. The road continuing on to the pass is a steep grade with loose rock and, after that, a steeper downhill ride to Ouray. Several paths at the top of the pass lead to peaks. You can take a side trip by making a left turn (marked) and explore the raw beauty of Yankee Boy Basin; continuing toward Ouray, you’ll pass by Camp Bird, historically one of the richest gold mines in the country. If you’re going straight to Ouray with no stops, expect this trip to take at least two hours. However, the views and exploration possibilities will probably overwhelm you, so it is a good idea to plan to spend most or a good part of the day checking out this amazing area!