WIJLU
Well-Known Member
Lot's of options at both places, and both places are incredible, but they are vastly different from each other.
Ouray: One day could be spent running Mineral Creek - Engineer Pass into Lake City. Then returning via Cinnamon Pass to Animas Forks - Then drop down into Silverton - Then back to Ouray on Hwy 550. This is a full day. As mentioned...Mineral Creek has gotten very rough over the past few years. Another option would be Corkscrew to California to Animas forks...this is much easier. From Animas Forks, pick up Engineer and continue on into Lake City. Return via Cinnamon as I described earlier.
Another day could be Imogene to Telluride, return to Ouray via Last Dollar Road (Brings you through Rigeway). This would be a full day.
A third day could be Black Bear to Telluride, return to Ouray via Ophir. I would still run this as a full day...but it'll be the shortest of the three days.
These are "days" that I have done before that have worked out well...certainly not the only options.
Moab:
Shafer Switchbacks, Gemini Bridges, Fins-n-Things, Chicken Corners....all very fun, relatively easy trails. Hells Revenge, Top of the World, Golden Spike, Poison Spider, etc are great trails...more technical and probably a stretch for a stock Jeep...especially by yourself. Get a book on Moab trails and stay on the easier trails.
My opinion...Moab is MUCH more technical and will test your vehicle much more than the trails around Ouray will. I'm very comfortable running around the San Juans as a single vehicle...I won't venture too far off the easy trails in Moab alone.
Enjoy your trip!! You picked a couple of perfect areas to explore!!
Ouray: One day could be spent running Mineral Creek - Engineer Pass into Lake City. Then returning via Cinnamon Pass to Animas Forks - Then drop down into Silverton - Then back to Ouray on Hwy 550. This is a full day. As mentioned...Mineral Creek has gotten very rough over the past few years. Another option would be Corkscrew to California to Animas forks...this is much easier. From Animas Forks, pick up Engineer and continue on into Lake City. Return via Cinnamon as I described earlier.
Another day could be Imogene to Telluride, return to Ouray via Last Dollar Road (Brings you through Rigeway). This would be a full day.
A third day could be Black Bear to Telluride, return to Ouray via Ophir. I would still run this as a full day...but it'll be the shortest of the three days.
These are "days" that I have done before that have worked out well...certainly not the only options.
Moab:
Shafer Switchbacks, Gemini Bridges, Fins-n-Things, Chicken Corners....all very fun, relatively easy trails. Hells Revenge, Top of the World, Golden Spike, Poison Spider, etc are great trails...more technical and probably a stretch for a stock Jeep...especially by yourself. Get a book on Moab trails and stay on the easier trails.
My opinion...Moab is MUCH more technical and will test your vehicle much more than the trails around Ouray will. I'm very comfortable running around the San Juans as a single vehicle...I won't venture too far off the easy trails in Moab alone.
Enjoy your trip!! You picked a couple of perfect areas to explore!!
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