Ridgeway & Ouray Colorado, & the Uncompahgre Wilderness

We will be coming back here to spend more time!  And next time we will be renting a high clearance 4-wheel drive Jeep...………...The mountains and the surrounding valleys and streams are calling for discovery!

We spent a couple of days at Ridgway State Park at the Elkridge campground high above the valley.  A great opportunity to use our E-Bikes, especially on the climb back to our campsite.  We biked twice to Ridgway.  Once for ice cream, and once for the Friday farmers market.  Beautiful biking on the paved 6 mile trail.

Then on to Ouray where we decided to camp in town where we could walk Main Street and more easily access the trails.  One day we walked the Uncompahgre River trail and then ended at the Ouray Brewing Company for some refreshments.

The second day, we walked up hill to Lower Cascade Falls and then continued on the Perimeter Trail, a total of almost 4 miles as the trail stays as much as 500 feet above the town of Ouray.  Every turn in the trail presented more and more awesome views of the surrounding mountains.  Fall colors, particularly the golden aspen and the reddish browns of the Gamble Oaks, covered the hill sides.

And now for a story...and its a true story.  We know that when you hit the trails, you should be prepared.  Considering the trail plans, the sun was shining, and being a Sunday, we expected many other hikers.  So the rain ponchos and the bear spray were left at the RV.  Although we didn't get into a downpour, we did experience wind blown rain as the clouds scurried over the mountain peaks.  And yes, no rain ponchos.

But the real deal was when Morey decided to take a short cut (an approved trail) as we were both getting tired from all of the climbing.  All of a sudden, Ruthie stops and says.."Morey, I think there is a bear coming toward us, ah Morey...there are two bears!"  Sure enough up ahead less than 100 feet were two bears taking our trail.  And NO bear spray.  So we did as we were told, we made noises, talked, and the bears got off the path...……..after giving us the once over...…...and headed up the hill.  Whew!  And with all of the excitement, Ruthie didn't take any pictures of the bears...……..So thanks to the following gettyimages photo for a close facsimile.

We finished the Perimeter trail.  A beautiful day with a little extra excitement!