Looking for things to do in Ouray, Colorado? Read on for fun trip inspo for Ouray, Colorado in summer.
My family of two adults, two teens, and a tween visited the Ouray area in mid-June. The following photos belong to me and are highlights from our Ouray vacation.
Things to Do in Ouray in Summer
Ouray is an outdoor paradise for adventurers of all levels. This Colorado town is located in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado.
Fun facts about Ouray: The small alpine town of Ouray is about 7800 feet in elevation. Completely surrounded by scenic mountains, Ouray is nicknamed the “Switzerland of America.”
Attractions in Ouray Colorado
In the summer, Ouray’s popular attractions include hiking, ATV and Jeep tours, climbing, marveling at waterfalls and mountain views and soaking in natural hot springs.
Yankee Boy Basin
There are seemingly endless ATV and hiking trails around Ouray, but one of the most popular areas to do these activities is at Yankee Boy Basin.
As you can see in our photo above, there’s still snow on the ground at this high elevation in June!
We brought our ATV from home, but if you plan ahead there are plenty of local businesses that will take you on tours or rent an off road vehicle to you.
Box Canyon Waterfall and Park
Spend an hour or two strolling at the Box Canyon Waterfall and Park area. The trails eventually lead you to where a waterfall rushes out through narrow canyon walls.
Ouray Hot Springs Pool
Relax and soak in the sights surrounding the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. A variety of outdoor hot springs pools and waterslides are fun for everyone.
Pick the pool with the water temperature that you want, and soak your cares away.
Lower Cascade Trails and Falls
Looking for a quick and relatively easy waterfall hike? The Lower Cascade Falls trail starts on Ouray’s Main Street!
The waterfalls are so beautiful. You may even want to bring a picnic to enjoy while you’re here.
Ouray Mine Tours
We took the Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour and recommend it to everyone. The Mine Tour guide told us all about the interesting history of the mine as we walked 1500 feet back into the mountain.
It was super fun to put on hard hats and learn about the history of mining in Colorado. All of us – especially the kids – were really into it!
As part of our tour, we got to do a little gold-panning outside the mine. Unfortunately, we did not strike it big this time. Maybe next time!
Ouray Dining
The Main Street of Ouray is home to so many restaurants! We ate out at a different place every single day for a week with no repeats.
I chose to picture the Ouray Brewery (above) because in addition to great food and drink, it’s got one of the best outdoor rooftops in town. Perfect place to people watch while you dine.
Want to Visit Ouray?
Ouray is one of the most scenic mountain towns in North America. If you’re into nature and the outdoors, Ouray is THE PERFECT PLACE to go.
Although I am partial to the mountain wildflowers and flowing waterfalls of summer, Ouray is also a winter destination.
Once temperatures go down to freezing, the tiny town of Ouray turns into the ice climbing capital of the world. One of these years, we will have to go see what the Ouray Ice Climbing Festival is all about!
Another amazing Colorado town to check out is here in my blog post about our summer trip to Steamboat Springs.
Check out my other blog post for top family fun things to do in Colorado Springs.
