Ouray Live Cam

This spectacular loop through the rugged San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado follows 236 miles of state-maintained highways on a journey from towering peaks (14 summits surpass 14,000 ft.) to picturesque valley cattle ranches. This scenic byway was the first in Colorado to receive official national and state designation and has just been nationally honored as an "All-American Road, one of only six in the U.S.A.

An Outdoor Recreation Paradise

The San Juan National Forest lies on the west side of the continental divide and stretches down towards the ancient Indian country in the South West of Colorado where the mountains meet the mesas and canyons of the Colorado Plateau.

With multiple peaks over 10,000 feet the dramatic San Juan Mountains are a haven for outdoor fans of every kind. Active recreation opportunities abound amongst spectacular scenery in any season. As well as abundant beauty and recreational opportunity the San Juan's are more peaceful and unspoilt than the front range mountains offering, for many, a preferred wilderness destination.

The main attractors are hiking through lush valleys and onto barren peaks, spectacular driving along unparalleled routes and fantastic winter skiing away from the mega-resorts of Aspen and the I-70 corridor. The San Juan's are one of THE great outdoor destinations.

Photography and Wildlife Spotting

The San Juan's are supremely photogenic with dazzling vistas at almost every turn. This area is rich with interesting glacial geology with broad valleys, glacial meadows and lakes, razor sharp ridges, barren peaks, tumbling waterfalls and alpine vegetation.

Wildlife spotting is popular with large game such as mule deer, elk and black bears roaming the more remote areas. Smaller inhabitants including squirrels, marmots and chipmunks are plentiful in the San Juan's and can be seen frequently in the more visited spots. You have to arrive early to catch some of the inhabitants. Beavers, for example, are active mostly at dawn, leaving only traces for hikers passing during the day.