Hiking

Ouray Perimeter Trail. For a glimpse of many of Ouray’s most famous features—including Cascade Falls, Baby Bathtubs, the Potato Patch (where miners once grew potatoes), the Ouray Ice Park, Box Cañon Falls, and Ouray's old water tunnel—take this 6-mile trek around the town's outskirts. The trail starts at the Ouray Visitors Center, which is at about 7,800 feet. It climbs steeply at the beginning, but mostly undulates through the forests surrounding Ouray. The trail currently ends at South Pinecrest Street, but it’s a beautiful walk back to your starting point past the Victorian homes on Oak Street. You can also pick a smaller section of the trail like Baby Bathtubs or Lower Cascade Falls for a short, family-friendly hike. Ouray Visitors Center, 1230 Main St., Ouray, Colorado, 81427. 970/325–4746; www.ouraycolorado.com.

Uncompahgre River Trail. This 2-mile loop follows the riverbank of the Uncompahgre River, just north of Ouray. The terrain is relatively flat, and the trail meanders past stands of trees, a wildflower-filled meadow, and interpretive signs about the river ecosystem from its trailhead to the city's north boundary. Trail entry points are located near the Ouray Visitors Center, the north corridor hotel locations, and along Oak Street. Ouray Visitors Center, 1230 Main St., Ouray, Colorado, 81427. 970/325–4746; www.ouraycolorado.com.