Ouray

Ouray Tourism Office / Visit Ouray / Ouray, CO

An Aha! moment in Ouray

San Juan Mountains; hot springs; historic downtown

Magnet mountain town

nature, learning, landmarks

Ouray is an alpine community at 7,800 feet, surrounded by 12,000- to 13,000-foot peaks, cliffs, waterfalls, and mountain valleys.

Discovery Waypoints

• Ouray Hot Springs / Natural Feature — Ouray Hot Springs is a natural hot-springs destination.
• Box Canyon Falls / Natural Feature — Box Cañon Falls is a waterfall at the end of Canyon Creek, where the creek joins the Uncompahgre River near Ouray.
• Perimeter Trail / Local Attraction — The Perimeter Trail is accessible from Box Cañon Falls Park.
• Million Dollar Highway / Landmark / Architecture — The Million Dollar Highway is also known as U.S. Route 550 and runs through the San Juan Mountains.
• Ouray County Museum / Museum / Learning
• Yankee Boy Basin / Natural Feature

Local Knowledge

• Ouray Hot Springs / Natural Feature — In winter, the hot springs are described alongside snow-covered peaks.
• Box Canyon Falls / Natural Feature — The 285-foot waterfall plunges into a narrow quartzite canyon.
• Perimeter Trail / Local Attraction — Box Cañon Falls Park provides access to the Perimeter Trail as well as a high bridge and nature center.
• Million Dollar Highway / Landmark / Architecture — The route from Ouray to Silverton is a 25-mile stretch of highway with narrow lanes, hairpin turns, and steep cliffs.
• Cascade Falls / Natural Feature — The Ouray city map lists Cascade Falls as a location with public restrooms.
• Wright Opera House / Landmark / Architecture — The Wright brothers built it in 1888 for the booming mining town, and it has hosted performances, films, lectures, and community gatherings for over a century.

From Ouray Hot Springs to Box Canyon Falls and Perimeter Trail, every stop can become an Aha! Discovery Point—helping visitors explore more deeply while connecting them to the businesses and stories that make Ouray distinctive.

Additional local facts are awaiting source verification. Place listings do not imply Aha! partnerships or installed Discovery Points.

Hero photograph: J.C. Wing / Pexels.

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