City of Ouray Incorporated in 1876, the City of Ouray served as a supply center for the extensive mining activity of the surrounding mountains. Ouray was first connected to Silverton and Lake City via toll roads built and operated by Otto Mears and in 1887 became a terminus of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Written up in travel books as early as 1877, Ouray has been an acclaimed tourist destination due to its mountain location and the many hot springs. Today, tourism is the main industry in the city with outdoor supplies, jeep tours and rentals, gifts, rock shops, food and lodging available. Hiking trails branch out in all directions and four wheel trails reach to Telluride, Silverton, and Lake City. The City was declared a Historic District in 1981.

Mining relics can be seen in and around Ouray including an aerial tramway, mill sites, and mine entrances.

Ridgway was Incorporated on March 20, 1891. Ridgway was founded as the terminus of the Rio Grande Southern railroad with a connection and a maintenance shed operated jointly with the Denver and Rio Grande Southern railroad. Ridgway was a supply center and loading station for ranchers and sportsmen alike and continues these functions to this day, though without the help of the railroad. Peake Also called Dallas Divide, only a couple of structures remain of this Rio Grande Southern railroad stop. This site consisted of a repair shop, bunkhouse, section house, section car shed, coal shed and stock pens.

Ridgway Town Park

Sam’s The site of the abandoned Ski Dallas and the site of a boarding house in the dry land farming days.

Brown This stop of the Rio Grande Southern had a post office, water tank, coal shed, section house, and section car shed. This site has been paved over by SH 62.

Omega This site was a supply stop for a carnotite mine.

Placerville Established by the Rio Grande Southern railroad, this town supplied miners (the name arose from the placer mining operations around the town) and ranchers living along the San Miguel and surrounding areas as far as the Paradox Valley. Vanadium ore, used in steel production, and uranium, used for atomic weapons, was trucked here from the mines around Uravan for rail transport east. This stop was also the second largest cattle shipping point in Colorado. At its peak, Placerville had a hotel, post office, train depot, schoolhouse, flour and feed warehouses, stock pens, and a warm springs resort.

Sawpit This site had a post office and an aerial tram from mines to the Ball Mill. Silver ore was shipped out for many years in quantities beginning in 1896. This tram is still there and there are plans to stabilize the structure so it can remain.

Vanadium Originally called Newmire, this mill town processed carnotite ore to extract vanadium and uranium. This town had a post office, general store, and several other commercial buildings as well as homes and bunkhouses. At its peak, the mill employed over 400 people.

Vance Junction A short way up the Illium valley from the San Miguel River was the junction for the spur of the Rio Grande Southern railroad to Telluride. This station had a depot, coal chutes, living quarters, telegraph office and section car shed.

Illium The site of the Western Colorado Power Company’s hydroelectric power plant, this stop along the railroad had a wye for turning locomotives.

Telluride Originally called "Columbia," the gold camp town was platted in 1883. A spur of the Rio Grande Southern was completed to here in 1890 and in the following years hauled incredible mineral wealth out and essential supplies in for the surrounding mines. Impson Brothers Garage The site of an old mine tram. This site is currently being looked at by the BLM for a picnic area and trailhead. The Impson Brothers used to have dances in the garage for the locals on the weekends in the 1950’s and 60’s. No buildings remain at this site.

Galloping Goose mail and passenger carrier