Owl Creek Pass is the gentler back road past Chimney Rock

Not every mountain road here is a white-knuckle drive. Owl Creek Pass, reached from US 550 a short way north of Ridgway, climbs a forest road to about 10,114 feet and is generally easier than the steep four-wheel-drive passes nearby. Many high-clearance vehicles handle the graded sections in good summer weather, though it is still a remote mountain road with rough spots.

The road runs below the Cimarron Ridge, with views of Courthouse Mountain and the tall stone spire of Chimney Rock. On the far side it drops into the Cimarron drainages and connects to trailheads such as the West Fork Trail, which lead hikers into the surrounding national forest and toward the Uncompahgre Wilderness.

Like other high roads in Ouray County, Owl Creek Pass is seasonal. It usually opens once the snow melts, often by early summer, and closes again in fall. Conditions vary year to year, and storms can bring mud or snow even in the warmer months.

For the current opening status, road condition, and trailhead access, check with the GMUG National Forests Ouray Ranger District before you drive it.