Ouray ColoradoOuray Colorado

Family Activities

Winter Activities

Children's Ski Hill
Ouray is a great place for you to teach your children how to ski. The free rope tow saves money from having to purchase lift tickets and saves your energy on having to climb to the top after each “run”. The ski hill rope tow operates on weekends and after school hours. If you don’t bring children’s skis with you, they can be rented in Montrose.

Snow Shoeing
Slip on a pair of snowshoes and explore miles of untouched powder in the backcountry of the San Juan Mountains. When winter comes to stay, many of our summer hiking trails are transformed into magnificent trails through spruce forests. You can really work up an appetite on some of the longer trails so pack a picnic and a thermos of hot cocoa to rejuvenate. Snowshoe rentals are available in Ouray at Ouray Mountain Sports on Main Street.

Ice Skating & Sledding
Bring your skates and enjoy the local ice skating rink. Or, pick up a game of “broom ball” with some of the locals. Or try sledding down “Vinegar Hill”, a local favorite for more than one hundred years.

Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling – Ouray is the perfect hub to experience the thrill of the back country snowmobile trails in the San Juan Mountains, for either the experienced rider or the novice. Take your sled, or go on a guided tour. Hundreds of miles of groomed and un-groomed trails await you.

Summer Activities

Natural Hot Springs Pool
You can soak and play in the pool for the entire day or use the therapeutic springs for welcome relief after a long day’s adventure in the high-country. It is truly a serene and memorable experience staring into the night sky while soaking in the hot springs of Ouray.

Fishing
There are many excellent fishing areas located within a short distance of Ouray, from popular catch-and-release areas to more serene small alpine lakes. If you’re looking for trout then you’re in the right place. The Colorado Division of Wildlife describes fishing in southern Colorado as “where the rivers run wilder and the trout grow larger”.

Hiking
The region has hiking trails for all experience levels. Cascade Falls and Box Cañon Waterfall & Park are both close to town and easy hikes on well-maintained trails. The spectacular Cascade Falls trail (.5 mile round trip) is actually a city park. This is an easy half-hour hike on a well-maintained trail. Another easy hike is the .6 round trip trail along the Baby Bathtubs, an impressive canyon with hollowed out rock formations (Portland Creek). This is an excellent hike for youngsters. Children can dip their toes into the water and play in the colorful rocks of the streambeds.

Camping
Pack your tent and sleeping bag and head outdoors for an exhilarating adventure. Whether you are seeking the serenity of the high country in the Uncompahgre National Forest or the convenience of our friendly well-appointed campgrounds or State Parks, there is something for everyone. For you star gazers, the night sky is remarkable with the Milky Way standing out like a great bridge to the heavens.

A printable guide to family activities in and around Ouray is available for download or you can pick up a copy at the Ouray Visitor Center.