Yankee Boy Basin
Yankee Boy Basin
5
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Surrounded by several mountain peaks (Potosi Peak, Teakettle Mountain, Cirque Mountain, Stony Mountain, and Gilpin Mountain), Yankee Boy Basin is a popular scenic area visited by hikers, photographers, four-wheelers and nature lovers.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
480 reviews
Excellent
409
Very good
58
Average
11
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Jill A
6 contributions
Sep 2020
We were in a 4 wheel drive truck and were able to make it almost to the top; however, that last mile or so would have needed a shorter wheel base and higher clearance than we had, but still was so worth the trip! The views were breathtaking & we were at 11,280 ft elevation. It is not for the faint of heart however, because that road is narrow & no guard rails for peace of mind. I must say, sometimes, I said a little prayer! Great experience. Next time, we'll have a vehicle to make it all the way up.
Written October 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dktx
Frisco, TX286 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
With a 4-wheel drive vehicle you can see spectacular mountain vistas all around. There are a few technical driving opportunities, so we were glad we had rented a Jeep in-town. (High clearance 4 x 4 recommended)
There was still snow covering the road above the Wright’s Lake trailhead so we hiked to the lake and had lunch. Even though the lake was still frozen it was absolutely beautiful.
There was still snow covering the road above the Wright’s Lake trailhead so we hiked to the lake and had lunch. Even though the lake was still frozen it was absolutely beautiful.
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KP
13 contributions
Sep 2021
We took a tour with a local company (Alpine 4x4 tours) which is the way to go since this drive/road is not for the inexperienced driver. If you have the right kind of vehicle and experience with rough rocky roads you'll love it. View are wonderful. Lots of history in the area I was not aware of until we took the tour.
Written September 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cnieves3
Edmond, OK205 contributions
Jun 2022
Worth the visit. This was so beautiful. Make sure you stop and walk around the abandoned mine and look down the shaft. We stayed for about 30 minutes and the rushing water, fantastic views and sunshine made this place a core memory. Definitely worth taking a Jeep up there.
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mwolins
Concord, NC5 contributions
Aug 2020
We visited Yankee Boy Basin and Governors Basin on August 5th. I suspect it may have been better several weeks earlier. The wildflowers were mostly bloomed out. However, I'm writing this review so everyone is aware, you DO NOT NEED A JEEP or special vehicle to get to Yankee Boy Basin during this time of year. The road is well maintained with a parking area along the road about a half mile from the waterfall. I sure wish we hadn't paid for an overpriced jeep tour! While it would have been a lot longer hike to get to Governor's Basin, that was certainly not worth the jeep tour either. Way more mining than wildflowers. If you hike at all, there are many areas more beautiful. Our tour guide was very enthusiastic about the increased mining activity of the past few years but as a nature lover, I'll go elsewhere in the future.
Written August 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Founder of the HBS Wine & Cuisine Societ
El Paso, TX3,137 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We really Dare to drive the Yankee Boy Basin Road Yankee Boy Basin Road, a great 4x4 trail located southwest of Ouray, in Colorado. The road is accessible from June until October. It's a 4.7 miles road and one of the highest mountain trail of Colorado. It climbs up to Yankee Boy Basin, an alpine basin in Ouray County, nestled at an elevation of 12,526ft. The road is really scary if you are afraid of heights. But absolutely gorgeous!
The drive is one of the most popular destinations in the Ouray area due to its stunning natural beauty, rich history and colorful wildflowers. The wildflowers and waterfalls along this road attract photographers from all over the world and the abandoned mines are great for history buffs. There are mines, abandoned cabins, waterfalls, wildflowers, and of course, the incredible Mount Sneffels. Travelling to Yankee Boy Basin should not be attempted by low clearance passenger cars it does not work. But we did with my Mercedes Benz ML400!
The drive is one of the most popular destinations in the Ouray area due to its stunning natural beauty, rich history and colorful wildflowers. The wildflowers and waterfalls along this road attract photographers from all over the world and the abandoned mines are great for history buffs. There are mines, abandoned cabins, waterfalls, wildflowers, and of course, the incredible Mount Sneffels. Travelling to Yankee Boy Basin should not be attempted by low clearance passenger cars it does not work. But we did with my Mercedes Benz ML400!
Written July 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
terbear716
Durango, CO11 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We went during a heavy traffic week, so there was some necessary waiting or maneuvering on OHV trails but still had a great time. The parking lot right above town is great, we were able to do this trail, not much of Governor Basin due to snow and not quite up to Imogene summit for the same reason. But really was a nice experience and beautiful, well maintained area. Without snow you might still be able to do all three in a day, but would be tight.
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RichSGF
Springfield, MO351 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We were fortunate enough to be taking up their courtesy of Alpine Scenic Jeep Tours.
I would definitely go up there in the mornings if you can book one of their tours at 9 AM you’ll get back in time for a late lunch 🥗.
But your eyes will not be hungry because they were taking in all the beauty that you will see especially if you go in late July when all the wildflowers are in bloom.
I would definitely go up there in the mornings if you can book one of their tours at 9 AM you’ll get back in time for a late lunch 🥗.
But your eyes will not be hungry because they were taking in all the beauty that you will see especially if you go in late July when all the wildflowers are in bloom.
Written July 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brssjunk
Tucson, AZ1,282 contributions
Jul 2021
We took one of the local services up to see the wild flowers and this year we hit at exactly the right time! The basin is spectacular and there were an astonishing number of different types of flowers, and the area was just carpeted with them.
We were sad to see that the roads had really deteriorated since we were there last time 10 years ago. The ATVs spinning their wheels has exposed the rock underbed and they do not grade the roads to smooth them at all. The result is that it is now very difficult to get up there without a service to take you up. We were delighted with our trip with Alpine Scenic Tours, but would have liked to be able to access it on our own.
We were sad to see that the roads had really deteriorated since we were there last time 10 years ago. The ATVs spinning their wheels has exposed the rock underbed and they do not grade the roads to smooth them at all. The result is that it is now very difficult to get up there without a service to take you up. We were delighted with our trip with Alpine Scenic Tours, but would have liked to be able to access it on our own.
Written July 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NBethS
Fort Worth, TX128 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
For our family this place is nearly holy. My dad died in this canyon, but due to his own mistakes, so we make this a pilgrimage of sorts. Can’t even begin to count how many picnics we’ve had here. It is well protected so the alpine tundra is spectacular. The twin falls should look familiar to Coors drinkers. It’s on every can. The flowers change as summer progresses so there’s a new spectacular taking place every couple of weeks. Hold onto your phones tho. Once they’re in the river they’re gone forever! Experience speaks!
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am planning to be in the area June 9 of this year and would like to take a 4-wheel drive tour up into the mountains to see beautiful flowers and vistas, What time in June did you go up to Yankee Boy Basin. Was it later in the month so the flowers were already in bloom? Were you able to navigate the road all the way to the top or was there too much snow that time of year? What tour company did you use and would you recommend them? Did they allow stops to take photographs? Thanks
Written April 29, 2019
It will still be very snowy in early June. I would check with the Forest service for the area, which is the Uncompaghre National Forest.
Written May 20, 2019
blfranke1911
Karnes City, Texas
I have a suburban with plenty of ground clearance and 4 wheel drive. Can I make the trail past the basin?
Written October 16, 2018
Elizabeth M
Weatherford, Texas
We have a Ford F150 4X4 - would it be ok for this road? (we have driven some fairly rough roads in Big Bend National park before.
Written August 28, 2018
You should br fine getting to the basin itself. I would not suggest you try to go on up and over without talking to one of the tour companies in town about road condition on the pass as they change quickly. And the pass also has a few tight hairpin turns that require backing up and then going forward a few feet, then repeat. The length of your truck would be a challenge but if you go slow it will work. Also remember this time of year you get hit with sudden storm, including snow so watch the weather forecast. It’s very common to have short cloudbursts in the late afternoon all summer. But for sure you can make it up to the spectacular basin without any trouble. Take water and food and cameras and enjoy heaven on earth.
Written August 28, 2018
How far up the road can you make it in a full size stock suburban? I'm not planning to make it all the way to the basin (although I'd love to) but would like to go as far as comfortably possible and then get out, roam around and picnic.
Written May 17, 2018
Hi and thank you for the posting. Can I take a Toyota 4Runner up Yankee Boy Basin road to Twin Falls?
I hear so many versions I am not sure, being a first-time visitor to Ouray.
Written July 22, 2016
Your 4Runner should be fine - we went up in a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Written September 14, 2016
Is Yankee Boy Basin and the road to there open (clear of snow) by June 20th?
Written June 11, 2016
Thanks for the response, we didn't dare to go there with our rental SUV who did not have 4WD.
The road to Animas Forks was pretty bad enough.
Written July 12, 2016
What about wheel chair access to these sites? I see nothing on that.
Written February 8, 2016
It's a wonderful experience without having to leave a vehicle with clean windows. The main road is mostly narrow, unpaved, with only occasional space to pull off.
Written February 10, 2016
Everything! What's the history? All u have r reviews by tourists n a map. I already have a map n am not interested in amateur opinions.
Written August 10, 2015
Bryan W
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
The claims were located in 1875 by Michael Dermody and
R. B. Town of Ouray, and later on were taken over by the Yankee
Boy Mining Company of Boston, Mass. This company developed the
group to a considerable extent. The Yankee Boy Group of mining claims consists of three mill sites and one unpatented and ten patented lode mining claims in
Yankee Boy Basin in the Mt. Sneffels-Red Mountain Mining District of
the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. More specifically
they are located about eight miles southwest of Ouray in Ouray County, Colorado.
These claims are in Yankee Boy Basin, a high glaciated basin
with an average elevation of about 12,000 feet. Local relief is
great but the claims lie near the valley floor, east of the entrance
to the basin, at an average elevation of about 11,400 feet. About
one - half mile to the south is Stony Mountain with an elevation of
12,698 feet; a mile to the northwest is Mt. Sneffels with an elevation
of 14,150 feet and about a mile to the east is Potsi Peak at
13,786 feet. Because of its elevation, the Basin receives a large amount of moisture and is characterized by a considerable range of temperatures.
Precipitation occurs as heavy showers in the summer months
and as heavy snows in winter. Snow may accumulate to 20 feet or
more in depth and poses local avalanche problems. Total rainfall
is not known with certainty but is probably on the order of 40
inches per year. Winter temperatures may fall to 40° below zero
and on occasion summer temperatures may approach 90°above. As a
result of these climatic extremes, past mining activities have
been primarily limited to the summer month s. However, the Camp
Bird Mine about two and one-half miles to the east and 1500 feet
lower, maintained year around operations in those days.
My Family has maintained the property since late 1970's Having various Mining claims, both patented (deeded Parcels) and un-patented (basically leased with mineral rights from the BLM. A Majority of the Basin is Private property, but my father has always supported the economy of Ouray and would allow the property to be enjoyed by all, with the exception of a couple of areas, all he asked
was take as many pictures as you like,
stay on all marked trails,
No Camping,
please respect the environment and do not litter
or pick any of the wild flowers,
they are there for all to enjoy as well as the twin water falls, which also is located on our property, this is truly Gods Country and a little bit of History about where the Yankee Boy came from, well there you have it.
Oh and if you do visit the property, your sarcastic attitude and intimidation will not get you far, Google it or simply visit the area, you will not be disappointed, late July best time for the flowers. Life is way to short to have that type of frustration over a web blog.. God Bless and as of this year (2015) we have sold the property to a new company that cherishes the land as much as the next..Enjoy it!
Written November 18, 2015
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