Word's don't adequately describe the wildflower beauty you'll see on the San Juan OHV trails.  We always encourage that you "Tread Lightly" to the benefit of the next in line.  There are a few dozen alpine and sub-alpine flowers that make SW Colorado their home.  It is a short season - from snowpack, to fields of flowers, to the fall freeze and recurring long winter.  "This is a bucket list thing."

A lot of folks not only love the off-road RZR adventures, they also put on the hiking boots and augment their adventure on a hiking trail.  For Ride-N Adventures in Ouray, it is possible to rent and drive a RZR to the top of Yankee Boy Basin, park and hike for a bit, and then return down past Twin Falls, and on via Camp Bird Road.  For the hiking part, we recommend the trail by Wrights Lake up to the Blue Lakes pass, where you can see the three lakes below.  To the right is the trail up to the summit of Mt. Sneffels, and way off in the distance you'll see the Grand Mesa.  At this point to the south, out of view, behind a couple of peaks and a couple of miles south is Telluride.

The San Juans have incredible hiking paths, and wise and experienced hikers are well prepared and know the weather.  Bare minimum hiking gear you’ll want:
  - Backpack
  - Hiking Poles
  - Hat
  - Good boots with ankle support
  - Snacks, Water, Sunblock
  - Sunglasses
  - Clothing comfortable for hiking and weather changes

The Ouray County Road and Bridge Department goes to work in the spring to clear the trails for summer enjoyment.  For Imogene Pass, road clearance and opening can be as late as the Fourth of July on heavy snow years.  It is amazing to consider that underneath that snow are the alpine flowers that peak their blooms in  July through August.  Below is a picture of some early season riders encountering the deep drifts at the start of Governor Basin.  Here is the communication link the Ouray County road department uses to update the public regarding road and trail conditions, and snow clearance:

https://www.facebook.com/OurayCountyRoadandBridge/

San Juan County has a rich mining history, and as a result, many mining trails lead up gorges and gulches, connecting the mill to the mines.  You'll experience the refreshing coolness of pure high mountain air and  pine forest scents, with waterfalls, streams, and snowbanks along the way.  You can easily plan multiple day OHV rides beginning at this starting point.  With delivery and pick up service, we make it simple to enjoy the trails and experience the many wonderful sites in the San Juans.

​Plan your trip carefully, as the time can pass quickly.  Silverton does not allow UTV/ATV/SxS traffic inside the city limits, so you first planning decision is - will you go to the edge of town, park, and walk into town (see map below)?  If not, then you will want to pack snacks, drinks, and a lunch, and carry those onboard.  San Juan County enforces ordinances requiring helmets to be worn by anyone under age 18, and eye protection for occupants in OHV's without full windshields.  Here is the link to the OHV ordinances:  
https://sanjuancounty.colorado.gov/sites/sanjuancounty/files/2020-02/ohv_ordinance_2017-02.pdf

​Your chosen routes in San Juan County, when entering from Corkscrew Gulch, typically involve Hurricane and California Passes and down California Gulch to the Animas Forks ghost town.  From this point, you will have options for the many gulches that exist between Animas Forks and Silverton, along San Juan County Road 2.  The longer routes to the east include Engineer, Cinnamon, and Stony Passes.  Gulches to the west along County Road 2 include Picayne and Eureka, and to the east Minnie, Maggie, and Arrastra, to mention a few.  Side gulches, given an eight hour rental block (9/10 am to 5/6 pm), can consume some time with stops for view, pictures, exploration, etc., so plan accordingly - time flies by with much to see and experience, and you'll need to be back at the drop point at the agreed upon time.

The San Juan mountains of SW Colorado offer dynamic and exciting opportunities every season of the year.  Summer and fall are the ideal times for off-roading on the rugged trails.  Winter and spring provide snow, ice, and mud, but yet adventure still awaits even then while our side-by-sides are parked away.  Seasonal changes feature bursting waterfalls, colorful flowers, wondering wildlife, vegetation such as mushrooms, trees with changing leaf colors, and snowfields and ice columns - to mention a few!  The fresh smell of pine fills the air all year long.  Birds of the San Juans offer beautiful harmony and color. Mountain top views stretch over a hundred miles.

You will want to visit Ouray and witness this beauty of changing seasons for yourself– and your off-road side-by-side rental will provide the freedom and exhilaration you will appreciate.  Typical peak dates in the San Juan area feature the 25th of the month - July 25 for flowers, September 25 for leaves, February 25 for ice, and May 25 for waterfalls.  There is something to see, do, and enjoy anytime inbetween.  Combine your love of off-roading and love of hiking together, and you can experience the beauty of all seasons in the San Juans and Ouray.  We look forward to seeing you!

Weather changes occur as your elevation changes.  Your off-roading adventure from Ouray starts at roughly 7800' in elevation, and can reach over 13000' at the top of Imogene Pass, or over 12000' up Yankee Boy or Corkscrew.  A  temperature drop of 30 to 40 degrees is common.  It can rain, sleet, hail, and snow 12 months of the year, and all within an hour of being 75 degrees.   As a result, take precautions and be ready with appropriate layered clothing and protection.  80 degrees in Ouray often translates to a pleasant 60 degrees  up on top, without cloud cover.  Summer clouds develop in the morning to  produce dramatic differences in the afternoon, with showers and thunderstorms rumbling.  After a short dry period in the San Juans occurs, a dusty OHV trail can hamper visibility, and eye protection is appreciated.  As always, you will want to allow plenty of room between vehicles.  Slick rocks are just that – so you will want to use extra driving caution when the road surface is wet.  The rugged OHV trails around Ouray are perfect for experiencing the "Great Outdoors."  Leave the Indy driving back there!

Ouray County butts up to San Juan, San Miguel, Montrose, and Hinsdale counties.  San Juan County is home to Silverton, while San Miguel is home to Telluride.  Hinsdale county is home to Lake City.  All these counties offer inspiring and dramatic options for off-roading on old mining trails.  If choosing to ride in any of these, know the city and county requirements.  In San Juan County, anyone under 18 must be wearing a helmet, and if your rental OHV doesn't have a full windshield, then eyewear must be worn.

Ride-N is glad to help - just stop by our office to discuss prior to your rental.  All Ride-N vehicles are registered as required with the State of Colorado, and we are licensed to operate in our adjacent national forests.  We have a selection of helmets available as part of your rental.  As outdoor advocates, we promote enjoyable recreation for all, but also encourage responsible and educated use so these quality experiences are preserved for others.

How do you rent a vehicle in Ouray, and then get it to the trailhead for riding on the Ouray or San Juan county roads?  Answer - from us as we deliver them for you, and then give you instructions, along with a map (download Corkscrew map here):  

 Corkscrew Start to San Juan County Trails:
https://www.ride-n.com/uploads/5/5/1/4/55142401/corkscrew_2024_map_600_dpi.jpg

A side-by-side rental for riding the trails in San Juan county is an all-day or multi-day event.  It starts with vehicle pickup and orientation 8 miles south of Ouray at the Corkscrew / Ironton Park turnoff.  A parking area is available, and this is where your adventure will begin.

Ouray County Road 20A takes you to the top of Corkscrew, between breathtaking Red Mountains 1-3.  Here you enter San Juan County and the road becomes San Juan County Road 11.  You'll descend down and can turn  left on SJCR10 towards Hurricane Pass and beyond.  Be aware that a turn to the right on SJCR10 (becomes SJCR110)  towards Silverton will provide access to certain gulches, but Silverton doesn't allow UTV's on the streets, and OHV access towards Silverton along SJCR10 / 110 ends at Hancock Gulch, 1.5 miles from Silverton.  This means if  you want to see Silverton as part of your OHV rental, your best access will be over Hurricane and California passes to Animas Forks, and then down SJCR2 to the edge of town.  If  you choose to make Silverton part of your adventure, you will want to be aware of the San Juan County and Silverton regulations:
​ https://sanjuancounty.colorado.gov/atv-regulations-map#:~:text=Are%20Off%20Highway%20Vehicles%20(OHV,bikes%20in%20the%20Town%20limits.

OK - so many options, so little time!  Plan carefully your time, including stops for pictures and lunch.  Your day's rental time goes by quickly, and San Juan County provides many, many incredibly beautiful trail options.  Each gulch provides a glimpse of history, and provides breathtaking views.  Summer and fall seasons, with flowers and leaves - will have your camera's shutter clickin'! 

For a multi-day rental, you can have your rental delivered daily, whereby you have the rental back at the drop point by 5:00 pm each day, and then delivered to the trailhead the next day. Overnight lodging is available in Silverton and Lake City.  You would plan ahead with reservations for the lodging, and ensure you would be able to safely park and secure the rental vehicle overnight.  Both towns can be quite busy during flower and leaf seasons, so pre-planning can be helpful.

Here are a few sample views from the gulches, passes, and ghost towns that you can ride on in San Juan county.  Buckle up, and enjoy!
​

The San Juans offer unbelievable views and trails not only for Side-by-sides, but also for bikes.  In addition to RZR, Ranger, and ATV's, we offer adventure bike rentals and fleet tours, dependent on availability.  Here we see tour guide Jamen coming down Hurricane Pass just prior to the turn up Corkscrew Gulch.  Our fleet rentals and tours occur throughout the Western U.S., and are perfect for corporate and event outings.   Call for details and to plan your event.