Trip Report Aug 21-27 2025

Question

Day 1 (Aug 21) – arrived in Montrose from Harrisburg PA. Picked up our car rental from Budget, our luggage and headed to City Market for groceries. Driving in to Ouray and seeing those mountains, wow. Stunning. Arrived at our VRBO in Ouray around 4. Unpacked, took a few minutes to catch our breath. Always forget about being a lowlander until you go somewhere a few thousand feet above sea level. Ate supper at Corkscrew Pizza. Good food & good service. Strolled Main Street as it was a pleasant evening.

Day 2 – beautiful seeing the sun shine on the mountain behind our VRBO. While we were drinking our coffee, we enjoyed watching the hikers on the Perimeter Trail. Then we saw a bear running up the mountain not far from the hikers. That was a scary sight. The hikers never saw him, so it must be a routine occurrence and the bear stays out of the way. We had our jeep tour scheduled with San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours for the Yankee Boy Basin + Special. Really enjoyed being driven around on the steep, windy, narrow roads and seeing the spectacular views. Afterwards, we toured Box Cañon Falls Park & Nature Center. It is something to see and very loud to hear. Hiked a little while there. Ate supper at Mi Mexico. Food was good. Service was good.

Day 3 – drove the Million Dollar Highway. Stopped at a quite a few places to take in the magnificent scenery and take tons of pictures. Did not enjoy the drive, but definitely the sights are worthwhile. Hiked a very short part of Bear Creek Trail. My husband’s vertigo did not appreciate the side of the slippery cliff. I didn’t mind the height, but the loose shale (?) made me nervous about the return trip down. Stopped at the Visitor’s Center for more detailed hiking information. This center is a gem. The people who work there are super helpful and so friendly. We went the day both Marys were working. Hiked up to Cascade Canyon. Wasn’t a lot of water, but it is August so that is to be expected. Lots of people though, many in sandals and flip flops. Shopped Main Street for a bit for touristy gifts. Later we hiked Sandies Trail. Supper at Ouray Brewery. We sat inside rather than on the rooftop bar. Food was good. Service was ok, sort of felt like we were a bother.

Day 4 – very happy to learn the South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison was opened. We made the trip fairly early on Sun morning. Weren’t too many people at 1st, but it definitely started filling up as we were leaving. I can’t compare to what it looked like before the fire as this was our 1st time ever seeing it (besides Youtube videos) but even with the devastation, it is an awesome sight to see. Our 1st stop was Tomichi Point. Then we headed to the Visitor’s Center. The views from there are incredible, especially when you go down to the observation deck. Then when you peer over the edge, I kind of understand the whole vertigo thing. Wow. Amazing. It is so deep. I have been at the Grand Canyon, equally as beautiful. This is a different kind of beauty. Hiked a bit on the trail. It is worth a visit. Stopped at True Grit Café in Ridgway on our way back to Ouray. Very good and so was the service. Rained in the afternoon. Tried ice cream at Mouses Chocolate & Coffee. It was all right. From the reviews I was expecting it to be out of this world. Small portions. Nothing like we have in PA. We have soft serve ice cream with a large variety of sundae toppings to choose from when you visit an ice cream shop, or the shops that make their own ice cream, they have a large variety of ice cream besides the basics you can get at the grocery store. I guess it all depends on your taste buds.

Day 5 – early start to the day. Hiked Baby Bathtubs and the Perimeter Trail near the Amphitheater Campground. Mary, from the Visitor’s Center, told us this would be easier for my husband’s vertigo, and she was correct. Later we strolled the Uncompahgre River Trail. Nice easy stroll. Wanted to finally try Maggie’s Burgers, but we forgot the day (happens on vacation) and they were closed Mon/Tues. Bummed about missing this restaurant, but that was completely our fault. Supper at the Full Tilt Saloon. Ok food, nothing thrilling, especially since we were hungry for Maggie’s. Ok service. Rained.

Day 6 – toured Ouray County Museum since it was raining hard and not much else to do. It was ok. It’s a nice museum and put together well, but I wouldn’t miss another activity for this. Gave us something to do for about an hour. Ate lunch at Kami’s Sami’s – very good food and wonderful service. Can’t recommend enough. Packed our suitcases for our return trip. Supper at GoldBelt Saloon. Pretty good. Good service as well.

Day 7 – packed our car and drove to Montrose for our return flight. Ate breakfast at Denney’s. Always delicious and very good service. Returned our rental car to Budget and then waited. And waited.

Unfortunately our flight from Montrose to Dallas/Ft Worth was delayed. While in line, another passenger told us this happened to her and her husband the day before. Very frustrating, especially when more then 60+ people had connections to make in Dallas, which most, if not all of us, missed. The customer service at American Airlines in Montrose CO leaves a lot to be desired. Absolutely no help with arranging another flight. Couldn’t have cared less about our predicament. Finally made it Dallas/Ft Worth where the attendant at their desk at least helped us secure flights. Not great flights, but something. Had to fly into Charlotte NC and spend the night there. Of course American Airlines offer for hotels, food was canceled. Luckily I have the screenshot. So we had to either attempt to sleep somewhere at midnight in an airport which was having major repairs done in the middle of the night or try to get an Uber to a hotel and hope for the best. We rented a suite at Minute Suites in the Charlotte airport for 6 hours which had a small pull out sofa with pillows and blankets. It wasn’t great or cheap, but it beat sitting up in construction zone all night. Finally got our last flight from Charlotte NC to Harrisburg PA and landed before noon. Thankfully our luggage made it there before we did. We had no way of knowing what happened to it as the last we saw of it was in Montrose. This tale is just so travelers to a small airport are aware of the pitfalls. I imagine it happens at every airport, but small airports do not have constant outgoing flights, nor the staffing capabilities to help when snafus occur.

Answer

Your Ouray trip from August 21–27, 2025, sounds like a well-planned adventure with a mix of scenic drives, light to moderate hikes, wildlife sightings, and local dining experiences. Here’s a detailed breakdown and some highlights based on your report:

Day 1 – Arrival in Ouray

Picked up rental car in Montrose, stocked up at City Market.
Arrival in Ouray and settling into VRBO. Noted the high elevation impact.
Dinner at Corkscrew Pizza – good food and service; evening stroll on Main Street.

Day 2 – Perimeter Trail & Jeep Tour

Morning coffee while watching hikers and spotting a bear – a reminder of the local wildlife presence.
San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours to Yankee Boy Basin – excellent scenic experience with steep, winding roads.
Box Cañon Falls Park & Nature Center – short hike, loud and impressive falls.
Dinner at Mi Mexico – good food and service.

Day 3 – Million Dollar Highway & Local Hikes

Scenic drive along Million Dollar Highway with multiple stops for photography.
Short hike on Bear Creek Trail – caution due to loose shale; vertigo consideration.
Visitor’s Center – very helpful staff, good for gathering trail info.
Hikes: Cascade Canyon and Sandies Trail; noted crowding at Cascade Canyon and service at Ouray Brewery being just okay.

Day 4 – Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Early visit to South Rim; first stop at Tomichi Point.
Visitor Center and observation deck – deep and awe-inspiring views.
Quick hike, followed by lunch at True Grit Café in Ridgway – very good food and service.
Afternoon rain; ice cream at Mouses Chocolate & Coffee – adequate, small portions.

Day 5 – Gentle Hikes & Trails

Baby Bathtubs and Perimeter Trail near Amphitheater Campground – easier for vertigo.
Uncompahgre River Trail – relaxing stroll.
Missed Maggie’s Burgers (closed Monday/Tuesday).
Dinner at Full Tilt Saloon – food and service okay; rain in the afternoon.

Day 6 – Indoor Activities & Local Dining

Ouray County Museum – decent for an hour-long indoor activity, especially during rain.
Lunch at Kami’s Sami’s – excellent food and service.
Dinner at GoldBelt Saloon – good food and service.
Packed suitcases in preparation for departure.

Day 7 – Departure & Travel Challenges

Breakfast at Denny’s in Montrose – very good food and service.
Returned rental car to Budget; encountered flight delays on Montrose to Dallas/Ft Worth.
American Airlines customer service at Montrose was unhelpful; had to arrange own accommodations via Minute Suites in Charlotte for overnight layover.
Final leg from Charlotte to Harrisburg – luggage arrived successfully before arrival.

Key Takeaways & Tips:

Ouray offers stunning scenery with accessible short hikes suitable even if some party members have vertigo.
Wildlife sightings, like bears, are possible but generally not threatening if precautions are taken.
Million Dollar Highway is spectacular for photography, but driving requires caution.
Visitor centers are very helpful for local trail guidance and tips.
Check restaurant hours and closures in advance, especially for smaller towns.
Be prepared for sudden weather changes; afternoon rains were frequent.
Small regional airports can have major delays; planning for flexibility and accommodations in case of flight issues is recommended.

Overall, the trip was a blend of adventure, scenic drives, short hikes, wildlife observation, and sampling local dining. Despite the minor setbacks with rain and airline delays, it seems to have been a very rewarding experience with memorable scenery and activities.