Overview  Mount Ouray from the Little Cochetopa Trail
The Tail End of the Sawatch Mount Ouray wears the name of a famous Indian chief well. Ouray sits like a supreme monarch in the sparse southern end of the Sawatch Range. The summit is not on the Continental Divide, but is just a mile east of the Divide.
The Sawatch Range is home to 29 of Colorado’s centennial thirteeners. Mount Ouray is the southernmost “centennial” in the Sawatch Range. You can see Mount Ouray and its 13,971 ft. of talus from a long distance away. The mountain is also plainly visible from the north on U.S. Highway 50 between Poncha Springs and Garfield. Even from Mount Shavano, the view of Ouray is excellent. Marshall Pass crosses just under Ouray's southern flanks.
Mount Ouray is a big and bulky Sawatch mountain, similar in configuration to Elbert or Shavano. Sticking to the normal Sawatch statistical format, Ouray from Grays Creek Trailhead will get you 4,350 vertical ft. with a 9-mile round-trip. The hike is relentlessly steep, so be prepared for it. In contrast to its neighboring fourteeners, MountOuray is not popular, and for some of us that's a good thing. Mount Ouray has a pleasant mountain approach, complete with a never-ending hike through a dense aspen forest, and a wild adventure through a largest bristlecone forest. This enchanting forest of twisted wood lies protected within Ouray's broad east and northeast ridges that form the huge cirque named "The Devils Armchair."
Here are a few notes that might make this trip quite memorable. Do it in the fall, when all the aspens are changing to gold. Mount Ouray and its vicinity will not disappoint you if you're looking for aspen fall foliage. Spend some time exploring the bristlecone forest. Lastly, enjoy it for what it's worth; a non-technical hike that you can enjoy all by your lonesome, for you may see nobody all day long.
Thank you to Kane who owned this page before I did, and wrote some of this text.
Getting ThereGrays Creek Trailhead is at 9,660 ft. on the Marshall Pass road. If you are approaching from the north, go 5.3 miles south on Colorado 285 toward Ponchoa Pass form the junction of 285 and U.S 50in the town of Ponchoa. Turn right at the well-signed Marshall Pass road. This road is an improved dirt road and should not be a problem for passenger cars. Continue on the road for 2.4 miles and turn right on to FS 202. Continue on 202 for 0.8 miles and turn right at a four way stop. Continue another 4.2 miles to the Grays Creek pull-off on the right. There is no trailhead sign, just a "Grays Creek" sign.
Little Cochetopa Trailhead provides access to Mount Ouray's north side. Turn onto County Road 210, two miles west of Poncha Springs. Drive 5 miles south and west to Cochetopa Wildlife Management Area. The road is not maintained past that point and the last three miles to trailhead are rough and require high clearance, 4WD vehicle.
Red TapeNo fees, no permits, and parking is free.
When To ClimbClimbing is year round.
CampingCamping is plentiful in the area. The O'Harvor Lake Campground has very views of Mount Ouray. It costs $12.00 to camp there. There are signs that for this campground on the Marshall Pass road. There are also plenty of spots along the road to car camp.
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Sawatch Range
