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Ophir Pass Trail - 11,789 ft
Wednesday, August 11 th, 2004 (Part 1)
By: Jim Davis
On Tuesday evening there was talk of some potential rain showers looming for Wednesday so we prepared some backup plans. Waking on Wednesday to blue skies was a relief since our exciting plan called for two passes this day; Ohpir Pass in the morning, a break in Telluride, and Imogene Pass in the afternoon. Heading out of Camp Syncro about 8:00AM, we headed north on US 550 and were on county road 8 and dirt before 8:15. Today’s participants were:
By: Jim Davis
On Tuesday evening there was talk of some potential rain showers looming for Wednesday so we prepared some backup plans. Waking on Wednesday to blue skies was a relief since our exciting plan called for two passes this day; Ohpir Pass in the morning, a break in Telluride, and Imogene Pass in the afternoon. Heading out of Camp Syncro about 8:00AM, we headed north on US 550 and were on county road 8 and dirt before 8:15. Today’s participants were:
Syncros (8)Serge’s silver ’91 Syncro Westy
Sue’s blue ‘90 Syncro Westy Steve’s blue ’86 Syncro GL Jim’s gray 87 Syncro GL Steve’s silver ’91 Syncro Westy Paul’s tan ’86 Syncro Westy Ian's white '90 Syncro Westy Richard's wihte '87 Syncro Westy |
Syncro-nuts (20)Serge, Claire, Mélodie (12), and Ophélie (5)
Sue Booth, plus dogs Casey & Riley Steve and Jo Ann Wacker Jim & Matt (16) Davis with Matt’s friend Jeremie (16) Steve, Erik (16), & April (11) Best, with friend Bob Paul Connelly Ian & Amy Phifer Richard Jones |
Also, Bob Stevens and Dan & Danae Hays were along hitching a ride in someone’s Syncro. Having to break camp to head home after today’s outing, Steve and Jo Ann Wacker in their blue ’86 Syncro GL, caught up to us at the summit of Ophir Pass.
The ascent from US550 up the west side of Ophir is gradual and follows a green canyon up the Middle Fork of Mineral Creek. The road is easy pleasant and banks of snow can be seen in the creek bed in several places. This route had no real challenges and In the condition it was in when we were here, I’d have to call it simply a dirt road and not a real 4x4 trail. The road becomes a bit steeper as it ventures away from the creek and curves northward. After only about 4 miles, we reach the top of Ophir pass at 11,789 ft.
The pass is quite uneventful as it has no sign and no good place to turn out. The hillsides on both sides of the road at the pass are huge steep talus slopes of broken rocks. The view from the pass is great both to the east and to the west, but with no place to really stop, we continue on, now with Steve and Jo Ann who have caught up. Down the west side is pretty too, but still no real 4x4 challenges were found. In a wooded section there is a green shady side road that we didn’t take. I did manage to snap a beautiful photo of it though. You’ll recognize it as the little double-track road that heads off into the woods.
A bit further is the little community of Ophir. Established in 1881 at an elevation of 9800 feet, Ophir consists of little more than some scattered homes and a Post Office. Notable for it’s numerous “Children at Play” signs on the dirt road which is it’s “main street”, Ophir looked like a peaceful neighborly place to live. A bit past Ophir we find State Road 145 and head north toward Telluride.
We rendezvous on the outskirts of Telluride to gather our group before heading into town. In 1986, Telluride was the introduction spot for both the Vanagon Syncro and Quantum Syncro for the USA market. Our plan was to stop in Telluride for a short look around and perhaps check out a few shops or get a pre-lunch snack. As it turned out, our “plan” wasn’t communicated nearly well enough and the lead Syncro drove right through town and straight to the start of the Imogene Pass Trail. Having seven Syncros lined up and blocking the Imogene Pass road, it was decided to bypass our Telluride stop and head up Imogene. Telluride will have to wait.
The weather on for this trail run was perfect; blue skies, warm temperature, and a slight breeze, a 10 on a 1-10 scale. The 4-wheeling on this trip I’d classify as “Easy” on a “Easy – Mild – Moderate – Difficult – Extreme” Scale with no obstacles worth getting out of the vans for.
See the Imogene Pass Trail story for Part 2 of our August 11 th adventure.
The ascent from US550 up the west side of Ophir is gradual and follows a green canyon up the Middle Fork of Mineral Creek. The road is easy pleasant and banks of snow can be seen in the creek bed in several places. This route had no real challenges and In the condition it was in when we were here, I’d have to call it simply a dirt road and not a real 4x4 trail. The road becomes a bit steeper as it ventures away from the creek and curves northward. After only about 4 miles, we reach the top of Ophir pass at 11,789 ft.
The pass is quite uneventful as it has no sign and no good place to turn out. The hillsides on both sides of the road at the pass are huge steep talus slopes of broken rocks. The view from the pass is great both to the east and to the west, but with no place to really stop, we continue on, now with Steve and Jo Ann who have caught up. Down the west side is pretty too, but still no real 4x4 challenges were found. In a wooded section there is a green shady side road that we didn’t take. I did manage to snap a beautiful photo of it though. You’ll recognize it as the little double-track road that heads off into the woods.
A bit further is the little community of Ophir. Established in 1881 at an elevation of 9800 feet, Ophir consists of little more than some scattered homes and a Post Office. Notable for it’s numerous “Children at Play” signs on the dirt road which is it’s “main street”, Ophir looked like a peaceful neighborly place to live. A bit past Ophir we find State Road 145 and head north toward Telluride.
We rendezvous on the outskirts of Telluride to gather our group before heading into town. In 1986, Telluride was the introduction spot for both the Vanagon Syncro and Quantum Syncro for the USA market. Our plan was to stop in Telluride for a short look around and perhaps check out a few shops or get a pre-lunch snack. As it turned out, our “plan” wasn’t communicated nearly well enough and the lead Syncro drove right through town and straight to the start of the Imogene Pass Trail. Having seven Syncros lined up and blocking the Imogene Pass road, it was decided to bypass our Telluride stop and head up Imogene. Telluride will have to wait.
The weather on for this trail run was perfect; blue skies, warm temperature, and a slight breeze, a 10 on a 1-10 scale. The 4-wheeling on this trip I’d classify as “Easy” on a “Easy – Mild – Moderate – Difficult – Extreme” Scale with no obstacles worth getting out of the vans for.
See the Imogene Pass Trail story for Part 2 of our August 11 th adventure.
Here’s some trail information from published trail guides with comments before Syncro Safari:
Wednesday, August 11, Ophir Pass Trail
Ophir Pass west to Telluride making a loop trail combined with Imogene Pass from Telluride back to Hwy 550. This is a 28 mile dirt loop with about 10 miles of pavement near Telluride in the middle.
Ophir Pass Difficulty:
The "Guide to Colorado Back roads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" describes this trail's difficulty rating as: "Moderate. This rating is based on a few narrow rocky sections on the upper west side of Ophir Pass. Most of the trail is easy."
"4WD Trails: Southwest Colorado" gives it a difficulty rating of 3 out of 10. A 3 rating is described as: "High clearance 4WD preferred. Rough road surface to be expected; mud possible but easily passable; rocks up to six inches in diameter; loose surface possible; shelf road wide enough for passing or with adequate pull-offs."
Ophir Pass Features:
Popular route for 4x4 beginners, well maintained, 11,789' pass elevation, possible snow (book says up to 20' high early in season), varied scenery, narrow shelf road, east side is wooded, valley has wildflowers. "4WD Trails: Southwest Colorado" gives it a scenic rating of 9 out of 10.
Ophir Pass Route:
Should take about 2 hours so we should be at the trailhead at 9:30 for convenient lunchtime in Telluride. Start is from highway 550, 4 miles north of Silverton. West on Ophir Pass Road (#8), cross Mineral Creek, Ophir Pass at 4 miles, road gets narrow and steep down the west side of the pass, pass through aspen trees, beaver ponds, town of Ophir, right on hwy 145, about 10 miles so far. North on pavement to Telluride. Lunch & knocking around in Telluride for a bit.
Ophir Pass west to Telluride making a loop trail combined with Imogene Pass from Telluride back to Hwy 550. This is a 28 mile dirt loop with about 10 miles of pavement near Telluride in the middle.
Ophir Pass Difficulty:
The "Guide to Colorado Back roads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" describes this trail's difficulty rating as: "Moderate. This rating is based on a few narrow rocky sections on the upper west side of Ophir Pass. Most of the trail is easy."
"4WD Trails: Southwest Colorado" gives it a difficulty rating of 3 out of 10. A 3 rating is described as: "High clearance 4WD preferred. Rough road surface to be expected; mud possible but easily passable; rocks up to six inches in diameter; loose surface possible; shelf road wide enough for passing or with adequate pull-offs."
Ophir Pass Features:
Popular route for 4x4 beginners, well maintained, 11,789' pass elevation, possible snow (book says up to 20' high early in season), varied scenery, narrow shelf road, east side is wooded, valley has wildflowers. "4WD Trails: Southwest Colorado" gives it a scenic rating of 9 out of 10.
Ophir Pass Route:
Should take about 2 hours so we should be at the trailhead at 9:30 for convenient lunchtime in Telluride. Start is from highway 550, 4 miles north of Silverton. West on Ophir Pass Road (#8), cross Mineral Creek, Ophir Pass at 4 miles, road gets narrow and steep down the west side of the pass, pass through aspen trees, beaver ponds, town of Ophir, right on hwy 145, about 10 miles so far. North on pavement to Telluride. Lunch & knocking around in Telluride for a bit.