slgwv's photos with the keyword: Ouray

Outside Ouray, Colorado. The inset shows a view from the side. Taken off the hiking trail from the Amphitheater Campground.

Lower Cascade Falls, Ouray, Colorado.

Looking east from the Perimeter Trail above Box Canyon Falls. Ouray is another old mining town in the Colorado Rockies, dating from the late 1800s, that has capitalized on its setting to become a tourist center. It calls itself "Colorado's Switzerland" (!); the elevation of the town itself is 7,792 ft (2375 m), with some of the surrounding peaks over 13K ft. The spoil apron from the Chief Ouray mine is visible high on the opposite slope. Precious metals (gold & silver) were the focus of the local mining operations. Ouray was a chief of the local Native American tribe, the Utes, who saw the handwriting on the wall and tried to cut the best deal he could for his people.

Portland Creek, looking upstream from the Amphitheater Campground bridge the day after the flood. It's back to being a picturesque little stream! At the height of the flood the boulders in the middle were completely covered by muddy water. The downstream view, in its slot canyon, is in the inset.

Portland Creek, after the flood, looking down the slot canyon from the Amphitheater Campground bridge. Ouray, Colorado, is beyond.

Looking out the slot canyon below Box Canyon Falls, from off the catwalk to the falls view. The old equipment on the right dates from the mining days. Presumably they were using water power to run some equipment (a Pelton wheel?) for mining operations. Ouray city park, Colorado.

Or rather, the edge thereof. They're around the corner in this slot canyon, and this is as close as you can get. It's from the overlook reached by the catwalk up the canyon. Ouray, Colorado, city park. Still, it's impressive!

This catwalk leads to an overlook where you can get a glimpse of Box Canyon Falls, outside Ouray, Colorado. In fact the area is an Ouray city park. The falls are around a corner in the slot canyon, so you can only see their edge (inset). Still, it's a spectacular setting!