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Ouray[dead link] is a small town in Southwestern Colorado, magnificently situated in the San Juan Mountains and nicknamed "The Switzerland of America" for its scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Get in

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Main Ave. Ouray, Colorado

Ouray is at the northern end of the Million Dollar Highway, a famously scenic stretch of road (US highway 550) through the San Juan Mountains with its southern terminus at Silverton (Colorado) | If you're arriving from Durango, plan to take an hour and a half on the road, which has many tight hairpin turns over high passes and deep valleys and is not for the faint of heart (Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray). The northern approach on US 550 from Montrose is less dramatic. There is no air service to Ouray, but Montrose (35 miles N)& Durango (72 miles S) has commuter air service linking to Denver and other major cities.

Get around

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See

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  • [formerly dead link] Box Canyon Falls, CR 361, ☏ +1 970 325-7080. 8AM - 8PM. Box Canyon Falls is a 285 foot waterfall that plummets into a narrow, quartite canyon with walls overhanging the falls by nearly 100 feet. The falls are reached via a short and easy 500-foot hike. $3 adults, $1.50 children (5-12 years), $2.50 seniors (65+). 
  • Ouray County Historical Museum, 420 6th Ave, ☏ +1 970 325-4576. originally St. Joseph’s Miners’ Hospital built in 1886, and experience the incredible history of this intimate mountain community. This museum offers an impressive mineral collection, Ute Indian artifacts, mine exhibits, an operating suite and patient room, Victorian era displays, historical exhibits of all kinds, photographs, and books— just for starters! The museum is child-friendly with an activity finder book and exhibits for little visitors. In addition, while you’re out on foot, be sure to make time for the Historical Walking Tour. Amazingly, almost all of Ouray’s permanent buildings built between 1880 –1900 are still standing and have been skillfully restored. Visitors can experience the same spectacular beauty of towering snow capped peaks, rushing rivers, healing springs, ravenous canyons, and majestic waterfalls that once inspired so many of the valley’s earliest inhabitants. 

Do

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Buy

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  • AGO Gallery, 445 Main St. Featuring Internationally and Nationally recognized artist Romagean Personne (National Museum of Women in the Arts) and a selection of Colorado's top artists. 
  • The Blue Pear, 405 Main St (on the south side of town at the Wright Opera House). Home accessories, body care, and curiosities. Browse a microcosm of eclectic and scrumptious goods: Santos statues, candles, hand-forged scissors, throws, aprons. 
  • Buckskin Booksellers, 505 Main St. A full-service bookstore with modern best sellers, local guidebooks & maps for hiking & 4-wheeling, Colorado history, geology, women of the west and other books. Also cards, posters, newspapers, magazines & gifts. 
  • Ivory's Trading Post, 737 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-0123. Handcrafted jewelry by artists Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Tommy Jackson, Rocki Gorman. Bronzes, paintings, handmade Navajo Rugs, Indian pottery, baskets, etc. 
  • North Moon Gallery, 505 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-4885. Fine art and craft galleries, featuring one-of-a-kind jewelry, paintings and Colorado landscape photography by Kathleen Norris Cook. 
  • Ouray Glassworks and Pottery, 619 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-0275. Watch Sam demonstrate the ancient art of glassblowing and enjoy Di's pottery made in Ouray. Made-in-Ouray artwork. 
  • Skol Studio Gallery, 812 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-7290. Skol Studio Gallery displays works of fine art by local and regional artists. Works include furniture, sculpture, paintings, and blown glass. Custom work is available by Jeff Skoloda. 
  • The Sock Mine, 722 Main Street (next door to Full Tilt Saloon in the Ouray Historical Society archives building), ☏ +1 903-235-6716, . "Fun by the Foot." Novelty socks (and some serious ones sprinkled in by request!) for all ages. Great gift ideas for friends and family, or just your own toesies. $. (updated Sep 2022)

Eat

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  • Backstreet Bistro, 636 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-0550. Open 365 days a year at 7AM, Full Breakfast, Bagels, Subs, Ice Cream, Pies, Cheesecakes, Pastries, Espresso, Beer, Wine, Smoothies. 
  • Bon Ton Restaurant, 426 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-4951. Upscale, casual dining experience with an Italian flair featuring fresh seafood, steaks, chops and pasta. 
  • Buen Tiempo, 515 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-4544. Southwest Mexican fare in a festive atmosphere. Ten different margaritas and microbrews on tap. Great food at great prices. 
  • Outlaw Restaurant, 610 Main St, ☏ +1 970 325-4366. Best steak and seafood in the area. The Outlaw provides a Western feel and Western music to complete the experience. 
  • [dead link] The Coachlight Restaurant, 118 W 7th Ave (west - toward river - 1.5 blocks off main street), ☏ +1 970 325-4361. 4PM - late. A family owned and operated restaurant, since 1968. Serving steaks, seafood, chicken, pasta, fish and ribs. $10-$40. 

Drink

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Sleep

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Beaumont Hotel
  • Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs, 45 Third Ave (Head west on Third Avenue. On the left in 1.5 blocks), ☏ +1 970 325-4981. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. The Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs is where you relax and rejuvenate after a day playing in the beautiful San Juan Mountains. Situated peacefully in the southwest corner of Ouray, the lodge offers extremely clean, attractively decorated rooms; from standard rooms with queen, king or two queen beds, to a beautifully designed honeymoon suite and larger two-room suites with or without kitchens and fireplaces. Guests especially enjoy the mineral springs hot tubs terraced on the mountainside, both during the daytime, with 360-degree views of the mountains, and into the evening under a blanket of stars. Revitalizing in the mineral springs is popular year-round. 
  • Christmas House Bed and Breakfast Inn, 310 Main St, toll-free: +1-888-325-9627. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Five luxury suites with private 2 person jacuzzis, private 2 person steam saunas, private fireplaces, Queen Beds, Private Baths, Sat TV/VCR/DVD, Free Movies, Free USA Long Distance Calls, Coffeemakers, CD Stereos, Microwaves, Refrigerators, Gourmet Menu Breakfasts served at your private table at your chosen time. $115 to $180. 
  • Spangler House B&B, 520 2nd St, toll-free: +1-800-468-4096. Check-in: 3:00, check-out: 11:00. A B&B located on a quiet street one block from Main Street that offers one luxurious suite and five charming guest rooms. All are individually and beautifully decorated. Each room features a unique iron bed that takes you back in time to the turn of the century. All rooms have either relaxing glider rockers or wing back chairs, private bath rooms, ceiling fans, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and in-room coffee or tea. Breakfast features fresh ground coffee, juice, a bowl of seasonal fruit and home baked muffins or coffeecake to whet your appetite for the hot delicious main dish. Offers a front room, den or sitting room to read, work on a puzzle or just sit back and enjoy the spectacular mountain views, as well as a pellet stove, redwood deck and hot tub. $85-$125 winter;$125-$180 summer. 
  • Black Bear Manor B&B. This country inn is the perfect oasis for rest, relaxation and reflection. Choose one tastefully decorated room, or take all nine including suites. The Black Bear Manor is perfect for Workshops, Retreats, Wedding groups and Family Reunions to gather and celebrate on the large decks beneath the Mountain Peaks. Sit back, leave the cares of the outside world behind as you enjoy our rural Colorado countryside. You can sleep in and awaken to the smell of fresh baked goods wafting into your dreams. 
  • Beaumont Hotel -

Connect

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Go next

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Routes through Ouray
Ends at ← Montrose ←  N  S  → Silverton → Durango


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