If you don't take the kids on the Durango-Silverton RR, you are a failure as a parent. I USUALLY stay in Durango, but Ouray is super. Much better than Silverton with kids involved.
Recs Needed -- Ouray
- Thread starter ntexascardfan
- Start date
Ouray. Took my family there back in 2009 and stayed for a week. Loved it.
We stayed at Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs. Clean and comfortable.
Town has a good number of shops, restaurants and bar & grills.
We booked a horseback ride one day, went on a day hike another day, booked a white water rafting trip on the Uncompadre River, and then a Jeep tour up to Yankee Boy Basin (saw multiple beautiful waterfalls)
In short, we loved the place.
We stayed at Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs. Clean and comfortable.
Town has a good number of shops, restaurants and bar & grills.
We booked a horseback ride one day, went on a day hike another day, booked a white water rafting trip on the Uncompadre River, and then a Jeep tour up to Yankee Boy Basin (saw multiple beautiful waterfalls)
In short, we loved the place.
Ouray has great old mining/engineering trails. You can rent and try yourself or go on guided trips. We've done several. Always rent from Switzerland of America Jeep Rentals- https://soajeep.com/
Have stayed at several hotels over the years but preference is Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs. If you're driving in from Durango, you'll go through Silverton on the way, and then the Million Dollar Highway.
As far as mining roads, our favorites are Imogene (connects Ouray and Telluride) and Governor's Basin. Engineer Pass is cool too, but is an all day trip to Lake City and back which may not work with little kids (it's always just been my wife and I, our kids are grown). I've never done Blackbear (and they won't let you take a rental vehicle over it). If you're thinking of trying that, google the jeep tumbling down it this summer. Not for the faint of heart.
A week may be too much in either place, but you could also head up to Crested Butte for a few days.
Edited to add: If you're thinking about renting a jeep on your own and not getting a guided ride, I highly recommend getting an automatic transmission no matter how familiar you are with manuals and always go with 4-doors longer wheel base.
Have stayed at several hotels over the years but preference is Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs. If you're driving in from Durango, you'll go through Silverton on the way, and then the Million Dollar Highway.
As far as mining roads, our favorites are Imogene (connects Ouray and Telluride) and Governor's Basin. Engineer Pass is cool too, but is an all day trip to Lake City and back which may not work with little kids (it's always just been my wife and I, our kids are grown). I've never done Blackbear (and they won't let you take a rental vehicle over it). If you're thinking of trying that, google the jeep tumbling down it this summer. Not for the faint of heart.
A week may be too much in either place, but you could also head up to Crested Butte for a few days.
Edited to add: If you're thinking about renting a jeep on your own and not getting a guided ride, I highly recommend getting an automatic transmission no matter how familiar you are with manuals and always go with 4-doors longer wheel base.
love Ouray. Been going up there for over fifty years now. Great spot for families. We found a nice house on VRBO last year. Always stayed at the Box Canyon Lodge before that. Easy drive over to Telluride. Some nice Jeep trails. City pool is hot springs heated.
Is the train ride really worth 3.5 hrs each way? 7hrs on a train sounds like a lot to ask of my kids
