Ouray Weekend — Ouray, Colorado#

Dates: Sat Aug 22 – Sun Aug 23, 2026 From: Salt Lake City, UT Distance: ~370 mi each way (~6 hrs driving) Style: Hotel in town, one big scenic day Purpose: Waterfalls, the Million Dollar Highway, and a slow weekend

Ouray sits in a box canyon at 7,800 feet, walled in on three sides by the San Juans — the reason it gets called the Switzerland of America. Two waterfalls are inside town limits. The Million Dollar Highway climbs south out of it over Red Mountain Pass to Silverton, and is the whole reason to come.

The pace here is deliberately loose: drive somewhere beautiful, stop whenever something looks worth stopping for, eat, return to the hotel. Only one thing is scheduled per day.

See also: Colorado

Day 1 — Drive in, Ouray night#

Supplies on the drive. If the route runs down US-6 through Price, the Walmart Supercenter there is open until 11 PM and is roughly the halfway mark. Snacks, drinks, toiletries, swimsuit gear — anything forgotten. Better than a special shopping trip once in Ouray.

On arrival. Check in, unpack, shower, decompress. Nothing else is planned.

Dinner#

Late arrival is likely, so ordered by closing time:

After dinner the night is intentionally empty — hotel room, drinks, sleep.

Day 2 — Waterfalls + Million Dollar Highway#

The main adventure day.

Box Cañon Falls#

Box Cañon Falls Park, first thing. The Falls Trail is only about a 500-foot walk into the canyon and puts you beside a 285-foot waterfall. The High Bridge Trail adds about a half-mile round trip with views back over town.

Budget 60–90 minutes for both.

Million Dollar Highway — stop order#

From Box Cañon, continue south on US-550. Stops in order:

1. Box Cañon Falls — waterfall and gorge.
2. Uncompahgre Gorge — very close to Box Cañon. Quick look into the gorge and Via Ferrata area.
3. Amphitheater Campground overlook — short detour off 550. Drive toward the upper campground for the view back toward Ouray.
4. Switzerland of America Lookout — the classic Ouray overlook.
5. Bear Creek Falls — must stop. About 2.3 mi farther south. Viewing platform looks straight down into the gorge.
6. Crystal Lake — easy roadside stop, mountains reflected in the water.
7. Ironton / mining district — mining ruins and abandoned buildings. The red mountains take over here.
8. Red Mountain Overlook — one of the best views of the trip.
9. Red Mountain Pass — ~11,000 ft. Pull into a safe turnout near the summit.
10. Silverton — historic downtown and lunch. Give it 1–2 hours rather than turning straight around.
11. Molas Pass overlook — bonus, 10–15 min south of Silverton. Worth it if visibility is good. Huge views across the San Juans.

Then turn around and drive back toward Ouray.

Rough schedule#

That leaves several hours before the drive home.

If there's time and energy left#

Cascade Falls, back in Ouray. A short but moderately steep quarter-mile walk to the base of a 270-foot waterfall.

Dinner#

Brickhouse 737 if it didn't happen on Day 1. For something more casual with mountain views: Ouray Brewery has a rooftop, Gold Belt Bar & Grill has a large outdoor patio.

Then head toward Salt Lake.

Practical Notes#

• Highgraders Holiday. Ouray's mining history celebration runs this weekend, with mining competitions and activities at Miner's Heritage Park. Worth wandering over if something is happening while downtown — not worth rearranging the scenic day around.
• Red Mountain Pass has no guardrails over long stretches and steep drop-offs. Fine in clear late-August weather; a different proposition in rain or low cloud.
• Silverton is the only real services stop between Ouray and Molas Pass. Fuel up before the pass.

Reference#

• Box Cañon Falls
• Million Dollar Highway
• Ouray city parks