Spending a Weekend in Ouray, Colorado – Switzerland of America

Spending a weekend in Ouray, Colorado – Switzerland of America. Sharing some fun & adventurous things to do while you visit this cute mountain town!

Best Hikes To Do In Ouray, Colorado

Perimeter Trail – 6.0 mile trail with beautiful views of Ouray. If you hike 0.7 miles south on the cliff path, this will lead you to the base of Cascade Falls shown in the photo below.

Chief Ouray Mine Trail – a 4.3 mile out-and-back, challenging hike that leads you to an old mine shaft.

Upper Box Canyon Falls and Lower Box Canyon Falls are two popular, easy hikes. Take note they do require a $5 admission fee and no dogs are allowed.

Silvershield Trail – 4.1 mile out-and-back, challenging hike.

Adventurous Things To Do In Ouray, Colorado

Drive Imogene Pass for stunning views. You will pass through Tomboy Townsite, once known as one of the most active mining towns in Colorado. Be mindful this road is rocky, steep and narrow, so be sure to travel this road with a 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle.

Visit the former mining ghost towns.

Experience one of the three Via Ferratas Ouray has to offer for an exhilarating experience in the San Juan Mountains.

Be a miner for a day on the Bachelor Syracus Mine Tour.

Drive the Million Dollar Highway for some stunning views! Drive from Ouray to Silverton – be sure to stop at the Switzerland of America sign right outside of Ouray.

Do some off roading on class 1 – class 5 trails. You can rent an off-highway vehicle in town.

Where To Camp

If you’re looking for campsites, Angel Creek Campground, Amphitheater Campground and Thistledown Campground all have stunning views of the San Juan mountain range in the Rockies. You can make reservations at the Amphitheater Campground. However, Angel Creek and Thistledown Campground are first-come, first-serve. We stayed at Thistledown Campground right on Canyon Creek – this campsite is one of the best we’ve stayed at!