Volume 5: Telluride/ Ouray/ Ophir
These mountain towns are gems in Southwest Colorado. Telluride and tiny Ophir are in San Miguel County, and Ouray, not far away if unimproved roads aren’t a barrier, is located in Ouray County. Telluride is the most populous (about two thousand residents) and best known of the three, home to a famous ski resort, many well-known music festivals, and exclusive luxury homes. Telluride’s colorful history as a hard-rock mining town where gold, silver, and tellurium were extracted beginning in 1878 changed dramatically in the 1970s when the Telluride Ski Resort opened. Telluride’s elevation is 8,750 feet above sea level, a bit higher than Ouray’s 7,792. (source) Fewer than 1,000 people call Ouray home, but each year many thousands of tourists visit the charming village, nicknamed the “Switzerland of America.” Like most mountain towns in the region, Ouray was founded on mining (gold, in this case), made accessible by the railroad, and popular with visitors. (source) Ophir, Colorado, is the highest in elevation of these three towns at 9,695 feet. Gold was discovered in 1875, and the town was founded in 1881, but the mines decreased until there was only one resident in 1970! Telluride’s popularity in recent has allowed a few hundred residents to call Ophir home. (source)
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- Box Canyon (Ouray Colo.)
- View inside canyon walkway with railing visible against cliffs on upper left photo taken from below looking up.
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- Box Canyon (Ouray Colo.)
- View inside a canyon. Portions of it are covered with snow icicles hang on the upper parts of the canyon.
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- Box Canyon (Ouray, Colo.)
- View of the interior of Box Canyon.
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- Box Canyon (Ouray, Colo.)
- View of river rapids with a bridge that hangs over the river which is between steep cliffs.
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- Box Canyon (Ouray, Colo.)
- Photo of a trail leading to the interior of the canyon; five people are on the trail looking towards the canyon, which has a high bridge suspended over it.
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- Box Canyon (Ouray, Colo.)
- Scene along the pine-studded path leading to Box Canyon Falls deep in the Canyon. The bridge spanning the canyon in the distance supports the city water pipe line.
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- Box Canyon Falls
- A color photograph of Box Canyon Falls, inside the city limits of Ouray, Colorado.
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- Box Canyon Falls (Ouray Colo.)
- Photo of deep inside canyon; a small waterfall runs into a small pool.
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- Box Canyon Falls (Ouray, Colo.)
- Photo of waterfall in the interior of canyon. The waterfall is surrounded by steep cliff walls; it flows into a small pool of water.
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- Box Canyon Falls high bridge (Ouray Colo.)
- View inside canyon looking up at a bridge crossing above the canyon a walkway with railing visible against cliffs a waterfall visible under bridge river runs through canyon
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- Box Canyon Falls, Ouray, Colorado
- A color photograph of Box Canyon Falls, in Ouray, Colorado. A description of the falls is printed on the back and reads, "This interesting attraction is found within the city limits at Ouray, where the thundering falls of Canyon Creek has cut a deep gorge. Picnic facilities are avaliable in the adjoining park."
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- Box Canyon Motel (Ouray, Colo.)
- Attractive motel with 22 units, some kitchens. Hot water heat, combination baths. A quiet cool location with beautiful view of the mountains at an elevation of 7,706. Sundecks, playground and picnic area available. Hunting, Fishing, Horseback riding an