does anyone hit the 4 Wheel Drive roads around silverton/Creed/Ouray/Telluride area.

 

since no one has, I should say it is a great place to go. Not only is the view spectacular, but the roads are a blast to drive. This summer my dad, sister, and myself drove Black Bear Pass in the 01 Sporttrac. It was awsome, The beginning of the trail is fairly easy, but once you crest the top and head down a few miles, the road becomes really steep, rocky, and off camber. By the waterfalls, there is a section that is a little bit tricky, when you have only 2 wheels on the ground (front curbside, rear roadside, tipping on and off the front roadside) the tires slide a little bit. Just thought I would let you know, even if your driving through, I would recomend at least renting a jeep and have some fun on the 4 wheel drive roads.

 

hey Phillip, I don't know of any clubs specific to that area. Although if you did Black Bear maybe you recognize this pic? It's my explorer on black bear last year

 

yep, that was right after the steep off camber area, right before the narrow run, and after the narrow area, the tight switchbacks begin. I bet your explorer did good. The next time we wont take a stock vehicle down that road. Mabee a few mods before then.

Have you gone over stony pass around early to mid june. The snow is amazing. Hurricane pass is one to do, the veiw is amazing, especially running with 10-30 feet of snow beside you.

Here as a pic of como lake, viewd from Hurricane pass, the road leading from the lake is (I forgot name but sound like a fun road to run, I thing it is poughkspee or something)

sorry, pic was to big.

 

PhillipSVT, I didn't see this post earlier. My wife and I have been over Engineer pass a few times including last summer. Stayed in Ouray and took a rental Wrangler up the road just south of town. When I was a kid in the 'early ‘60’s my dad took us over Black Bear once. When we rented last summer they made me sign a statement that I wouldn't go over Black bear.

I have to say that little Wrangler did really well with 4 adults. I had taken my (now) wife’s Isuzu 4WD 'pup over twice before and I like the Jeep.


mattadams, I like that picture. Got my adrenalin flowing just seeing it. Every time I drive by the road to Black bear that happens. Maybe I'll take the guided tour one day next summer and rent another day. Sounds like a plan. We have also been over Imogene and Cinnamon passes. I'll see if I can dig up a picture to post.

 

geeky666, did you know that yankee boy basin is where they took the pic for the coors can, It is on one of the roads south of Ouray. Did you try out the hotsprings there in town, they are nice after a long day of hiking or driving. The highway itself is a neat drive from sillverton to ouray, Can see why they call it the milliondollar highway.

 

I didn't know about the Coors thing. I got a decent picture a few years ago though.

 

I have heard two different stories about the million dollar story. It took a million dollars per mile to construct or there is a million dollars (1930's?) worth of gold per mile in the road bed.

Haven't taken in the hot springs yet though we have passed by many times. Man I just love Colorado and especially the Ouray/Silverton area.

This thread got us thinking about 4th of July in Ouray this summer. We need to make the reservations soon.

 

yep, you got the location exactly! I remember that trail more vividly then most I've done.
Poughkeepsie Gulch is the trail your thinking of. Great trail. It was either that one or imogene that I came REAL close to rolling over on. I mean I had my left two wheels off the ground. I had to crank it hard left and floor it and that saved me from going over. had my heart pounding like crazy though! Never done hurricane pass, sounds cool though. By the way heres the trail writeup I wrote about our Colorado COlors run last year held in that area
http://www.explorer4x4.com/ccr_rep.htm

 

While on that drive experiencing million dollar views, you will also be driving over a million bucks because of the low grade gold ore used in the making of the highway, hense the name.