A great trip to the top of Ophir Pass in Colorado
Usa, north-america
16.09 km
3,593 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so picture this: you're cruising through the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado, tackling Ophir Pass. This baby tops out at almost 11,800 feet! You'll find it in San Miguel County.
It's basically Forest Road #630, also known as Ophir Pass Road. This 10-mile stretch connects CO-145 with the legendary US-550 (Million Dollar Highway) north of Silverton, winding its way through the old mining town of Ophir.
You can usually hit it up between June and November, but Mother Nature calls the shots here. Snow can shut things down anytime. Even in June, expect some serious snowdrifts at the top. Afternoon storms are the norm, so be prepared!
Most of the road is pretty chill, but there are a few tight spots and some bumpy sections. There's this half-mile stretch on the Ophir side that can get tricky when passing other cars. Just a heads up: uphill traffic should let downhill traffic have the right of way. Oh, and if you're not a fan of heights, the drop-offs might make you sweat a little.
While you *could* technically do it without 4WD, I'd HIGHLY recommend a 4x4 with good clearance. Trust me, you'll be happier. Note that unlicensed OHVs are restricted within the Town of Ophir and on Forest Road #630 heading west towards State Highway 145.
Give yourself about an hour to soak it all in. You'll be rewarded with insane views of Ophir Valley and the surrounding peaks. This pass is often combined with Black Bear Pass or Imogene Pass for an epic loop adventure!
Where is it?
A great trip to the top of Ophir Pass in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 41.3662, -99.0135
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 16.09 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,593 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 41.3662, -99.0135
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