Vehicle Information

Any 4 x 4 can be used on most tours, although a few tours do have special requirements. Be advised that some of our tour routes top out over 13,000 feet, so have your vehicle in excellent running condition.

A CB radio (even the hand-held variety) is STRONGLY recommended for each vehicle. With a CB, you can ask questions and listen to our expert guides talk about local history, geology, wildflowers, etc. Your tour leader will rely on his CB to communicate with the vehicles in his group.

If you would like to rent a vehicle, contact Dollar (local number - 970-369-0020, be sure to ask for the Rotary 4x4 Discount!) Budget (local number - 970-728-4642) or National (local number - 970-728-9380) and be sure to verify that the rental agreement will allow you to drive off-road.

Trail Descriptions

The specific routes for the Telluride 4x4 Tour will not be set until close to the event, due to changes in road conditions.  Below are descriptions of just a few of the trails usually included in the Tour.  Final tour information will only be available at the registration tent. Show up early to sign up for your favorite routes!

Black Bear Backwards
Black Bear Pass is the Telluride 4x4 Tour signature trail.  During the rest of the year the trail is one-way from Ouray to Telluride.  For the Telluride 4x4 Tour this trip traverses Black Bear Pass in the opposite direction and affords dramatic views of the Telluride area with a high point of about 12,840 feet. Leave Telluride going east to Bridal Veil Falls. Ascend Black Bear Pass from the top of Bridal Veil Falls up a spectacular series of narrow switchbacks to Ingram Falls. Continue on into Ingram Basin through one short difficult area referred to as “The Steps”. Exit onto Hwy 550 at summit of Red Mountain Pass. Proceed north on Hwy 550 to Ouray and return to Telluride via Imogene Pass. (OPTIONS: Head south to Silverton and return over Ophir Pass, or head north to Ridgway and return via Highway). Open to experienced drivers ONLY due to difficult terrain.

Poughkeepsie Gulch
Located in the mountains southeast of Ouray, Poughkeepsie Gulch is a challenging, but scenic trip with mostly gradual grades. There is one long area of loose rock (shale) and one difficult-to-negotiate steep and narrow section. The route is from Telluride over Ophir Pass to Hwy 550, then north on 550 to the Engineer Pass turnoff, and up Engineer Pass road to Poughkeepsie Gulch. From Hurricane Pass at the top of the Gulch, the route descends Corkscrew Pass, and then back to Hwy 550. We return over Red Mountain Pass, then Ophir Pass back to Telluride. (OPTION: Head north to Ridgway and return via Highway). NOTE: Without lockers, you may have to be pulled over one very large steep rock.

Governor Basin
Governor Basin may be only halfway to heaven, but few areas have a more spectacular backdrop of mountain scenery. The brief but gorgeous summer array of hundreds of varieties of colorful blossoms is dominated by Colorado’s state flower, the blue columbine. The route follows Hwy 145 to the Town of Ophir and then over Ophir Pass, then north on Hwy 550 to Ouray and up into Governor’s Basin, with a lunch stop in Yankee Boy Basin. We return to Telluride continuing up over Imogene Pass. (OPTION: North to Ridgway, return via Hwy)

Imogene Pass/Black Bear Pass
Panoramic views along the route offer great photo opportunities including a dramatic view from Black Bear Road of Ingram Basin, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Town of Telluride. The route goes out over Imogene Pass, then south on Hwy 550 to Black Bear Road. The return is over the infamous Black Bear Pass, descending into Telluride. Experienced drivers only.