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Exploring the Rocky Mountains
We love exploring, plain and simple. There's something about leaving the congestion and fast pace
of the civilized world and finding a little known or rarely visited corner of the planet, where you can relax and take in
the beauty and solitude of nature.
Out of all the incredible places I've had the priviledge to visit, one area stands out above the rest:
southwest Colorado. Called the "Switzerland of America", the area around Ouray will leave you breathless with towering
snow-covered peaks, lush Alpine meadows, and the most spectacular vistas you'll ever lay eyes on. Ouray itself is a small, quaint, friendly town nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. Known as the
"Jeep Capital of the World" for it's access to many miles of historic mining roads and off-highway 4x4 trails, Ouray
makes an awesome base camp for exploring the area.
The trails range from easy (for stock SUV's) to extremely difficult (short-wheelbase, heavily modified vehicles
required), and many of the passes reach or exceed 12,000 feet. Weather in the area can change drastically and without
warning, so make sure you do your homework and go prepared. For a comprehensive guide to the trails, mining roads, and
ghost towns in the area, check out Guide to Colorado Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells.
There are too many trails in the area to list, but here are some of the best:
You might want to check out these towns as well:
And if you're already in the area, check out the redrock regions of Utah near Moab. It's just a few hours from Ouray, and offers an exploration experience unique to the area. Like southwestern
Colorado, Moab caters to all manner of outdoor pursuits.
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