Ouray Colorado-your experience? Ideal for a solo vacay?

amother

OP ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 12:37 pm

If you were there what did you enjoy?
Would you recommend it for a solo vacation?

Im looking for a place that is surrounded by mountains but also has the water experience.
It seems like Ouray has both.

(I'm taking along my own food anyway so that isn't an issue)

amother

↑ Cappuccino ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 1:50 pm

amother OP wrote:

They have hot springs there.

There’s hot springs all over Colorado.

We flew into Denver, we’re based in vail, and then went to glenwood springs and did lots of hiking with vail as our base

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 2:00 pm

amother Cappuccino wrote:

There’s hot springs all over Colorado.

We flew into Denver, we’re based in vail, and then went to glenwood springs and did lots of hiking with vail as our base

I also saw that Ouray is similar to Switzerland.
It may or may not be true but the views sound beautiful.

Denver sounds much more doable though in terms of flights etc.

The closest airport to Ouray from NYC requires is a 1 hour drive and there are no direct flights so its like 7 or 8 hours to get there.

amother

↑ Cappuccino ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 2:12 pm

amother OP wrote:

I wouldn’t consider such a thing. Certainly on my own. All of Colorado is stunning. If based in Denver check out aspen

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 2:18 pm

amother Cappuccino wrote:

I wouldn’t consider such a thing. Certainly on my own. All of Colorado is stunning. If based in Denver check out aspen

Why? Is there anything not safe?

I think I should remove the solo question because I simply want to know the basics and I'll make my own decision.

I saw Aspen but it doesn't sound like it has the beauty that Ouray has or the springs.

It also takes at least 6.5 hours to get there.

I'll do more research on it.

amother

↑ Cappuccino

Sun, May 19 2024, 2:21 pm

amother OP wrote:

I just mean spending 8 hours traveling isn’t my thing. It doesn’t sound relaxing to me. Connecting flights mean greater chance of delays and that would frustrate me. I don’t enjoy long car rides either. Also driving in Colorado is it’s own thing with the mountainous roads.

doctorima ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 2:37 pm

We were in Ouray several years ago. I enjoyed it very much, but it wouldn't be high on my list of solo destinations. For us it was part of a multi-week trip through Utah, Arizona, and Southwest Colorado. We visited nearby Four Corners and Mesa Verde NP. In Ouray itself we did a few nice waterfall hikes and an amazing off-road jeep trip up to the top a mountain. You can go down the other side into Telluride, but we'd had enough and turned around. I don't think we did any hot springs.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 2:52 pm

amother Cappuccino wrote:

Oh ok. That makes sense.
I would love to find a scenic place that is closer to NY.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, May 19 2024, 2:53 pm

doctorima wrote:

Thanks for chiming in!
Do you mind sharing what would be high on your solo list?

I would love to be in a safe village surrounded by mountains and lay on plush grass.

There should be something exhilarating with water- a beach a spring a something.

Is this possible?

↑ doctorima

Sun, May 19 2024, 4:51 pm

amother OP wrote:

A lot will depend on your travel budget and how long you have for this trip. If you want someplace drivable, Lake Placid comes to mind as a nice local option with a pretty lake, a quaint town, and mountains. If you want to go farther, the Canadian Rockies or Glacier NP in Montana would be a major step up in scenery, but also in expense and travel time.

amother

↑ OP

Mon, May 20 2024, 7:54 pm

doctorima wrote:

Ok so thanks to your advice I started looking a bit more.

I see what you say about the Canadian Rockies. They're gorgeous!
They sound nicer than the Glacier NP in Montana but maybe the pictures on Google are misleading.

I don't drive.
Going to Lake Placid by taxi would be like 400 per trip. Not sure it makes sense. I would rather pay that for a trip that involves flying.

I am open to more suggestions.