In my experience of two trips, the old mining road over Ophir Pass is strait-forward and relatively easy. However, the time of year and weather conditions, along with the traffic volume can make all the difference in the world. I had planned to drive this trail on my September 2006 trip, but the early and deep snow had other plans for me, and the pass was closed. In the two other trips (July and September) the gravel road was smooth and easy to climb to the pass. The potential challenge lies on the west side of the pass with a narrow shelf road that is essentially one way. The disadvantage of the east to west choice is that drivers headed uphill from the west have the right-of-way. With such a narrow road, drivers going downhill in such a situation will probably need to back up. Fortunately, in two trips over the pass, I never faced this challenge.
High-clearance vehicles or four-wheel drive are recommended due to the challenging terrain. Caution is essential, especially for inexperienced drivers. One specific caution I read about has to do with seasonal ice that can remain on the roads until the sun warms the road enough to melt the ice. Those driving from east to west in the morning may feel confident about the road conditions. After starting downhill on the other side of the pass, drivers will be in the shadows where ice may remain. At that point it could be too late. Something to think about.
Originally, Ophir Pass was used during the late 1800s as a route for miners to access silver and gold mines in the area. It played a crucial role in the mining boom, facilitating transportation of goods and resources between Silverton and the towns of Ophir and Telluride.
Map of the Ouray-based trails.
