This is a beautiful area just south of Ouray as you go up to Red Mountain Pass. Classic routes such as Sunsplash, Bear Creek Falls, Horsetail Falls, Wild Horses, Solar Circus are along this road. Major avalanche risk exists after signficant snow falls. Beware of big bowls above these climbs. Sun aspect may be important to consider here.
Getting There
South of Ouray along US Highway 550 up to Red Mountain Pass. Climbs are generally visible from the road. Approaches are generally short.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for US Highway 550:
Just S of Ouray is a beautiful amphitheatre at the Engineer Pass turnoff with some gorgeous ice climbs like Mixed Emotions, Kennedy's Gully, Blue Condition, Abraxas, Gravity's Rainbow, & Over the Rainbow. J. Roberts' Colorado ice describes this as one of the top 5 ice climbs in the Ouray area. Perhaps with wonderful books like Vertigo Games by G. Randall or simply a drive over the Million Dollar highway towards Red Mt Pass, the curiosity of man...[more]Browse More Classics in CO
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