One of my favorite adventures as a trail runner was in 2018, when I run/hiked from Telluride over Imogene Pass to meet my husband at the Ouray Hot Springs pool. We were on our way to Silverton after a few days in Telluride, so while I ran/hiked over the pass, he went grocery shopping in Ridgway and met me (with my swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes) at the pool. Descending Camp Bird Road, knowing I was going to get a nice soak in the pool, was an awesome feeling! Afterward, we went to Maggie's Kitchen for a delicious burger and fries before checking out Ouray Mountain Sports. What a perfect day in the San Juan's! Can't wait to go back :-)
I moved to Ouray in 1991 and lived there until 1995. I remember walking my dog on the dead quiet snowy streets at night. Seemed like it snowed every night back then. One days long storm in March was marked by the death of one of the snow plow drivers, Eddie Immel (hopefully I remembered his name correctly) on Red Mountain Pass, where the snow shed is now. My first Imogene Pass Run was in 1992. I registered with a newspaper clipping and got a sweet cotton T shirt. I could go on…Thank you for reminding me of these memories.
Love Ouray. We have visited only in the summer but we enjoyed the town, the ambience and the lack of black top streets.
My favorite memory of hot springs was rewarding ourselves after hiking Pikes Peak via the Crags Trail (the back route) and then spending the next fews at Mount Princeton Hot Springs.
Yes, I love Mount Princeton Hot Springs too! The High Lonesome 100 race starts/finishes there, so I’ve stayed there twice and soaked the day after that grueling ultra.
Steepest trails in the west! And where Rick Trujillo still lives (5X Pikes Peak winner, HR100, etc.)
Ouray Hot Springs is great, and you left out Orvis HS and the Wiesbaden! Which are the opposites of the big city pool (Orvis is [or was] clothing optional and the Wiesbaden's vapor caves are something else).
I visited Ouray once as a kid (I grew up in Colorado Springs, and my family camped around the state). We stayed at Ridgway State Park and went to the hot springs which was fun, and spent some time in town. I would love to return now that I’m a trail runner to explore the trails in the area!
Awesome post!!! I’ve never been to Ouray that I remember but spent childhood summers in Breckenridge helping build houses. I remember Leadville and Alma and Dillion and Silverthorn. The special trip to Greenwood springs for the hot springs with the tube slide, and the organ grinder in Denver. I remember coming back to NY sleeping in the cab of the truck and hearing back to back explosions as we hit Kansas and the beers my father had been bringing back from Colorado exploded all over the back because of the altitude change 🤣❤️
Love Ouray! My brother and I visited around 2018, both flying in from sea level. We stayed in Ridgeway and had planned a rather ambitious run up to and beyond the Bridge of Heaven. Having made every possible mistake one can make at elevation including drinking too much beer and not enough water we turned around at about 11k feet with pounding headaches and ballooning extremities. We managed the perimeter trail the next day and had a wonderful time regardless.
I too have such fond memories of us Lavender kids playing at the Ouray Hot Springs! The ice pick climbing photos are amazing! You look so happy in the picture of you and your dog Daisy! I enjoy your vivid writing in your substack entries!
One of my favorite adventures as a trail runner was in 2018, when I run/hiked from Telluride over Imogene Pass to meet my husband at the Ouray Hot Springs pool. We were on our way to Silverton after a few days in Telluride, so while I ran/hiked over the pass, he went grocery shopping in Ridgway and met me (with my swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes) at the pool. Descending Camp Bird Road, knowing I was going to get a nice soak in the pool, was an awesome feeling! Afterward, we went to Maggie's Kitchen for a delicious burger and fries before checking out Ouray Mountain Sports. What a perfect day in the San Juan's! Can't wait to go back :-)
And I can’t wait to see you and have you pace me!! I’m so grateful for your support.
The San Juan's look epic
I moved to Ouray in 1991 and lived there until 1995. I remember walking my dog on the dead quiet snowy streets at night. Seemed like it snowed every night back then. One days long storm in March was marked by the death of one of the snow plow drivers, Eddie Immel (hopefully I remembered his name correctly) on Red Mountain Pass, where the snow shed is now. My first Imogene Pass Run was in 1992. I registered with a newspaper clipping and got a sweet cotton T shirt. I could go on…Thank you for reminding me of these memories.
But don’t leave out the fact you nailed the Ouray 100!!
Love Ouray. We have visited only in the summer but we enjoyed the town, the ambience and the lack of black top streets.
My favorite memory of hot springs was rewarding ourselves after hiking Pikes Peak via the Crags Trail (the back route) and then spending the next fews at Mount Princeton Hot Springs.
Yes, I love Mount Princeton Hot Springs too! The High Lonesome 100 race starts/finishes there, so I’ve stayed there twice and soaked the day after that grueling ultra.
Thanks for reading.
Steepest trails in the west! And where Rick Trujillo still lives (5X Pikes Peak winner, HR100, etc.)
Ouray Hot Springs is great, and you left out Orvis HS and the Wiesbaden! Which are the opposites of the big city pool (Orvis is [or was] clothing optional and the Wiesbaden's vapor caves are something else).
I haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Wiesbaden but sounds like we should.
"sounds" indeed: It's the best place ever to practice your Tibetan multiphonic chanting!
I visited Ouray once as a kid (I grew up in Colorado Springs, and my family camped around the state). We stayed at Ridgway State Park and went to the hot springs which was fun, and spent some time in town. I would love to return now that I’m a trail runner to explore the trails in the area!
Awesome post!!! I’ve never been to Ouray that I remember but spent childhood summers in Breckenridge helping build houses. I remember Leadville and Alma and Dillion and Silverthorn. The special trip to Greenwood springs for the hot springs with the tube slide, and the organ grinder in Denver. I remember coming back to NY sleeping in the cab of the truck and hearing back to back explosions as we hit Kansas and the beers my father had been bringing back from Colorado exploded all over the back because of the altitude change 🤣❤️
Love Ouray! My brother and I visited around 2018, both flying in from sea level. We stayed in Ridgeway and had planned a rather ambitious run up to and beyond the Bridge of Heaven. Having made every possible mistake one can make at elevation including drinking too much beer and not enough water we turned around at about 11k feet with pounding headaches and ballooning extremities. We managed the perimeter trail the next day and had a wonderful time regardless.
I too have such fond memories of us Lavender kids playing at the Ouray Hot Springs! The ice pick climbing photos are amazing! You look so happy in the picture of you and your dog Daisy! I enjoy your vivid writing in your substack entries!
Love you sis :-)