Ophir Pass is a popular shortcut between Silverton and Telluride which passes over a nearly 12,000-foot saddle between Lookout and South Lookout Peaks. On the west side of the pass, shown here, the road is a narrow shelf cut into the talus slope. Though not nearly as formidible as other pass roads, this portion of the drive requires some icewater in the veins.
Ophir Pass, UN03-116-24A, Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado | ©2003 Jeff Blaylock.
I have to add my experience. Google Maps showed this as a primary route between Durango and Telluride. I was surprised since my topo map didn't really show much of Ophir Pass as connecting. However, everything I could find on-line indicated it was a fairly decent road. Well, my wife and I, in our Volkswagen Jetta, easily made it to the summit from the Silverton side. We've driven worse to some hiking trailheads. Now, our directions indicated just a mile, or two, more on the downhill run into Ophir. We're lucky we're alive. The talus-covered descent is NOT for two-wheel drive vehicles. We met a two-wheel drive Ford F150 coming up and he was having problems. We came across a local in a four-wheel drive Toyota, near the bottom, and he asked if we'd come over the summit. When we said we had he had a dumbfounded pause and then congratulated us. Then, shaking his head, he paused and congratulated us again. NOT RECOMMENDED without high clearance 4x4.
Jeff replies, wow, just another example of how locals know local things much better than some big computer company in California. Glad y'all made it.
If coming down the talus slope of the west side on a 600 pound dual sport bike is bad...going up that talus slope on a 600 pound dual sport is worse...trust me on this.
Turning around is not a good option, either.
Riders headed west on Ophir on KTM 990's and BMW GS's might want to reconsider unless they are very experienced and equipped with knobbies. Street rubber here is no good.
That's what I learned on my summer vacation.
About 2 and a half years ago I crossed Ophir Pass... on a 600+ pound sport touring motorcycle! Uphill (going West) was relatively easy... going downhill on Talus on a fully loaded bike was one of the worst experiences of my life. Trust me... I'll never take directions from that guy again... ;-) If it wasn't for the 2 guys who were offroading who walked me down the mountain, I would have died, or had to leave the bike and walk out.
Jeff replies, yikes! I don't remember it being that bad, but then again, I had four wheels and all were engaged.
Worst road I've ever been on. Just got back, I feel lucky to be alive! May be a short cut in miles but Not much of a short cut in time.
Maybe you could remind people that uphill ALWAYS has the right of way, no matter what.
Hi, Jeff. I ran across your site looking for a way for my daughter, who lives south of Ophir at Trout Lake (Lizard Head Pass area), to get from there over to meet me at Brown's Lake west of Creede off Hwy 149. There's no "good" route by hwy - pretty close as the crow flies. Looks like you know the area well. Are you aware of any route through the mountains she might be able to travel in her Ford 150 4X4? BTW - I enjoyed your photos. Great website design! I am a photographer too: See fotofinity site. Thanks for your help.
Jim