Southern Colorado off-road trails are on the bucket list of many Jeep owners and in August we are going to fulfill it with Valley Gladiators! This extended weekend Adventure will take us to beautiful Ouray, CO otherwise known as Switzerland of America!

These trails can be completed in a stock Jeep. However, the trails themselves are at high elevation, extremely narrow and have very tight switchbacks which as you know can be extremely challenging in a Gladiator. Due to the reasons above, I recommend that only those with extensive off-roading experience sign up for this Adventure. It goes without saying that your Jeep should be in perfect mechanical condition, especially brakes, rotors and steering components!

We will arrive in Ouray, CO on Wednesday August 2nd and hit the trails over the extended weekend. We will be staying with our RV at Ouray Riverside Resort & RV Park. The place has RV spots, rustic cabins and a full hotel on property to accommodate everyone’s budget and lodging preferences. Please note that you’re not required to stay there but we will be meeting at the property every morning to start our day.

Thursday: August 3rd
Engineer Pass & Cinnamon Pass OR Poughkeepsie Gulch
Engineer Pass is a historic pass into the San Juan Mountain region. It is part of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. It is an exhilarating trip for drivers of all experience levels. There are many mines and points of historical interest along the route.
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Friday August 4th:

Imogene Pass
Imogene Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.012m (13,162ft) above the sea level located on the boundary of San Miguel and Ouray counties, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road is accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles, and is not for the novice drivers. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado!
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Ophir Pass
The road traverses over 11,814 foot Ophir Pass, offering alpine views of the upper Ophir Valley and neighboring peaks. It is generally an easy 4-wheel drive road but is rated as moderate difficulty due to a narrow one-half mile section (on the Ophir side of the Pass) where it is difficult for two vehicles to pass each other. This road is often driven in combination with either the Black Bear Pass Road or the Imogene Pass roads to form a long loop.
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Saturday August 5th:
Black Bear Pass
The Black Bear Road crests at Black Bear Pass, elevation 12,840 feet (3,910 m). The road descends over a set of infamous switchbacks as it navigates the heights above Telluride. The road passes Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado, the highest waterfall in Colorado. Dramatic landscapes and very narrow passageways. For experienced drivers with 4×4 and high clearance only.
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Event Type: Extended Weekend Adventure
AZ Pinstriping: Not Applicable
Difficulty: 3 to 4
Camping: Optional
Jeep Requirements: Stock Jeeps. Check brakes and steering before departure!
Equipment Requirements: Full Gas Tank, Spare Tire, inflation/deflation tools, drinks/lunch, Sense of Adventure
Radio: GMRS Channel #15