
How long is Camp Bird Road?
Usa, north-america
8.2 km
3,000 m
hard
Year-round
Get ready for an epic adventure on Camp Bird Road, a stunner hidden away southwest of Ouray County, Colorado! This unpaved beauty, also known as County Road 361, stretches for 5.1 miles of pure, compact dirt goodness from Ouray (right off the Million Dollar Highway) up to the historic Camp Bird Mine.
Speaking of Ouray, it's a seriously cool town with roots in the silver and gold rush days. Camp Bird Mine itself is a legend, having churned out over a million ounces of gold since the 1800s!
Now, fair warning: This isn't your average Sunday drive. While the first few miles are pretty chill, things get progressively more "interesting." Think bumpy shelf roads that eventually morph into a moderate 4WD challenge. You'll definitely want some ground clearance, and a 4WD is your best bet. Low-clearance 2WDs? Probably best to skip this one.
The higher you climb, the narrower the road gets, making passing a real pain. Be prepared for potential traffic jams on summer weekends. Plus, keep an eye out for some seriously steep sections β we're talking gradients up to 16%! You'll climb to a whopping 9,842 feet above sea level.
But trust me, the views are SO worth it! Just maybe leave your fear of heights at home for this trip.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 8.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,000 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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