Ophir Pass, Silverton, Telluride, Colorado, Offroad, 4WD

[TheGranule]

Can you re-issue this with voice describing what you are seeing instead of music?

[PersonalCheese]

My name is ophir :D

[MTHKITEBOARDS]

Thanks! I needed that.

Its a jeep thing or lack of.

[smike047]

Oh, ok, I was thinking that Imogene was one way like Black Bear and just dropped you into Telluride from Ouray. I think after taking Black Bear Pass earlier in the day we may want to take Ophir Pass as something a little easier. that is, unless you think Imogene is easier. I think we got the right rig for the job on Black Bear, `09 Rubicon Unlimited, lockers, disconnect sway bars, sound ok, or do you have any pointers (moreso about Black Bear Pass)?

[JeepsterGal]

@smike047 Yeah, Imogene is either way but it's definitely more of a challenge than Ophir. You may want to do Ophir, cos it's a cakewalk (especially after Black Bear). If you're in a Rubi, you wil have no worries on Black Bear. I thought the steps were the worst part of Black Bear and if it has recently rain I would NOT do Black Bear, because you can slide on those steps so easily. They are covered in gravel, slick as snot, and I can't imagine them wet. The switchbacks should be easy in a Rubi.

[smike047]

Ok, so in about 3 weeks we are setting up camp in Silverton. We are then going to take Black Bear Pass into Telluride. Instead of making rouhgly a 2-3 hour loop down to Durango and back up to Silverton, can we hit Ophir Pass to go back to Silverton?

[JeepsterGal]

@smike047 Yes, that is a nice route back to Silverton, and definitely shorter. Another 4x4 route would be to take Imogene Pass (Tomboy Road, it starts right out of downtown Telluride) from Telluride to Ouray, and then down Hwy 550 back to Silverton. A faster highway route is to take the highway from Telluride to Ridgeway and then to Ouray and then on to Silverton.

[MrBadfish2]

99% of that road looked pretty weak, the road to the top gates before White Mountain peak in the White mountains of CA was a lot more rough than this road, I did that in a lowered Neon SRT-4.

[nmxterra]

should this loop be one way? I see vehicles going both directions in such narrow dangerous roads. Please let me know.

[JeepsterGal]

@nmxterra This is pretty typical of most of the "moderate" 4x4 roads in Colorado. The only part that gets dicey on Ophir Pass is that long shelf road near the top. But, you can see people from the summit making their way across it, so usually people wait for the other to come across. I've met someone going the other way and although it's a tight fit, it's fine. The inside driver just needs to place his wheels up the mountain side a bit to make room. Sometimes it looks worse than it really is :)

[jerrinicole312]

I was riding my 4 wheeler on here when it started pouring rain and hailing- it sucked

[rtodahl01]

Great Vid

Thanks for having some good music to go with it.

I live for these kinda drives.

If you haven't done the White Rim give it a try.

Gonna check out your other videos now.

[TheSSSailingSong]

AAAh home sweet home

[littlelori61]

Nicely done! We go to Colorado every year and drive the trails in our 4Runner. We've done easy, moderate and even difficult ones, but this was our first year driving Ophir. It's a gorgeous drive and your video shows it! Great songs to go with, by the way!!

Some advice though, for anyone who decides to drive on Colorado's off-roads... buy a 4x4 trail guide book so you know what you're getting into!! Our first year, we didn't and ended up on a 'difficult' road in a stock vehicle!! NOT a good idea!

[markrasch]

Been on this when I was a young one. It was scary but beautiful. We actually had to get out of our Jeep and remove several boulders from the road to pass certain parts of it. Awesome@!

[Labweiler]

Nice shooting.. Heading to Telluride mid Sept and going to do the drive. Is Ophir, Black Bear, & Imogene all different passes? If so any idea which is best, most difficult, etc..

[7MRsilkgrow]

slow down you almost hit me

[MrJeepster666]

We just did this pass for the first time a few days ago. I'm a novice and my ride is an 08 Wrangler X with the S package and no add ons. Thrilling ride but got to admit I was scared on that ascent after the switch back. Great video!

[JeepsterGal]

@MrJeepster666 Glad you enjoyed the video AND the trail. I just returned home from a week in the San Juans and have three new videos to work on...check back soon for a Black Bear Road video!

[MrJeepster666]

@JeepsterGal We also did the trail out of Mt. Crested Butte. Not scary but so beautiful and loads of fun. Thanks for getting back and will look for those videos.

[sgnrobb]

@JeepsterGal Great Video and great pass!

can't wait to see black bear, we haven't done that yet!

[priya1985]

@MrJeepster666 could a Subaru Outback do it ?? the AWD is great, more of a height issue

[red5472]

how long would you say it took you to complete the trail from telluride to silverton?

[JeepsterGal]

@red5472 Hard to tell since I stop to photograph and mess with video camera...but probably 1.5 hours if you just drive it and don't stop alot...

[bscherer08]

God I miss Colorado so much. Thanks for this.

[camboman13]

Great video! I'm scouting locations for a photography trip in September and your movies show me exactly what I want to see. Thanks for sharing, JeepsterGal !

[mycatwilatackyou]

Just fantastic thanks JeepsterGal . I have been these places but it was 34 years ago . Even though I was only 10 years old , the mountains have left such an impression in my mind and heart , I will just never forget . I have lived In San Diego all my life , moved to Flagstaff in October and I am much closer to my dream mountains now , only 8 hours drive and by God I will make it there this summer .. My dad was born in Silverton in 1920 , I have jeeped all the San Juans , just the most beautiful

[JeepsterGal]

Wow, so cool your dad was born in Silverton! I love Silverton! the San Juans are like no other place :) Thanks for watching!

[lobsterman52]

Really enjoyed the video, brought back memories of a Jeep trip I made over ten years ago coming from Silverton to Ophir. I tried to retrace part of my trip yesterday going to Ophir from Telluride (in a car on the state road) and I am a little confused. Are there any old buildings or ruins from the original Ophir. I think I saw one before the first fork but I thought there were more. Can anybody help? Thank you!

[deadmoonglow]

Really fun and pretty road. I enjoyed it with my family over the summer.

[bigma12]

Great video. We took our Subaru up this and was so much fun not to mention the scenery!

[Pushdwood]

We took this road on July 2, 2000 with my 8 month old son wedged up tight in the jumpseat of our Tacoma. Remembered by us as nothing less than breathtaking, we are committed to going again now thanks to this video. This time that son will be strapped into the front seat! One observation - Ophir has a LOT more buildings than 9 years ago. Great video Jeepstergal.

[WOLFCO08]

Very well done! Thanks for taking the time. Its great to get out and enjoyyyyyyyy!

[nd4spdvtec]

Just did this pass a few days ago...the narrow section is one-way only now. Up-hill has the right of way normally, but you have to wait by signs if someone is coming up or down in front of you.

[JeepsterGal]

Interesting! Thanks for the info!

[essoewhy]

me and a few friends drove the ophir pass in a rented dodge neon over the weekend!!!!! we had no idea it was a 4X4 road (thanks to google maps)....we just about died and totally ripped apart the undercarriage!!!!!

[zonkerswife]

We are planning a trip out to do this from NJ this July, thanks to your video!! Can't wait!

[JeepsterGal]

Great! There's so many amazing trails in this area, you will have plenty to do!

[warwagonforhire]

That is a beautiful drive!

[Ryartz]

I am so entralled to get my jeep soon, I once Had a cherokee exactly like yours, but unfortunately had to rid of it. I will be getting a grand cherokee 4.0 I-6, this will be my first trail to go 4 wheeling on =)

[JeepsterGal]

Have fun! Ophir is a fun trail!

[pfunk3333]

we did it in the snow a week ago it got deep but it was fun. we had to turn around and the guy behind us had to bak down a long way. segestion dont take girls w you

[JeepsterGal]

Haha, you might have missed it, but I'M a girl :) Not all girls are afraid on the trail :)

[notiteither]

I did this pass from the opposite direction in the mid-80's. Ha ha.....I did the same thing. I made all traffic pass me on the outside!! Everyone was understanding!! One guy had to talk me up a short 45 degree incline. What an adventure!! Thanks for the video.

[gotts21]

Beautiful.

[Poochwalker]

We took this trail today in an '08 Land Rover LR2. Fantastic scenery, great adventure. Your video was perfect to show people what we had done for my 36th anniversary.

[JeepsterGal]

Wow, fun! Glad you got to take it. It's a great trail. Thanks for watching and Happy Anniversary!

[ninjahippolover]

My wife and I did this pass a few years ago in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. We had to both change our pants afterward. Living in Texas doesn't get you ready for something as beautiful and scary as that.

[tomd935]

What a beautiful ride. Lived in Silverton thru the 70's and miss it. nice shots like this give me aquick glimpse of home

[rickiller59]

I drove up this about 9 months ago. alot of snow and it scared the crap out of me with that switch back. Very good trail tho.

[shad0fx]

on these trips how often do you run into someone comming at you in another jeep or offroad vehicle?

I'm gearing my FSJs for the FSJ Invasion this year, hopefully... never been to the trails in colorado, but am very much looking forward to it... these vids are awesome friend!

[JeepsterGal]

Usually on an exposed road like this where you can see the other guy coming, you stop and wait for the vehicle traveling up. On other roads, there is generally enough room to pull off, but if not and it's too tight to pass, then someone usually backs up until they can find a pull off.

[VEGASSTUNTER]

just got myself a 86 cherokee.....lookin for some fun drives....your vids are great...keep me posted on any others trails you have any tips on

[really2ugly]

There you go again, JG, stirring up unintended trouble! I've always taken Ophir Pass "the other way" because I like the view at the top looking west. Now I see that it is a completely different trip heading east. Even though I'm still backed up two trips to Colorado, I think I can work a "backwards" trip in. It seems that you just can't make it through a day without having to learn something......

Thanks for another great video!

[JeepsterGal]

Ha! I've always taken it the other way too, this trip was my first in this direction. It's hard to decide which is nicer...both are spectacular. Thanks for watching!

[really2ugly]

Well, I have news for you that may not be as good as it seems. I've made my reservations, and I will be rumbling through your fair city in July to make up ONE of my backed up trips to Colorado. The problem, of course, will be that I will then still be able to complain that I am backed up A trip to Colorado. Just can't win.....

[really2ugly]

I'm now back from my July trip to Colorado, Unfortunately, I picked up a Colorado Byways brochure at a restaurant, and now I've found several road trips I need to take. I think I'm STILL backed up two trips to Colorado. BUT! I did get an estimate of next year's Jepp rental rates in Ouray!

[really2ugly]

That should be "Jeep". Sorry.

[shad0fx]

should do a youtube jeepers gathering at the top of there! it'd be fun!

[ChomFa]

Jeep - at the 10:00 mark, there's a very large power pole. I didn't see any others but I'm assuming it's still "live"? Are there dwellings up there? Cabins for skiers/hikers? (Yes, you can tell where this is going!)

Another GREAT ride. Thank you.

[shad0fx]

hi there! :-) ah, i see now... that is very clever!!!

[shad0fx]

your cherokee looks pretty sharp, did you mount a camera pod on the dash so you can take photos there?

[JeepsterGal]

Hi again, no the camera is mounted on the roof. Look again at the photos from the summit and you'll see the camera on the roof. I access it from the sunroof :)

[shad0fx]

exactly, i'm more into full size (I have a 1980 Jeep Cherokee, and a 1983 Jeep J-10)

Life can be hard sometimes, but when you come home to a Jeep, life doesn't seem so bad!

[shad0fx]

beautiful scenes... and even better your traveling there with a jeep!!!

[JeepsterGal]

It's the only way to travel! :)