Existing Transportation Routes

Within the study area there are three major highways. From Ouray, U.S. highway 550 runs north through Ridgway and Montrose and south over the Million Dollar highway to Silverton and Durango. Colorado Highway 62 connects Ridgway to Highway 145 near Placerville which goes over Lizardhead Pass to Cortez through the Telluride area. These highways are busy with commuters, residents seeking outlying services, tourists, bicyclists, and occasionally ranchers driving cattle. Colorado Highway 62 and U.S.550 are part of the San Juan Skyway, a national scenic byway/all-American road. Mining, and to a lesser degree, forestry, has left a legacy of pack trails that have been widened to four-wheel drive trails. In the summer, these vehicular trails connect the City of Ouray with the Town of Telluride over Imogene and Black Bear passes. Vehicles, bicyclists, ranchers, skiers use these four-wheel drive trails, and in the fall there is a competitive run over Imogene pass. These routes often terminate in a pack or hiking trail, often ending due to the ruggedness of the terrain. Hikers, backpackers, fishermen, mountain bikers, and ranchers use these non-vehicular trails. Within the study area non-vehicular trails have been developed in recent years to accommodate recreational use and to connect sections of existing routes. In Ouray County, a trail exists from the center of Ridgway to, and partially through, the Ridgway State Park. This will eventually link to a trail to Montrose. The city of Ouray is currently working on a flood control project that will provide a trail within the City limits that will connect to the trail proposed in this plan.

In San Miguel County, the Town of Telluride has completed construction of a bike path from town out to the Lawson Hill area where it connects to the trail proposed in this plan and the Galloping Goose Trail along the Rio Grande Southern railroad grade. Narrow roads with little or no shoulders are a concern on all roadways in the area. Many other trails, vehicular and non-vehicular, exist along the length of the trail under study. These are primarily Forest Service maintained south of highway 62 and Bureau of Land Management maintained north of highway 62.