Best Hiking in Southwest Colorado Around Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake City

Book excerpt: An opinionated guide to the best hikes in one of Colorado's best hiking areas, the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado around the towns of Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake City, Colorado. The trails in this guide, best hiked between mid-July and mid-September, appeal to day hikers who like to go high and walk 6.0 to 12.5 miles/day. Elevation gains range from 1,000 to 3,500-ft. Many of the hikes offer great intermediate turnaround points for those seeking a shorter day. All are reached in less than an hour drive from four great base camps; Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake City.The first section of the guide describes the base camps, identifying local services, highlighting nearby attractions and suggesting activities for non-hiking/rainy days. The second section offers detailed trail description with ratings, elevation profiles, directions to the trailhead, maps and photographs of the recommended hikes.