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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: Ouray (Colo.); A view of a street in Ouray, Colorado. Photograph shows the business section of Ouray which is virtually encircled by 14,000 ft. mountains

: Ouray (Colo.); Ouray, Colorado. One of the scenic capitals of the world. In the background is the impressive Amphitheatre, part of the array of towering mountain grandeur encircling the town. The Million Dollar Highway ascends on the right side of the photograph.

: Ouray (Colo.); View of the town of Ouray, Colorado. in the valley between two mountains.

: Ouray (Colo.); Distant view of Ouray covered in snow; clouds hang on the cliffs and mountains that overlook the town. Pine trees are in the foreground.

: Ouray (Colo.); Aerial photo of Ouray; view of highway switch-backing above the town river flows into the town snow covered mountain peak in the background photo appears to be hand colored over a/w photo Mrs. Ralph written on the back

: Ouray (Colo.); Aerial photo of Ouray surrounded by mountains. In the far background is a snow covered peak, but the town itself is clear of snow.

: Ouray (Colo.); Distant view of downtown Ouray; a double lane road runs through the town.

: Ouray (Colo.); A view of Ouray, Colorado between two snow-covered spruce trees. Snow sets off the res brick buildings of town and the red striped cliffs across the valley. A few low hanging clouds hang suspended over.

: Ouray (Colo.); Image of Ouray, CO from a distance. The slope next to town is darkened by forest and shadows cast by clouds. In the distance, snow covered mountains gleam in the sun.

: Ouray (Colo.); Distant photo of Main Street in Ouray in center of the photo; several large buildings on both sides of the street.

: Ouray (Colo.); Photo of hot springs swimming pool, with an A-frame structure near the pool. Several vehicles are parked in front of the pool. A mountain peak is visible in the far background.

: Ouray (Colo.); Ouray, Colorado, the "Switzerland of America" 7,800 feet in elevation is surrounded by 12,000 to 14,000 foot high mountains of the Uncompahgre National Forest.

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