Ouray Colorado

One of Colorado’s most scenic and beautiful towns is nestled in a valley in the San Juan Mountains surrounded by 13,000 ft. rugged peaks and is known as the “Switzerland of America” – it is the town of Ouray Colorado. Since its incorporation in 1876, miners and mountain men started settling the location which became a mining boom town of over 2,600 people by 1880. The famous Ute Indian Chief Ouray and his wife Chipita and generations of Ute Indians had enjoyed this tribal land for hundreds of years before the new settlers arrived. Even though the number of town residents fell off after the Gold Rush and Silver Boom era, Ouray has always been a favorite destination for people around the world. The stunning beauty and location bring visitors back again and again to visit.

More Town Facts

Region: Southwest	County: Ouray
Latitude: 38.023217	Longitude: -107.672178	Elevation: 7,792 ft (2,375 m)

Many of the original Victorian style homes and businesses in Ouray can still be seen today, having been carefully restored to the beauty and charm of the last century. There is a mineral Hot Springs Pool in Ouray (the town was originally named “Uncompahgre” – the Ute word for hot water springs), and recreation is all around both winter and summer. If you enjoy hiking, the striking landscape will leave you breathless, and the Box Cañon Falls offer clear mountain streams and alpine wildflowers. Adventure can be found in the century-old ghost towns of Sneffels, Red Mountain Town, Animas Forks, and Mineral Point, as well as abandoned mines along the way.

Nearby Ouray you will find the beautiful Animas River which winds through a canyon and can only be really seen from the train high above. There are no roads along the river and even the view from the river itself can’t compare. Another amazing sight is Red Mountain Pass, which climbs a steep grade to an elevation of over 11,000 ft. It’s the dividing line between Ouray County and San Juan County and between the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests. As cars carefully navigate over the pass, you may find yourself holding your breath until you’re down the other side.

The entire area is a photographers dream and the camping, hiking, fishing and wildlife are abundant. If you want to spend some time exploring the history of the area, the Ouray Historical Museum is a treasure of information, collections, artifacts, and displays as well as interactive exhibits for children too. Whether you are indoors or outdoors exploring the beauty of the Colorado mountains, Ouray has something for everyone. Come see the “Switzerland of America” – Ouray Colorado!