Ouray, Colorado is one of our favorite places. It’s a magical place.
We found it in 2001 on our way home from Yellowstone. We only planned on staying one night but that quickly changed to three. Our first stay was at the Ouray KOA north of town. We rented a Jeep right from the campground office and, map in hand, explored the tall mountains that almost surround the town.
The love affair with Little Switzerland began.
This time we wanted to stay closer to town and be able to walk to the hot springs and dinner. High on our list was to be near enough to hear the Uncompahgre River. We struck gold with Ouray RV Park & Cabins.
This great little campground sits on Highway 550 a half-mile north of the famous Ouray Hot Springs. Aside from being right in town behind a historic old building, this is the closest RV park to the town’s Main Street.
There are 72 all-gravel spaces and seven cabins, each coming with a picnic table. The cabins and 27 campsites back to the river. We lucked into site 34 along the river and had our windows open just to hear the water. Despite being along the highway, the campground is shockingly quiet. There are pull-through sites and back-ins. Our space was very wide.
Also along the river is a very nice path called River Walk that will take you right down into town or a mile north. It’s a great way to stretch your legs, see and hear the river and maybe a deer. We walked it every evening before dinner.
The office is a cute little building right as you pull in and the camp hosts could not have been nicer. After checking in, a camp host will escort you to your site and help you get parked. Since I’m the parking guide, this was a nice perk.
The Ouray Cafe & Steakhouse is on property but the darn pandemic had the hours and options scaled way back. We’ll have to try it another time.
It rained everyday of our stay which gave way to spectacular waterfalls seen right from our campsite.
While the rain meant we couldn’t get all of our planned hikes in, we still had a great few days. Ouray holds a special place in our hearts and will in yours, too. Like Mark says, “we always need something to come back for.”
We need to stay at Ouray RV Park & Cabins again, we still have much to do in there!
This is defineterly on our bucket list now. Thank You!!
You’re very welcome!
We enjoyed your pictures and information at Ouray. Which route do usually take into Ouray? I know the route coming in from Silverton is pretty scary most people say. Just wondering what you see and how it is with your motorhome pulling your vehicle.
Safe travels,
John
Our first time we were coming from Yellowstone then continued south through Silverton & Durango on our way back home. That was in a 29-foot Class C without a toad and got the scared out of me. The scenery is spectacular and I was too busy taking pictures to be afraid. Since then we’ve done it with 31-foot Class C towing a Jeep and now with our 40′ towing a Jeep. The scary part is only a few miles just south of Ouray. The speed limit is 15 for a couple of turns but it’s really not that bad. Everyone else is going slow, semis go north and south regularly. I think as long as you take it easy, you’ll be fine. If you’re coming from the south like we do and want to avoid the scary part, you can route north on 145 out of Cortez through Rico and Telluride then hang a right on 62 to Ridgway and another right on 550.