Adventures of Tin Can Lulu

Ouray is situated in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado. Ouray is known as the Switzerland of America.  Its rich history dates back to 1876 when the City was incorporated. The local area around Ouray had significant ore deposits. Ouray became the shipping point and logistics center of the region, a role that it would serve for over 90 years.

The Denver & Rio Grand Western Train arrived in Ouray in 1887. This was a cheaper transportation for the mines to use to transport the ore of the mountains. Today, all of the railroad structures are gone, but a well maintained D&RGW caboose is on display at the Hot Springs Pool.

With it’s spectacular setting and hot springs, Ouray had already become a tourist destination in the 1890’s and continues today.

Ridgway is a quiet western town founded in 1890 as the headquarters of the famous Rio Grande Southern narrow gauge railroad. This railroad served the area’s rich silver and gold mines, ranches and farms.

Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround Ridgway on the south, east, and northeast. The Uncompahgre River runs through the town and flows into the Ridgway State Park and Reservoir, to the north. Dallas Creek also flows from the south-west and forms a confluence with the Uncompahgre before entering the reservoir. There is a notable wildlife presence — mountain lions, badgers, deer, elk, bears, coyotes, wild turkey, and bald eagles are indigenous to the area.

Ridgway and the surrounding area was featured in the movies True Grit (John Wayne) and How the West was Won (Debbie Reynolds, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and others). Dennis Weaver (Chester from Gunsmoke) lived in Ridgway and was committed to preserving the environment. Weaver called his home “Earthship” and incorporated into its construction various recycled materials, such as old automobile tires and discarded cans, and featured passive solar power and other ecotechnologies. The Dennis Weaver Memorial Park in Ridgway is 63 acre wildlife preserve located along the Uncompaghre River Corridor.

We enjoyed bicycling directly from the campground to both the Ridgway and Ouray areas. The perfect hard packed dirt & gravel roads in the valley between both towns was a playground for us. No sand on these roads!!

Next stop Gunnison!