If you love the outdoors, Ouray is for you.

We arrived in Ouray on July 16 with great expectations based on friends' experiences and recommendations. At one time it may have deserved the moniker "The Switzerland of America," but all we found was a town that had expanded to occupy every square inch of a naturally beautiful, small valley set among high peaks.

We had done our homework, reading multiple online and print sources for still more information. Nowhere was there any indication that Ouray is the exclusive domain of off-roaders/4WDers and their families during the summer. Nor was there any mention of a special event or week dedicated to off-roaders.

When we arrived midmorning, off-road and 4WD vehicles dominated the main street and spilled into side streets and parking lots. We searched in vain for a place to park and explore shops, galleries and restaurants. As we attempted to drive through town at 15 mph, we were forced to brake and dodge as individuals and family groups jaywalked as if they alone ruled the town and its facilities.

By the time we had navigated the main street, we decided not to have lunch in Ouray.

After passing dozens of motels packed with off-roaders/4WDers whooping in the parking lots ("Woo-HOO!!!" anyone?), and motel swimming pools packed with screeching and fighting children, we decided to eat the cost of our one-night lodging reservation. We headed to nearby Montrose where we found a modest but clean and quiet room at the Western Motel, and bade goodbye to Ouray.

If the tourism industry in Ouray has decided to cater to the off-roader/4WDer market segment, that's their business. However, in my opinion the least they can do is let this important fact be known through their websites and travel guides. Any reasonable person will expect and overlook a certain degree of touristy, or wild, or child-centered, or crowded, or loud conditions during the peak summer travel season. But to arrive in what's touted as a beautiful, quirky, somewhat arty town with wide appeal, only to find the mess described above is more than disappointing. It borders on false advertising by Ouray's tourism industry, and sooner or later it will have major negative repercussions for them. Better to tell the truth, isn't it?

We stayed at the Ouray KOA campground in a cabin. Grounds are clean and well lit, staff is friendly, cabin is just a cabin, but has electricity inside.

Hiked Upper Cascade Falls trail. Great trip, worth the view, lowlanders better adjust before trying the climb up to 10,000 ft.

Traveled with 2 dogs and were able to eat on porch at Timberline Deli on Main St. Good burgers and gyros.

Box canyon falls is NOT dog friendly.

My wife and I were looking for a cheap honeymoon in Colorado. We decided to drive to Colorado and stay in Ouray based on part of advice from family and friends. What a wonderful little town, the "Little Switzerland" as they call it. The town is surrounded by a majestic backdrop of mountains, like the European Alps. We stayed at the Alpine Inn and the owner had a bottle of champagne ready for us, she knew we were newlyweds. We enjoyed renting a jeep and scaling the mountains all the way to 13,000 feet at engineer pass.
Spend one day doing this... Also we enjoyed the thermal baths at the swimming pool in the center of town. There were mulitple levels of heat and the water was so warm and clean and doesn't stink like sulfur at all.

We day tripped to Telluride and Durango from Ouray, easily done. We found many good restaurants and a nice photo shop and quaint gifts in the downtown area.
Loved OUray, colorado.