 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!  Top of Corkscrew looking west  Going up Hurricane Pass - looking back towards Corkscrew & Red Mountain 2&3  SJCR51 - Minnehaha & Gold King  SJCR35, Prospect Gulch underneath Red Mountain #3  Silverton looking north west towards San Juan County Road 110, which is off-limits for approaching Silverton. To the right is SJCR2 leading to many beautiful gulches and passes. ATV /UTV's are allowed to operate and safely park on SJCR2, beyond 19th Street and on up San Juan County Road 2
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