Best Hiking in Southwestern Colorado around Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake

An opinionated guide to the best hikes in one of Colorado’s best hiking areas, the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado around the towns of Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake City, Colorado. The trails in this guide, best hiked between mid-July and mid-September, appeal to day hikers who like to go high and walk 6.0 to 12.5 miles/day. Elevation gains range from 1,000 to 3,500-ft. Many of the hikes offer great intermediate turnaround points for those seeking a shorter day. All are reached in less than an hour drive from four great base camps; Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake City. The first section of the guide describes the base camps, identifying local services, highlighting nearby attractions and suggesting activities for non-hiking/rainy days. The second section offers detailed trail description with ratings, elevation profiles, maps and photographs of the recommended hikes.

• Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Lake City (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
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• The Best Durango Hikes: Colorado Mountain Club Pack Guide
• Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas: A Guide to the Area's Greatest Hiking Adventures (Regional Hiking Series)
• Durango, Cortez (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
• Southwest Colorado High Country Day Hikes: Ouray, Silverton, Lk City
• Weminuche Wilderness (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
• Telluride Trails: Hiking Passes, Loops, and Summits of Southwest Colorado (The Pruett Series)
• Off-Highway Map for Silverton, Ouray, Lake City, Telluride Colorado
• Best Summit Hikes in Colorado: An Opinionated Guide to 50+ Ascents of Classic and Little-Known Peaks from 8,144 to 14,433 feet